Goodreads asked Beverly Patt:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Beverly Patt I take out a notebook and start brainstorming all the different things that could happen in this particular place where I am stuck. I might write my main character's name in a circle and then just start drawing lines outward, like sun rays, with different ideas - 'leaves home,' 'hits her sister,' 'steals $ out of her dad's wallet' for example. And then follow those out, almost like a choose your own adventure. Nothing is off limits and usually, after a while, one of those idea spinoffs make me say, "YES!"

flag