Q&A with Cat Grant discussion

9K in on this new WIP, and I've hit the inevitable "WTF happens next?" wall. This usually happens to me at least once or twice per project. I find stepping away, even getting out of the house for awhile helps me get back on track.

However, I'm curious - fellow authors, what do YOU do when you get stuck? How do you shake your story loose?

Seriously. I just walk away. Going for a walk really helps. Or taking a shower. I get my best ideas in the shower. Must be all the negative ions or something. Conversely when I'm walking I just let the thoughts sort of float and then if I'm lucky the story solution I need sort of unspools into my awareness. It's actually kinda neat. In my experience the more you 'force' yourself to find the solution the more it will elude you. And for you, I mean me. But it could be you too. heh.

My answer depends on whether Nicki is around. If Nicki (Bennett, the other half of my brain) is somewhere I can chat or email with her, I do that because she's really good at teasing out my ideas. If she isn't around, I tend to work on something else for a bit. Usually that's enough for the first project's muses to get jealous and stop holding out on me.

Well, you could sent it to me to bounce ideas.

Me, I bounce ideas or work on something else. But usually, I send a long whiny email to a beta where I tell her I'm no good, I'll never have a good idea again, and that all this is a mistake. (This tends to happen after the end of a project and when I'm groping for new ideas and I don't find any in the first 5 minutes/days). :)

Thanks, Aleks. Next time I get stuck, I'll be sure to send you a long whiny email. ;)

Or meet up for a chat. :)