Stalled Story? Give it a Jump

Has your story stalled? Halfway through, did you lose patience and interest? Boredom is one of the biggest reasons stories and books either lack spark or remain unfinished. If the story becomes boring to you, it'll also become boring to your readers. So what do you do? You could create a file to hold all those half finished and lackluster stories or you could jump.

Writing doesn't have to be done in order. Jump from scene to scene, point to point. Write the middle before you write the beginning. Write the last sentence and work your way backward. Place the characters before you place the action. If you normally do it one way, try the opposite. Shaking things up can reignite the project.

Sometimes when we stall, it's because we need to learn more about our characters, their motivations and their environment. Jump forward or backward in time and write a scene outside the story. Put the characters in a different situation. Reverse their roles and see how they react. Not only can this give you insight into who they are, but it can give you ideas to propel the story forward.

When you still like the plot, but it has fallen flat, try jumping gender. Round out your characters by exploring the masculine side of the females and the feminine side of the males. Finding new layers in your characters' personalities could point you toward options in the plot line that may not have been apparent before.

If you find it difficult to get outside your main character's head and move the story, try jumping to a minor character's point of view. As with jumping in time, this might be a scene written outside the story, but it could give you a new perspective on your main character and the situation he is in. The added benefit here is that you may find a new story waiting to be written about the minor character.

Finally, if you're still staring at the page and wondering what to do, try jumping. Read the last few scenes you've written, then jump out of your chair and walk quickly from one end of the house to the other. Hop. Skip. Do jumping jacks. By first reading what you've written, then performing quick, physical movements, you can create quick action in your story and sometimes a little more action is all that's needed.