Overcoming Story Block

When most people think of the frustrated writer pulling out hair and pacing the floor, they think "Writer's Block." But there's a subtle form of that I call Story Block, when words will come but are adrift, off-course, off-kilter, adding nothing to the story of any consequence.

How does a writer regain direction?

Zack offered the idea of simly writing through it, of letting the story go where it will and returning to judiciously edit later, to precisely cut those parts that are distracting and disturbing. Other suggestions include:

1. Review your outline. Find a moment where the story has gone awry. This doesn't mean destroy what you've written while pledging fealty to your outline. Maybe your outline is the problem. If you eventually decide that, no, the outline is fine, then rewrite or remove what you've written.
2. Reread your story. Problems don't usually begin where you're struggling. They often begin 30 pages before you've written yourself into a corner. Begin rewriting from where the problem begins.
3. Review your characters. Do they still fit? Have their personalities changed? Are they unfamiliar to you? If you like where they've gone, let the story change to fit them. If not, consider their new roles and places in your story.
4. Write an entirely unrelated scene. Take your characters and create a scene not found in your outline or story. Something entirely new. Perhaps you may find that it fits your story. If not, it may give you new direction or insight into your characters and still push your story forward. If nothing else, you get to have fun with these people you've created and taken a fresh approach to your novel.
5. Find the next plot point. A plot point is that moment when your story takes an unexpected or significant turn. Tell yourself you're going to write until you make it to the next plot point. Don't worry about the story as a whole. Focus on this one small section. Write this way until you feel you're making progress.
6. Skip ahead. Write a scene you expect to occur in just a few pages or the start of the next chapter. See if you can link where you are now to that not-too distant point.
7. Write your ending. If you know your ending, write it out. This doesn't mean in great detail, and don't worry about getting every word right. After all, it's only a first draft. But writing your ending can give you hope and direction and remind you why you're writing. It gives you a defined literary and personal goal.
8. Ask questions. Question everything: Your characters' motivations. A scene's tension. Obstacles to overcome. Setting. Dialogue. Ask questions of your characters and plot -- and then adding those answers to your story. Soon you'll find the stumbling block(s) slowing or stopping your story.

Just remember, Writer's Block and Story Block are different, but still complements of the other. The best advice of all is to just keep writing. Something will come to you. Something will push you on and make sense of your story in the end.

If you have any tips for overcoming story block, add them to the comments section. We'd love to hear them.