I write myself into corners all the time. When I realize it, I have my “Oh, crap!” moment, then I start brainstorming ways out of the corner. I do work off a loose outline, which helps me know where I’m going with the story, but it doesn’t keep me out of corners.

It helps to ask, WWBRD? What would Buck Rogers do? That usually gets me thinking. If that doesn’t work, I watch some classic Trek or other old sci-fi until I get a great idea that will save the day.

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By Jaleta Clegg on 05.05.10 5:57 pm | Permalink

I do this all the time – it must be one of the downsides of not outlining. When I’m in that corner, the only thing that works is to backtrack to the point where things derailed, and write a “version 2″. I leave “version 1 intact, though, because I’ve found sometimes parts of it come in handy, or start making sense because of where I’m going with “version 2″!
Belle´s last blog ..Bird by Bird Reading Group

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By Belle on 05.05.10 8:07 pm | Permalink

Getting characters into tougher and tougher situations is great! My writing professor said that, to write a good story, you, “Chase your protagonist up a tree, throw rocks at him, and then get him down.”

Of course, that’s assuming you can get her/him down. When that’s not happening, I do what Belle does. New versions! Either that, or I cut out the problem part and paste it into a separate document to keep, just in case. I rarely end up going back to use these things, but it’s much easier to move forward when I feel totally secure about this stuff.

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By Anica Lewis on 05.05.10 8:36 pm | Permalink

I write more according to inspiration too. When ideas move fast I have to jot down outlines but they are flexible.
Digging yourself into a hole reminds me of my old dog (no longer with us). She went missing one day and, having exhausted the garden, we had the whole family combing the area. Then I sat down and used my brains and imagination. She was not a dog to go off. We had looked in the garden but how WELL had we looked. I walked up the steps and looked around. Field mice existed near the far wall. Squirrels ran across the trees. Cats visited from time to time. Birds may not interest her but things she could hunt did. In a patch of ground behind a hedge, wood and oddments were stored and a compost heap slowly rotted, I walked and called her name. No bark but that meant nothing. I stood quiet and listened. I fancied I could hear scratching and a low whimper. Going close to a pile of planks and wood oddments, I noticed a slit between wood and soil. Looking into the darkness I saw movement of soil. The darn dog had dug herself into a hole and the more she tried to dig herself out the deeper became her pit. The men arrived and moved the wood. An exhausted Jess was helped out. My poor little dog could have died there.

Don’t let your story die on you. You got into a whole, your imagination will help you out of it. All you need is to try a new angle.

Gladys Hobson
Gladys Hobson´s last blog ..The Dim Light

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Sarah Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

@Gladys Hobson, great story. and yes, you are right. If you can’t get out on your own at first, then read or do something else and the answers will come. (maybe through someone else. )

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By Gladys Hobson on 05.06.10 6:22 am | Permalink

Superb read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing just a little study on that. And he really purchased me lunch simply because I discovered it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

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Sarah Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 1:06 pm

@Electric Upright Bass, You’re welcome, what did you have for lunch?

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By Electric Upright Bass on 05.27.10 3:44 am | Permalink

Good morning! I followed you over from another writer’s blog…I liked the name you’ve given your blog.

Now that I’ve come here, I’m following because I enjoy your content.

So glad that I hopped over.

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Sarah Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 12:51 pm

@Alexandra, welcome! I’ve checked out your blog and it’s way cute, and funny!

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By Alexandra on 05.30.10 8:57 am | Permalink