You've been writing your story, but now are you stuck?


No one likes a sticky novelist.
But every novelist gets stuck from time to time.
Usually the problem is easily curable—haven't you heard?
The mind can only absorb what the seat can endure.
It's something like that.

No, really.
If you've been working on your story and feel like you've been swimming in sand, give yourself a
break. Get up and take a stretch. Go for a walk. Take the dog. Do you have a big dog? Go for a pull.
If you've reached the point where your mind has ceased operations, don't force it. Even if you feel
like you've been at that point for a long, long time. Whatever you do, do not give up.

Consider a few things.

Do you really love your story? Your characters?
When you first started writing your novel, how did it make you feel? Were you exhilarated?
Overwhelmed? Do I sound like a shrink? And how does that make you feel?
Sorry, just kidding.

But really. Even if you're not exactly sure where your story is going to go next, do you still feel
drawn to it? A part of you may be saying, "This has all been a waste of time." But are the other parts
of you saying, "But I really want to do this!" You're at that point of decision.
You are allowed to say, "Enough."
You are allowed to quit. Hey, I won't pop you over the head if you quit.
But if you quit, I'll never be able to read the story you've been given to tell.
You know the one—the one right there on the tip of your pen, the one just itchin' to be free . . .

You've been given a story to tell, haven't you. God is amazing, isn't He?
He gives precious gifts to His children.
To some of us He gives a story, a story that only we can tell.
And He expects us to tell that story, no matter how difficult plotting and sentence structuring may be.

If He's given you a story to tell, you will know it. You won't be able to hide from it.
It will draw you to that strange and exciting place inside your brain known as Imagination Station.
There's an Imagination Station in your heart, too. That's where God plants the story He wants you to
tell. But from there it flies to your brain where your brain is supposed to process it into something
your fingers can punch into your keyboard. But your brain seems to be letting you down.
It refuses to comprehend the concepts of plotting and sentence structuring.

Do you have to know how to plot and structure before you can write your story?
Unfortunately, if you have hopes of seeing your story on a bookstore shelf someday, yes, you do.
There's no easy way to say this.
Storytelling is one thing. Writing a novel is definitely another.
If God has given you a story to tell, He'll also give you the plan for it.
Not the specific plan, mind you, but He will lead you in one specific direction.
He may want you to formulate your story to share with your children at bedtime.
He may want you to fictionalize your grandmother's pioneer days for the benefit of your
granddaughter. He may want you to finish your story and immediately submit it for publication.
In His time, He'll let you know.

If you are supposed to write your story and pursue publication of it, you will definitely know.
There will be this sense of urgency . . .

So don't give up. Remember, writing is a craft; writing a novel is a form of art.
Words must flow, but they must also fit together to project hundreds, even thousands of mental
images into your reader's mind. A novelist must learn the craft of writing novels, and this includes
plotting and sentence structuring. Read the How-To books, attend conferences, practice, submit
partial works for critique, join a critique group, read, read, and read some more. Test your
boundaries as a writer. Try writing some poetry. Write out your prayers.
Write what you really want to see the Lord accomplish through the telling of your story.
And give yourself a break. Literally. Walk down to the corner grocery store for ice cream.

If there's more you need to learn about the craft, learn it.
If you have no idea where to take your story next, ask your characters.
If you have run out of good ideas, lay down in bed with a hand-held tape recorder, close your eyes,
and let your brain do its thing. No, you do your thing—take a nap.
Just before you doze off, your brain will finish its processing and send great ideas your way.
Mumble them into your tape recorder for later. Don't get up before you've taken your nap.

If you need help, ask.
If you need someone to read what you've written so far, ask. Join a critique group.
When you ask a member of your critique group to read what you've written so far,
he or she will usually say, "Okay." And mean it.

If you have questions, ask.
If you don't know who to ask, e-mail me!  donna at donnafleisher dot com
I don't know all the answers, but I'll try to help if I can.

If you absolutely cannot find anyone who wants to read what you've written so far and give you
feedback on it, don't forget: I'll read it! Yes, I do prefer completed manuscripts, but if you are
reading this, hear me. I'll read your work. Send me a few chapters and I'll let you know what I think.
If you just need to vent, I'm here for that, too.

If you need to tell your family and friends to leave you alone for a little while
so you can work on your novel, go ahead. It's all right.
If you need to ask God, "Why have you done this to me?" go ahead. He won't mind if you ask.
If you need to play some straight-up rock and roll, go ahead. Sometimes a little steel guitar and
thumping drum can clear a sluggish brainpan.

If you need to relax, do it.
If you need to water your plants, can it wait until you've finished the scene you're working on?
If you can't feel your feet, get up and stretch. Drink lots of water when you write.
That guarantees you'll at least be getting up every so often to . . . well, you know.

If you need to stop. Really stop. If you need to quit. Don't feel bad. Quitting doesn't have to be
forever. And you certainly can quit one story to start working on another. God is patient and ever so
kind. He won't hold it against you if you quit. He'll give you another story to tell.
He'll even help you with plotting and sentence structuring . . . if you ask Him for help.

Ask!
getting unstuck
James 1:17

Every good gift
and every
perfect gift is
from above, and
comes down
from the Father
of lights.
John 15:16

You did not
choose Me, but I
chose you and
appointed you
that you should go
and bear fruit, and
that your fruit
should remain,
that whatever you
ask the Father in
My name He may
give you.
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