Every now and again that dreaded moment for every writer descends over your manuscript. You can’t shake it, no matter how hard you try. You’ve got writer’s block. There are no words appearing on the page and your brain is experiencing dead air.

Writer’s block can paralyze you and leave you stranded in a particular dilemma in your manuscript unless you put some strategies in place a head of time to stave off writer’s block.

Idea Sparking Your Way Out of Writer’s Block Strategy #1:  Research

Wait just one minute, you say. I did all of my research at the beginning of the story. Now, I’m writing.

True you WERE writing, but since that has ground to a halt, doing a bit more research could get you back in print. Researching any part of your story might help, but here are a few basic research areas to consider to dislodge brain dust and snap you out of writer’s block:

1. Research the Point of View Character’s Occupation. Sometimes we know what we as an author need to have happen in the scene, but we don’t really even know what the character is up to. Putting our author goals into an environment where our character will have their own goals can help move the scene along and jumpstart ideas for content.

2. Research the setting where the scene is taking place. Looking for obstacles to your characters goals and rich story world become so much easier when we understand the setting completely. The setting could bring in additional characters as well to create conflict for my hero/heroine.

3. Research the weather in your setting’s location at that time of year. This may seem silly, but building the scene in your mind will help you to get it on the page. Is there a breeze, wind, cold, heat, etc. All of these things can help you set the mood for your scene. This may also help you to find a metaphor for your scene.

4. Research the psychology of the scene. Determine the emotions that your characters are facing in this scene and research those emotions with the physical responses some might have to that emotion. It can begin to help you build believable actions for your characters. For example, if the heroine feels panic what might she do? Every individual is different. If her panic stems from riding a Ferris wheel while she is afraid of heights, what would that emotion cause her to do.

The next time you struggle with writer’s block, throw in a bit of research to get yourself back into your writing flow.

Huddle Coach, Michelle Lim

Our Huddle Coach, Michelle Lim semi-finaled in the 2011 Genesis with Death’s Apprentice and received Bronze Medal Recognition in the 2010 Frasier contest with Singed. She is the vice president of MN N.I.C.E., a local chapter of ACFW. At My Book Therapy she coordinates the e-zine’s Genre Java Column and is the Brainstorm and Huddle Coach,our program for local craft groups. Michelle taught elementary school for eleven years. She lives in Minnesota with her husband Hui Hong and four rambunctious kids that keep her life full of laughter and suspense. Contact her at: huddles@mybooktherapy.com.