This morning my author friend P.J. Alderman and I were whining to each other about the problem of getting bogged down while writing a new manuscript. We were both trying to climb out of the dreaded “muddle in the middle.” This happens to most authors I know–we have already planned out the stellar endings for our books, but somehow we always fall into a bog of quicksand as we race down that path toward the finish line.

Over the years, I’ve developed strategies for helping my brain break out of this trap, and although I still fall into the dreaded black hole every dang time, I can now escape in a reasonable time frame. I thought I’d offer up my techniques here for your consideration. When you fall into that bog while writing, try the following:

• Stop writing sequentially. Plow ahead and write every scene as it occurs to you. That might be an action scene, a quiet conversation, the end of the book, the introduction of a pivotal character—whatever occurs to you. I’ve been doing this for a few weeks, and now I realize I have most of the “modules” I need to complete my book—I just need to plug them into the proper sequence, write the transition bits between them, and I’m done!

• Go read a book that you admire that is in the same category as yours. This works best if you have read this book before, so you’re not surprised by plot twists and you don’t get lost in the story, because your goal is to be analytical right now. Read with notebook and pen in hand, and make notes of characterization techniques, cause and effect, how the author maintains suspense, etc. – you don’t want to copy exactly, of course, but it will give you ideas on what is missing from your own story.

• Work on a different story. Admit it, you have been tempted to work on other ideas instead of finishing the book you’re writing. Allow yourself to do it for a while—sketch out the plot, write a chapter or two. This process often lets our brains roam freely in an adjoining pasture, and suddenly we see a way to solve the problem on the other side of the fence. Then be sure you return to your work in progress and finish it! Six half-finished manuscripts do not add up to being an author.

• Go out and do something physical. For many of us, getting the blood flowing also helps break the dam holding back our creativity. In my case, I go for long walks or go for a paddle in my kayak, and I solve manuscript problems and gain inspiration while I’m “out there.” For me at least, I need to do these things alone if I’m using them to break through writers block.

• Brainstorm with friends. They don’t necessarily need to be writers, too, although that would be best. But they certainly need to be readers or at least enthusiastic television or movie fans. Encourage them to toss out any idea they can come up with. I rarely end up using the exact idea proposed by a friend, but after brainstorming I can see new possibilities and can envision the plot twist I need.

Those are my techniques. If you have other tricks you use, please leave a comment so we can all benefit.

Good luck with your writing!