For Pantsers: Getting Out of the Rut

As some of you may know if you follow my Twitter, or if you're my Twin (*cough*), I'm in a stuck place with my WIP. It's not a fun place to be at all. It consists of having no idea what you want to happen next, a growing dislike and lack of interest in your story, and zero motivation to open Scriv (or Word, if you're still stuck in the past like that) and write. Oh, and it's an issue mostly found within the pantser circle. That's me.

So, after lamenting on Twitter, I received some great advice from this lovely writer here. She referred me to this link, Lesson 4, which I think she might have even written herself. In any case, it was exactly the leg-up I needed to get back in the saddle.

Now I'm back on track. Or some kind of track, anyway. I have a Google Doc open that looks something like this:

Basically, under that pretty purple text, I'm going to list anything and everything I could think of that could push my story forward. It can be the most random little idea to the concrete plans I've had since my WIP was born. I'm just going to write it all down.

And when I'm done I can pick whichever one appeals to me most and would help push the story forward. Maybe I'll use random.org if I just can't decide. But whatever I end up doing, I will have a list of ideas to re-stir those creative juices in my brain. Which is all I really need, anyway.

Lesson learned: If you don't have an outline (pantser!), you need some kind of organized list of ideas to keep you on track. You might not use half of them, but the point is they're there when you need them.

I wish I'd done this a while ago. I would have saved myself days of grief.

While this isn't the revolutionary Here's-How-To-Never-Be-Stuck-While-Writing-Again blog post, it is an excellent tip, I think. I haven't even made my list yet but I already feel the fog clearing. I'm confident this is the answer I've needed. Who knew it would be so simple?

I'd love any comments. Any tricks in particular you use? What do you think of this one? Are you a pantser or a plotter? 

[EDIT: I would like to take a moment to say that this did not work for me, ultimately. I ended up giving up Sovereignty entirely and turning to Blake Snyder's "Save The Cat" for answers. I found mine in the beat sheet, which I have been thriving with since. I am currently at 30k in a brand new novel, of which I am TOTALLY immersed in. Thank you. /rantover]

Best Part of Today: A WIP mini-breakthrough!
Currently Craving: Green tea. Chilled.
Music Pick: "Lithium" by Evanescence
I'm Reading: Re-reading the beginning of "The Deed of Paksenarrion" by Elizabeth Moon 
WATM: Sovereignty (drafting) + plotting for new book  (<= no more distractions, please!)