Part 5, Finishing A Story Summary and Analysis

What to Do When You're Stuck

Every writer goes through a rough patch when he cannot work out how to proceed in a story. Very often it is the end or near the end of a story that it becomes most troublesome. Perhaps the writer does not know enough about his own character to finish the story. The writer might be attempting to build a bridge from a weak thread of the story to its conclusion. The writer may not be consulting his creative side. If the writer feels the story is becoming boring, it is probably a call for drastic cuts. If the writer has the idea and it is wording or phrasing that is escaping him, he should proceed with his idea—which is the most important element—the words and...