Let’s first look at the definition of Bogged Down.
Literally: To sink and stick in mud or wet ground, maybe swamp.
Figuratively : To be overly burdened by too many details, perhaps a complicated problem that stops you from completing your task.
When Writing : You get stuck in minor details somewhere in the middle when trying to finish your first draft. Perhaps you know how you want your story to end, but you just can’t figure out how to lead your characters there with enough tension before reaching the eventual climax.
Just this weekend we literally had our four wheel drive Prado bogged in very soggy, wet ground.
Last week my grandkids informed me of watching a tree fall while taking their visiting Uncles from Scotland on a walk around our property. Then, while hubby and I gathered timber for our fire from the wood pile on Friday, I suggested we should go check out the fallen tree and see if it was worth cutting for future timber for the fire. I had meant to go for a walk, but hubby had other ideas. He decided to drive down through the bush. This proved to be not such a good decision., after all we had had a lot of heavy rain last week. As we reached the flatter section at the bottom of where two steep hill meet, it became evident that the ground ahead was somewhat wet. Sure enough, as he attempted a u turn we inevitably found ourselves sinking deeper into the mud. With each attempt to reverse and move forward again, the tyres slipped back and sideways, gradually sliding closer and closer to the creek bed. We scrambled out, tied the rescue straps to a tree along with a block chain, but to no avail. Even with plastic tracks under either the back or front wheels, we were going no where but further into the mud. The ground was so soggy, two tracks under two wheels was not going to be enough. Our car was well and truly bogged. It took our wonderful neighbour to come to our rescue with a second set of plastic tracks for all four of the tyres to get enough grip and the car was recovered.
Are you literally or figuratively bogged down. I have been both this week.
While we were out there sinking further into the mud and with each recovery attempt finding the car bogged deeper, I thought of the analogy with my writing.
I haven’t written anything in the last couple of weeks for various reasons. We have had a constant stream of visitors staying since the last week of July. I’m not complaining, I have enjoyed every moment of catching up with friends and family, but it doesn’t leave any time for writing. If I am honest with myself, my main reason for not writing is that I am bogged down in the middle.
I started writing this new story in a flurry of ideas. I had solved or thought I had solved the problem in my head and was keen to get stuck into the first draft. I even shared the first chapter with a writing friend who said it was a great start. This made me more enthusiastic to keep going. But somewhere along the way I stopped. I was bogged, the ideas stopped flowing and the solutions still haven’t come to me. I find myself sinking even deeper into the soggy middle ground with no where to go or way to rescue my characters from the doldrums. Not only is the mud thick and murky, the water is stagnant.
So what do you do when your story gets bogged down?
Take a break. I’ve done that, I’ve taken off the whole month from writing the story. Putting the story away to ‘rest’ while your brain tries to find clarity helps.
Write something else. Sometimes shifting gears and focussing on a different story can help you refocus and find new ideas.
Go for a walk. I like to take long walks in nature to clear my head. It helps to mull the story over and ask ‘what if’ questions while I walk. Yesterday I went for a long walk along the beach. I thought this might help as my story is set in a little country beach-side town. I inhaled the fresh salty sea air. Watched seagulls swoop across the sand and waves. Chatted to a couple of fishermen and greeted the few other couples walking dogs as they passed. Still nothing, that was until we returned to our car and I observed the school kids beginning to arrive after school had finished for the day. They swiftly stripped out of their uniforms and wriggled into wetsuits. Surfboards tucked under arms they were eagerly ready to take on the waves. Now I think I have an inkling of where to go next in my story. It may not be flowing like a river yet, but the ideas have begun to trickle like our creek bed after rain.
Still stuck? Try jumping forward to a more exciting scene that you want to write. Skip or delete the boring bits and move onto the next major conflict. Once you start writing again, you might be able to come back to that scene and resolve the problem.
Focus on a different character. Maybe take a look at another characters point of view or see what it is they want. Start a new chapter from a different perspective and see where it leads. You may not necessarily add it to your story, but it might help lead you in the right direction.
Raise the stakes. Make the problem your character is trying to solve even more difficult or dangerous. Add another obstacle. Maybe there isn’t enough tension because there are not enough obstacles in the way. Brainstorm further ideas to help increase the tension. Brainstorming on your own may work, but sometimes it’s better if you elicit the help from someone else. They may come up with ideas you haven’t though of yet. You don’t have to take them all onboard, but they may lead you to an idea that does fit. I like to brainstorm with my hubby. Sometimes he has great ideas, other times he says he can hear the shredder in my head. So if you do seek help, make sure it is with someone who has a sense of humour so that you can laugh when you disagree.
Write an unexpected interruption into the scene that feels too slow. An argument, a loud noise or a sudden arrival can help change things up and restart the momentum.
A walk in nature can help rescue you from being stuck in the murky, muddy middle and for me a long walk along this beach certainly made a difference. The ideas may not ebb and flow like the ocean, but it’s a start.
Even writing this blog post has helped me feel less bogged down. I think I’m ready to open that draft and take another look with fresh eyes.
How about you? Have you been bogged down with anything?
Has this helped you?
Do you have any other ideas to help pull you out of the murky muddy middle?
I hope you’re not still bogged down somewhere.
Let me know in the comments below.