ieva melgalve

I just hit a slow few days in my NaNo novel (normally, I would have stopped writing altogether at this point, but not with NaNo). So at first I tried some tricks and then realized what it was really about.
So the tips part.
1. Figure out whether everything is too easy, then change it (backtrack a scene if you want).
2. Focus on what’s important for you to tell in the story (let the theme drag you out).
3. If something must happen by the rules of the story and not by your plans, follow the story, not the plan.
4. Sometimes, you want to hold back. Sometimes, you want to spill the beans. See whether revealing that dark secret now could help.
5. What’s the thing your characters would be most uncomfortable about? Dump it on them.
And the conclusion part:
it seems that I write this novel (and probably all novels) like chess game, with the opening, middle and endgame. In the opening, there are lots of bold moves and lots of seemingly less important moves, but what happens is that all the characters must be developed to the point where they can act on their own in unexpected situations, and in the right places (“looking at” something, either friend or foe). Revealing the game plan in the opening is not necessary, and sometimes you don’t have the plan. But you must develop the main pieces anyway, and the more potential they have, the better.
Now I’d reached middle game, where there is no more stalling. Every piece moves steadily to its goal, and if I have to reveal its secret on the way, so be it. If I have to sacrifice a figure, that’s fine as well. But the necessity to put something new on the table means, mostly, that I’ve developed the game too poorly.

So I hope that this will help me in the next few days, unless a hit another snag.