What to Do... Dead Plot (4)

... if you have a piece of writing where the plot is just dead. You don't know what went wrong with the idea or how it just came to stop where it did. Well, don't despair! And certainly don't throw it away. (Trust me, I always end up regretting that at some point later on.)

"Ways to Revive Dead Plot

• throw in a surprising or unexpected plot twist
• introduce a new character that will change the plot or the main character
• determine where you think the story is headed and map an outline - how to get to the story's climax
• pause the action with a flashback of the character(s)
• have the character soliloquize or ponder on their desires, thoughts, problems, memories, etc.
• off to the side, write character descriptions, setting descriptions, plot planners, etc.
• try to get another, fresh mind into the world of the story to give a new take on things (i.e., a friend or relative)
• what are you feeling/doing? -- put it into the character/plotline
• write down any and all snippets that come to mind in developing upon the story
• backtrack from a different character's point of view"

excerpt taken from journal; written on July 2, 2013

Now, I haven't really taken my own advice on this, so I don't know how useful any of this will be. I do find that secondary viewpoints give you a deeper understanding of the characters' emotions and the feelings in the plot.