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My characters in my story are stuck. In the story, they have broke out of a North Korean prison and have fled up into the snow capped mountains and headed for the Chinese Border. I didn't have any trouble getting them up there but now...getting them across the mountains and over the border...everything I'm writing just sounds stupid, fake or forced. Up until this point, the story has a good pace. Now, it has slowed down and stalled out. lol. How can I believably get them across the border and to safety? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

That is a tough one, though an interesting plot you have going. Without knowing too much of what is going on in the story I would possibly recommend researching some of the risks of mountain climbing/hiking and implement some of those into the story, maybe find ways that people have overcome these challenges. There are plenty of blogs/websites dedicated to this sort of adventuring. Depending on what's going on you could also involve some North Korean tracking teams that are on their tail. Also depending on the novel and where you're going with it, this may be a good point to have one of your expendable characters make a heroic sacrifice

If all else fails, have somebody come in and attack them. If nothing else, it forces you to keep the story going.

I got that little nugget of wisdom from an old writing teacher back in grade school. Nothing like a blunt force, out-of-the-blue brawl to get the creative juices flowing.

Thank you both for taking time to respond and give your advice. I do have a minor character I wouldn't mind killing off. They are being chased by North Korean prison guards and dogs, but right now they just hear them in the distance. I should probably let them have at least one battle with them to make it more interesting. At least, you have given me plenty to think about! Thank you both very much

writerlady1904 wrote: ↑23 Jun 2018, 18:03 Thank you both for taking time to respond and give your advice. I do have a minor character I wouldn't mind killing off. They are being chased by North Korean prison guards and dogs, but right now they just hear them in the distance. I should probably let them have at least one battle with them to make it more interesting. At least, you have given me plenty to think about! Thank you both very much

If you're not afraid to go for an ending where there's a lot less happiness, I'd argue that it could be more poignant to lead the story to an ending where either a) the majority of the characters die and show the gravity of their situation or b) all the central characters are killed in an epic standoff that at least validates one of the major character's arc and ends how most situations like these would realistically end.

Just my two cents.

One exercise I’ve used before is to just skip the scene I’m struggling with and continue writing at the next point I’m certain of. Sometimes that can give you insight as to how they got there. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it can help.

I agree with Kyrenora (above) with the added suggestion ...

This is an excellent place in your story for the use of flashbacks to tell the backstory of the people making the journey. This allows "real time", which may be boring to the reader if journeying through the snow is extended at length, to pass while the backstories are being told. When you resume the "real time" narrative have your characters at the Chinese border and ready to cross. The reader will subconsciously fill in the lapse of protracted time with visions of the characters trudging through the snow during the period that the backstories were being told.

DATo wrote: ↑10 Aug 2018, 00:42 I agree with Kyrenora (above) with the added suggestion ...

This is an excellent place in your story for the use of flashbacks to tell the backstory of the people making the journey. This allows "real time", which may be boring to the reader if journeying through the snow is extended at length, to pass while the backstories are being told. When you resume the "real time" narrative have your characters at the Chinese border and ready to cross. The reader will subconsciously fill in the lapse of protracted time with visions of the characters trudging through the snow during the period that the backstories were being told.

Agree with this wholeheartedly. A lull in the action is a great place for backstory, or the character moments that would drag down any other part of the story.

Another suggestion might be to focus on the cold and the creeping frostbite. Showcase them suffering from the elements, slowing them down while the enemy closes in.

I kind of agree with Matthew and YL. Sometimes when characters are stuck it's because the story is really meant to be a tragedy. I don't usually intend to kill off beloved characters, but I write myself into corners and then it turns out that the book really needed a tragedy.

Or, if you want a REALLY creative solution ... Yeti!!!

But, since your first posted back in June, I'm hoping this post is late and you're already unstuck by now.

Blow something up. I mean, look at the situation, what is the worst that can happen at this very moment? maybe make a list of things, put one of the items into play, and watch what your characters do to deal with it, and have them keeping an eye on that pathway to freedom as they do it.