Speed Bumps, Roadblocks, and Brick Walls

Speed Bumps, Roadblocks, and Brick Walls

When I’m writing, there are always things that slow me down. I divide these into Speed Bumps, Roadblocks, and Brick Walls.

A speed bump can be a piece of research I need—like how to pick a lock, or what you call the earrings that are a big as the man’s earlobe. Those don’t bring the story to a halt, they simply slow it down. Most of the time, I keep going with a note or placeholder.

Roadblocks are more challenging. I was having trouble moving forward beca...