Here are a few things you can do.
Think about the psychology of your character. How would your character think though this situation?
List five characteristics of your character that would allow him or her to move on and add to the story.
- 1 personality trait that has been unexplored so far, but that trickled from another more obvious trait. (For example, a bold character could also not care for his life or could think no one else is able to handle things. Get someone to remind him where he is she is making a mistake, which is a great way to create conflict and get the main character to do something silly.)
- 1 view on the world (The way a character views the world is unique and conflicts with other people's views of the same world. Put your main character in a situation where he or she will reveal his or her true thoughts. This has a potential to create conflict and restart the action. A friend could end up offended or a group might start doubting the character or dislike him. )
- 1 hope for the world (The main character could express a hope he or she has never expressed before. Dig deeper. What would the character most likely hope at this moment in your story? What is a less known hope that could be there hiding in the dark? Is it something personal, intimate, shameful, uncontrollable? Sometimes main characters forget themselves to help others realize their dreams. What is the one thing that your character hid from others and would make his or her day? What is a secret hope that would make others turn away from her? Create a setback.)
- 1 strength (Usually main characters show their strengths very quickly and direct the action through their strengths. Think of a strength of the main character that has not been explored very well so far. Maybe he or she is compassionate or listens to others very well. For example, get your character to listen to someone or promote a group that has been forgotten.)
- 1 weakness
- Is your character insecure about something? Is he or she unable to get away from the situation and will reproduce the same problem over and over again with direr consequences every time?
- Is your character naïve? Maybe your character has been believing that things would return to normal quickly, but realizes that his or her ideas of the world clash with reality. Show the reality of the world in a cruel way. You could also value his or her naivete and make it shine in some way.
- Is your character prejudiced against something? Make sure he or she will express this prejudice is a virulent way. Make sure characters who do not share the main character's point of view clash with the hero.
- Is your character stubborn about something and would get into trouble just to prove his or her point? What consequences trickle down from not facing reality?
-Is your character unable to face the past and everything that reminds him or her of the past would be erased or waved aside? Does his or her inability to take into consideration a lesson from the past will put him or her in a critical situation? If yes, make it play out now. Is your character unable to forget about what people did to him or her and the character will keep looking for revenge or justice no matter what? Will the main character choose this moment to remind her best friend the day her best friend stole one of her lovers? Will the main character chose this moment to act like a dummy? Main characters are not always glorious. They do have weak moments and moments they are not so proud of. Make this play out now.
Does your character lack self-confidence and will hesitate before tackling a delicate matter? The character needs to believe in himself or herself more and maybe this new situation will afford that?
Does your character doubt his or self-worth and will not see his or her true value? Maybe the character has the ability to solve the problem, but refuses to see that. Maybe your character cannot stop people from walking all over him or her. Maybe this is her first rebellion? Maybe she starts believing others for the first time and it does not turn out that great.
Add as much tension or conflict as you can to restart a chapter that has met a wall. You could also allow your character to slow down the pace