I have the Anne-of-Green-Gable-ish habit of letting my characters run the show. (My last full-length novel was taken over by a secondary character who became the MC by sheer stubbornness.) I think that adds clarity and realism, rather than forcing them to bend to my will, but they've gone catterwampus on me. (And, yes, I'm from the South.)
Technically, I suppose I'm dealing with writer's block, but in reality, I'm dealing with a scene where the characters do something bizarre, and then go back to the "norm." I've taken out the two-and-a-half chapter segment where they run wild on me, but I *cannot* make them do anything else. Every time I go to write, my mind goes down their rabbit trail, and I'm a chronological writer, so I can't skip ahead. My other issue is that some things later in the story would be helped by the presence of this scene - I just can't bring myself to permit it. Any ideas?
Technically, I suppose I'm dealing with writer's block, but in reality, I'm dealing with a scene where the characters do something bizarre, and then go back to the "norm." I've taken out the two-and-a-half chapter segment where they run wild on me, but I *cannot* make them do anything else. Every time I go to write, my mind goes down their rabbit trail, and I'm a chronological writer, so I can't skip ahead. My other issue is that some things later in the story would be helped by the presence of this scene - I just can't bring myself to permit it. Any ideas?