Getting stuck

You hear it all the time, when writing is working it rushes out our fingers onto the keyboard. When its not...its likely there is a problem. Identifying this problem is key to getting the story moving again.

Things that cause issues:

1. Not having done adequate research. This will always cause a hitch in your get-a-long.
   
2. Not really knowing your characters (see research)
3. Not really knowing (or following) your plot (see research)

In the first draft I'm a big fan of avoidance, I just jump to the next scene, chapter etc. There are drawbacks to this plan, but if I stop every time I have an issue, I'll never write the first draft. No first draft - no book.