The advice that follows will actually address two problems that you may be experiencing. Namely, (1) lack of flow and (2) how to write emotions that are realistic and compelling.
The advice:
Ask yourself, what am I feeling right now?
Maybe you’re moving through grief for a job loss. Are you struggling with a reconciliation or break-up? Or perhaps you’re having to face the reality that your parent needs more care. Are you in a tug-of-war with your neighbours? Or maybe you are so bored that you could cry out of frustration.
Whatever it is, write about that. If you have to feel it out for yourself, why not use it for the novel too?
Start with a free-writing exercise in which you dump all the jumbled thoughts in your brain. No need to use punctuation or edit. Simply dump. Better yet, do it with pen and paper so that you’re not tempted to back space.
Once it’s all out. set those pages aside for a few hours. Wash some dishes. Make a focaccia. Go faffing! But while you do these other things, ask yourself some follow-up questions. Is one of my characters going through a similar experience? Or can I add something to the plot that requires this emotion being addressed? (ex. killing someone off or moving your main character into a period of introspection)
When you come back to the writing, this is when you revise to add your characters’ names, you trim the corners so that it fits into the flow of the scene, and you adjust the details to better dovetail with your existing plot and setting.
This one little question has always helped me get back into the flow. It has also occasionally pushed my plot in surprising new directions and it never fails to improve the rhythm and depth of my scenes.
Another extra bonus? Writing through the emotions inevitably helps me process my thoughts and feelings on a personal level as well. A little catharsis with that character development, thank you very much.
Have you ever tried this? Did it work?