I know, I know - not everyone is a planner. But, if you're stuck, give this a try. Think about the ending and how the story will end. Write down what happens just before the ending; then what happens right before that. Do this for about eight to ten steps backward. What you learn may just surprise you. This exercise may reveal a hidden element of the character’s behavior and maybe even rethink who the villain is.

This has been suggested to me and I've seen it suggested to others more times than I can remember. Reading your story aloud to yourself has many benefits. It can help you catch errors; in spelling and grammar. This can also help you visualize the story and spot holes - just like when you are retelling an event to a friend.

If you feel like the story is stalling, maybe it's because you're having trouble connecting to the character(s). Take a break and write up some backstory for the character. None of it needs to become part of the story, but this exercise can help bring the character to life for you. Maybe the character has an interesting hobby or a nasty temper that may not show up in the story. Regardless, a character benefits from a back story and will help your writing, too.

Jot down several different titles - all very different on slips of paper. Throw them in a cup and pick out one at random. Type it as the title of your story on the computer. Take a few minutes to think about the title and let your imagination run with it. Then discard it. Do the same for two more you pick at random. After you've done that, leave the story title space blank and use the title as a tagline or description. The plot just might begin to surface with a clarity that wasn’t there before!