An impulse as a writer is to get to an ending before shutting down the computer for the day. The productive author might decide not to stop writing until the end of a scene or a chapter. With fiction, the author feels relieved when the character has arrived at a good stopping place. With nonfiction, the author may have finished summing up five ways to declutter a closet, and that’s that.

Once a writer has reached a natural break in the plot or summary, sometimes jumping to the next scene or topic can be a challenge. Returning to a manuscript the subsequent day can feel challenging for the dispirited author. Here are a couple of ideas to help writers get back into the groove:

1. 1. End the day’s writing with a question. Then you must answer the question, so you can resume writing quickly:
      Jerome, do you remember your promise to me? Resume with Jerome’s reply, especially if you’re excited to write the response.
      Candy, do you want orange juice? Mundane, yes, but Candy’s answer can lead to a meaningful sentence to move the plot forward.
      What is the best way to pray? The nonfiction author can answer this immediately.
   2. Don’t have a question? Try a demand:
      “Hand over the gun! Now.”
      “Stop!”
      “I insist you tell me what’s going on.” In all of the above, the following sentence should write itself.
   3. A suggestion works well:
      Make time to pray every afternoon. Now, how do we do that?
      Set your alarm for 5 AM each day. I won’t, but you can suggest why I should.
   4. Perhaps a promise:
      “I told Aunt Mae we’d go to Wisconsin.” So, are we going or not? Why?
      Here’s an example of forgiveness. Be ready to share the story.

What are your favorite ways to return to your manuscript after a break?