"Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door," says that old axiom. How true. If you aspire to be a published author, then that should always be your first job. What job is that? To come up with a plot idea that is better than everybody else's—in your mind, at least.

So, let us say that you have a plot idea, a good grasp on your characters, know the conflicts in your story, and have a solid idea of where you want that story to go. Great!

Next, you start writing. Things are going well.

However, what if, dare I say, you hit the dreaded writer's block wall? What can you do to beat it? Better yet, how can you avoid it altogether?

On the following pages are five tips that just may be your solution.