Yeah, that happens. It's really hard to keep going. Sometimes outlines help, sometimes going back to what inspired you in the first place does, sometimes just powering through will do it. Sometimes having someone there on the other end to keep pouring out plot twists and ideas works, and sometimes it's a simple matter of figuring out logically what your character has done, what they want, and what they're going to do next. What doesn't help is giving up. I've done that myself, far too often. It's so easy just to let it sit, but the longer you do it, the harder it is to come back.

(You don't have to read this next part, it's just me rambling again.)

One of the things keeping me here is a feeling of still being new, having others writing who have been here much longer and know a lot more than I do; the old and wise towering above, holding up the sky so that I and others like me can grow ivy at their feet. That idea of being small, living in a place made for giants to roam, somehow makes it easier to find ever more space to fill up in my tiny corner of this world.

Rose~

I wake Sybill shortly after dawn. She yawns and rolls over, and we have breakfast.

"When do you think we'll reach Mer?" Sybill asks as we set out again.

"I'm not sure," I respond, "but likely in somewhere around a day or two."

"Ah." Then, after a pause, "Are you excited?"

I consider it. "Actually... yes, a little bit." I'm not sure why, but something about the idea of so many people and so many things, most of which I might have never seen before, quickens my heartbeat. "Are you?"

"Yeah," Sybill replies without hesitation. "There's going to be so much to see and do! What kind of food do you think they'll have? Probably all kinds. Mmm, I can't wait to try them!"

I smile. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. Food's going to cost something."

"But not that much, right?" she protests.

"Merchants may mark up the prices for the event, given how many people won't know what their wares are truly worth. I will promise to get you something interesting, though, since it's kind of the point of going."

"Yes!"

We pass the time in speculation, and with evening comes the discovery of a small village. 

"There's an inn," I point. "Would you like to stay the night here, or shall we keep going?" 

~An inn might be more comfort to Rose than to Sybill, and it'll require payment, which will mean less to spend at the flea market. But there'll also be a change of food, and they might hear some news in the dining area.

I've never seen The Phantom of the Opera, but I've heard it's good.

That sounds awesome! Do you want to work it into the Mer flea market? 

She'll probably want to walk on her own.