Writing Hitch

Have you ever been plugging along and come upon a major writing hitch that gave you reason to pause?

This happened to me yesterday. I'm really making strides in my re-write of my WIP. I've got all sorts of new goals and motivations and conflicts that are really making the story come to life (according to Katie, the only person who has read the new version so far).

But I needed to sort of explain the motivation of the hero in simple terms and that motivation comes in the financial world...meshing with insurance and benefits and health care plans that I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about.

So I highlighted the section and kept plugging along, because I didn't want to lose my momentum. I finish the chapter, send it off to Katie, and of course, while Katie is critiquing she writes, "What's this highlighted for?"

Which lands me right back in that place of confusion. I NEED AN INSURANCE EXPERT.

Good thing my father happens to be one. So we start talking this morning about all the possible scenarios that might happen if a man were to leave his wife (hero's mother) and leave her with nothing. And when she's in need of long-term care, there's no money. But what if they had gotten a divorce? Wouldn't she get 50%? What about if the man just stops paying the premium on the policy and the hero was too young (and the mother too grief-stricken) to really pay attention to things like long-term care policies? Is there such a thing as a signature oversight that would render the hero's mom insurance-less (not a word, I know, but go with me)?

Needless to say, my head is swimming and I'm not even sure I've got a handle on it yet.

Add that to me trying to do some research on the Internet yesterday about long-term care facilities (specifically assisted living homes in California). In order to get pricing information I had to fill out some forms online (which I put my real email address but a bogus phone number) about who I was and who I wanted to put in a home. So now I'm getting emails from eldercare specialists about putting my mother away! Sorta funny...but you do what you gotta do.

Q4U: Has this ever happened to you? How did you solve the hitch? And do any of you think you can explain this insurance thing to me? :)