Writing How do you get through the dreaded middle point?

[CharlesEBrown]

Use condom.

Ah, the protected speech method?

 

[QuercusMalus]

My usual trick is to have something go to hell. Could be something little, could be something big, but its something else they have to address well continuing the main point.

 

[Story_Marc]

Here is how I do it.

 

[Avery_Line]

I start with the ending. Where is everything going to end up?

That gives me the tail end of each character's emotional arc, growth and the final result (good or bad) of their personal stakes and conflict.

Put a beginning state for each character's emotional arc.
Put the starting point for their growth.
Describe the staring point or pre-conflict.

Now work backwards and summarize the plot beats that bring you from the ending states to the beginning states.
Make each chapter a focal point of one of those transitions, emotions, increasing stakes, moment of growth, or furthering the conflict.
Put in whatever glue chapter are needed, and try to get from staring arcs to ending states as gracefully as you can.

 

[Bartun]

I had the same problem when writing my story. I think all writers have.

In my case, I solved it by writing longer chapters, so each chapter feels like its own mini-story with a start and end, and I can slowly walk the reader to the big reveal at the end. The negative side is it takes me too long to write a single chapter but sometimes, writing short chapters feels like filler to the reader even though the writer didn't intend it. We must find a balance.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

If the middle of your book isn't as fun to write as the beginning and ending, then you've got a problem. If you're not having fun writing it, your readers won't have fun reading it. Yes, the begining of the book is the hook, and the ending is the climax, but there should still be enough happening in the middle to keep your (and the reader's) attention.

 

[LoneQuack]

I haven't reached that point yet in my story, so I can't talk from any kind of experience, but I think it boils down to how well thought out the ending is. Note that this ending isn't necessarily of the entire book, it can be of the volume, the arc, etc.

I have done that for the entire book, thus have a rough image of how long its going to be and what each volume will roughly contain, and did the same with the current volume I am working on. Before I begin writing the first chapter of the volume, I think to myself and create bullets for which stuff should happen and which I want to happen. The moment I begin writing the first chapter I already have a plan as to how I am going to end up in the bullet, but have it open enough to allow change in case I find a better idea. That has worked well for me.

My problem (mostly) lies in my inexperience as a writer, and that's what I am currently working on, so it will take some time to fix, but I'm going to end it here, because I'm going off topic.


Cheers!