A lot of writers have trouble writing the middle of the
novel. Either they don’t know how to structure it properly or they’ve just lost
motivation (I’ve written endless posts on motivation, so try searching for
them). I think we’ve all read books that have just lost all momentum in the
middle, so here are a few ways to stop
that from happening to your novel:Try to lead to
something important – The middle is a great time for a really exciting
moment or the climax. There can be more than one, so don’t think you’re going
to waste any momentum you have.Throw in a twist – Blow
your readers minds! Is there a moment you’ve been waiting to reveal to your
audience? Do it in the middle of your novel and then deal with the aftermath.Divide it into
another three acts – Try to break down the middle of your novel into
smaller pieces. Think of it as a beginning, middle, and end. Create a structure
to follow.Introduce some new
blood – Focus on a new character. Introduce a new character. There should
be a reason for them, so don’t go completely wild, but get excited about your
new addition. Weave it into the plot.Do something drastic –
Do something unexpected to your hero. Throw a wrench in their plans. There
should be ups and downs in your novel, so fit some in here.Build an intense
action sequence – Sometimes an intense scene breaks writers out of their
doldrums. If it fits in your story, try it. Pump up the adrenaline.Plan, plan, plan – For
me, planning is the best way to figure out where my novel is going. Take a
moment to think about what’s happening in your story and find a way to organize
it.Focus on tension – Build
tension and put your readers on the edge of their seat. If there’s something
exciting happening in your third act, now’s the time to build it up.Think about the
ending – If you’re unsure about the middle of your novel, take a look at
the other parts. How are you going to get to your ending? Focus on that
journey.Make it less
complicated – Sometimes middles are hard to write because they’re too
complicated. Cut subplots that you can’t follow or just muddle up your story.Obviously, trying all of these will make an absolute mess of
your story, so pick and choose what might work for you. These are just suggestions and they won’t work
for everyone’s story. Think of them as ideas to get your creative juices
flowing.And remember, the most important ideas to pursue are those
that help drive the story forward or help reveal information about your
characters!-Kris Noel
Since you might be approaching the middle of your novel soon….