Needed to hear this today, thank you. Ironically not because I'm stuck in the middle of writing a book. For the first time in my life I got stubborn and finished a book and then finished the quartet, so everything that needs writing at the moment is written! (go me!) But now I'm in the middle of publishing and launching and marketing plans. I'm in the middle of setting up newsletters and author platforms. The end isn't in sight, yet, and I spent all my beginning energy getting book one published (and it is, super excited!) but, yeah, this middle is daunting. But not permanent!
Plots: I like to just put a line through what doesn't work (in the middle/plot ideas). I don't erase it, I keep it there as a reminder I made a decision and "why". Strangely, it feels more like progress than I have something wrong.
Middle: Stephen King wrote 4 Dark Tower books, then nothing for many years. I think it took 25/35+ yrs to finish the series...want to talk about being in the middle.
I actually love the idea of leaving the crossed-out sections instead of deleting them. There's something psychologically powerful about seeing the trail of decisions. It reminds you that the story isn't failing—it's evolving. Those "wrong" turns often teach us more than the scenes that worked on the first try.
And you're absolutely right about The Dark Tower. That's one of the best real-world examples of what the middle can look like (BTW...I only saw the movie, because I don't read anything scary, it's 112% NOT my genre).
Readers often experience a series over decades, but writers have to live those decades. Sometimes the middle isn't a few chapters—it's years of wrestling with the story until it's ready to move again.
Thanks for sharing this.
It's a great reminder that progress isn't always measured by how many new words we write, but by the decisions that move the story closer to what it's meant to become.
(Side note: Did you see the Advanced Worldbuilding Course updates? [GRIN])
You're giving me the heart to carry on. Thank you!
So glad to hear it =)
Needed to hear this today, thank you. Ironically not because I'm stuck in the middle of writing a book. For the first time in my life I got stubborn and finished a book and then finished the quartet, so everything that needs writing at the moment is written! (go me!) But now I'm in the middle of publishing and launching and marketing plans. I'm in the middle of setting up newsletters and author platforms. The end isn't in sight, yet, and I spent all my beginning energy getting book one published (and it is, super excited!) but, yeah, this middle is daunting. But not permanent!
Thank you so much for your article!
YAYYYYYY on the BOOK!
...you know, T.N., you're already 99.999% ahead of everyone else who tries to write a book. You actually comPLETED it.
So you know what to do and HOW to do it....
The only thing left is to learn how to get others to find it and read it.
It's NOT a secret.
It's NOT a trick.
It's NOT a hack.
It's being you, in an honest way, that others can relate to.
Connect with hearts and the rest will follow.
Easier said than done, my friend, but that's the key...
...and I've had a career since 1986 that proves it.
Plots: I like to just put a line through what doesn't work (in the middle/plot ideas). I don't erase it, I keep it there as a reminder I made a decision and "why". Strangely, it feels more like progress than I have something wrong.
Middle: Stephen King wrote 4 Dark Tower books, then nothing for many years. I think it took 25/35+ yrs to finish the series...want to talk about being in the middle.
Thanks for the reminders!!
Neil, that's such a good observation.
I actually love the idea of leaving the crossed-out sections instead of deleting them. There's something psychologically powerful about seeing the trail of decisions. It reminds you that the story isn't failing—it's evolving. Those "wrong" turns often teach us more than the scenes that worked on the first try.
And you're absolutely right about The Dark Tower. That's one of the best real-world examples of what the middle can look like (BTW...I only saw the movie, because I don't read anything scary, it's 112% NOT my genre).
Readers often experience a series over decades, but writers have to live those decades. Sometimes the middle isn't a few chapters—it's years of wrestling with the story until it's ready to move again.
Thanks for sharing this.
It's a great reminder that progress isn't always measured by how many new words we write, but by the decisions that move the story closer to what it's meant to become.
(Side note: Did you see the Advanced Worldbuilding Course updates? [GRIN])
AWB: I saw some of them when you added your “master list” of questions. I haven’t been back since.
Ah. Total overhaul.
Decided to take all the feedback to heart and strive to expand the content to assist with different learning needs.
I know I can't do everything for everyone, but some of the suggestions were solid. This was my attempt to fill those possible learning gaps.
I’ll have to take a look. I used your Event/Core/Why this last weekend, for a new story idea. 👍