Tuesday, September 14, 2010

In a Muddle Over the Middle

When we start our WIP, there is a lot of enthusiasm going; to keep the initial chapters strong, to introduce the character and  the setting, to hook the readers into the story, we give it our best shot  and when we end, extra attention is invested in the last few chapters to tie all the loose ends together, to effectively resolve the conflict. The beginning and the ending  take tremendous effort from us. They actually tire us so much that we have little energy to tackle the middle chapters.

It’s the middle that has us in a muddle. It’s either flabby and inflated: carrying extra layers of story fat, or  sunken: devoid of attention grabbing conflict. The middle lot of chapters tend to shed momentum, the pace slackens and things slow down to a crawl.

It’s at this point readers lose interest in the story. Its then the time to ask ourselves how to keep the middle as sharp,  spicy,  crisp and interesting as the rest of the book.

I have realized that a lot can be done to spruce up and tighten the middle.  I am currently doing  this. A few plot twists  can stir things up, the introduction of a new character  will keep reader interest alive, even the exit of an old character will elevate  the suspense. A life altering situation can  be added. As well as few surprises;  both for the reader and the protagonist.  The middle  can also be  the start of the final clash which we can call the pre-final climax. The protagonist will then  have to make a decision on the  next course of action.

 The middle of my current  WIP  has settled down to a slow trot.  My middle chapters   need a really good stirring up.  So I  added a  little emotional turbulence and  made it a time for the protagonist to indulge in a bit of introspection about her motives. Inner conflict  was  increased. What  was my  character willing to sacrifice to achieve  her  goal?  If  she doesn’t win  what would be the consequences and what  would  happen to her?  

The middle is  the time to push our protagonists  out of their comfort zones, throw them into shark/whale infested waters and watch them battle successfully. The protagonists have to earn their stripes. They have to tie their shoe laces tightly and ready themselves for the final round. We can  add a life threatening event which will shake the protagonist and the reader out of their boredom induced stupor.  

Middle portions of manuscripts are trying and taxing indeed. What do you all do to keep the  interest and suspense alive? Is there any way to tighten the middle belt? Please share your middle secrets with us, as we all often get in a muddle over the middle.

16 comments:

  1. Just wanted to say thank you, Rachna, for your encouraging comments on my blog and sharing in my excitement with my book release!

    And, yes, I think you've pin-pointed a definite problem that we all face--those sagging middles. As I'm plotting my book, I usually try to think of set pieces or major story-turners that I can place in the middle. And I also keep in mind that I want the page-turning effect in the middle, adding tension and conflict, especially mid-way to keep the reader from wanting to put the book down. It's something worth striving for!!

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  2. I plot my entire story before I begin writing so I know where the plot twists are and who to write to lead up to them. I plan my middle so that the reader begins to learn secrets about the character and plot details that will lead into the end. The key is to keep the suspense/momentum/intensity building.

    Jai

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  3. This post comes at a good time, Rachna! I'm finishing up my new story, and I've been so focused on working toward the ending, I haven't analyzed the middle to see if it sags. I suspect that when I go back over the whole thing, I'll find it needs beefing up. Thanks for a good post at a good time.

    Jai, I envy you. When I've tried to plot a whole book out, the steam goes out of my writing. I think subconciously I feel like it's already been written, or something like that. I have to keep some mystery to stay motivated, I guess. I haven't really figured out why.

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  4. Yes, middles do get muddy and muddled and all sorts of things! Like the way you put that. :) I think being a plotter can help this. Not always perhaps, but often. Thanks!

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  5. Tension definitely helps for an unmuddled middle. The freshness of new characters also helps :)

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  6. Jody, thinking of set pieces or major story turners for the middle chapters is a good idea.

    Jai..though nowadays I have a basic plot outline in mind I still need to work on the middle chapters, as I have realized they tend to lose pace.

    Elizabeth, middle chapters are very crucial. While reading books, I get bored if the pace slows down or there is no plot twist.

    Karen...plotting always helps. Wish I was better at plotting. But am working on it.

    Lynda...I am quite fond of adding/introducing new characters in the middle chapters.

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  7. Elizabeth, I find that plotting actually helps me to continue writing because knowing where the story is going takes the pressure off me and leaves me free to relax into my characters. It might have something to do with my background as an actor too as knowing the plot always helped me to delve deeper into the characters so that I could understand them.

    Rachna, it is important to work on the parts of the book that you feel are weaker and make them as strong as the rest. I always feel that my beginnings are weaker so I work extra hard on them.

    Jai

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  8. I love your suggestions. I try to have new obstacles but hadn't thought of introducing a new character mid-way. That might be a good thing to try too as you said. I am also trying to plot more of my book out ahead of time so it won't flop there as much.

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  9. I agree! The middle is the perfect time to push our characters out of their comfort zones! I like to make a list of 10 problems I could give them right at that point and shower my wrath upon them!

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  10. Jai...I badly need to work on my weaknesses and hopefully make these portions of the book strong. Actually even I am working on my beginings.

    Terri... try it. I introduced two new characters in the middle of my current WIP and was lucky enough to get a new sub-plot and a twist.

    Anne..I have read about the 10 problems you give your characters in the middle chapters. I found your post on middle chapters very useful and helpful.

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  11. The middles are always the most challenging bit, because I guess many people (including me) start out thinking of a scene and say ‘what a great hook’ or ‘what a great ending’ but we rarely ever think of ‘what a great middle’ a scene would make.

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  12. Middles are fun for me. It is a challenge to give my character as much as she/he can handle. The middle presents the rising conflict. It is when we develop the characters and their world. Advance the external plot. And lots of things can happen in the middle.

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  13. Great post, Rachna and thanks for dropping in. My middle on the last book was where I got stuck - twice. The first draft and the significantly changed second draft dragged and I couldn't get them out. It took six months to get over that hump the first time and at least a month the second time. I guess the good news is, I got faster. ;D I'm not looking forward to it with this book as I have even less plot layed out for this book. Yikes! I am a pantser to a degree, but I wish I knew more of where I was headed than I know right now. Hmmm. Add more tension. LOL Always a good idea!

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  14. I even have trouble with the middle of paintings and poems too. The middle is still far from the end and the fire is almost out. Although, writing a book is a very long process and mine is collecting dust.
    It's true, middles are muddled!!

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  15. Loved this post! Yup, the middle can get muddle-y for me too. Jack Bickham's Scene and Structure helped me piece together middle segments. It's always a challenge.

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  16. Yes, this can be a tricky place. I'm working my way out of the middle, and I threw in some tricks I had planned for the end. When I do my second read-through, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

    Good luck with YOUR middle!

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