The Messy Middle of a Novel: It’s Not Just You
Methods to overcome your block and finish your novel
Photo by Ryan Snaadt on Unsplash
A writer friend reached out about being “stuck” in the middle of her novel. She felt like she’d written everything she could. After weeks of staring at a blank page, she wasn’t sure she could finish the novel. Or ever finish a novel. The feeling consumed her, pulling her into a pit of complete hopelessness.
That is a horrible feeling. Most of us have been there. I wanted to help her past this struggle as soon as possible, so I shared the advice that helped me through it. I figured it was worth sharing here since she and I aren’t the only ones to fall into this trap.
In my most recent manuscript, I started inspired. Words poured out of me as I gleefully flung the story onto the page. Writing this story was going to be easy! I thought as my fingers flew across my keyboard.
Then I hit the 32,000-word mark.
My goal for the first draft was 70,000 words (approximately 280 pages). I’d hit the middle with a splat as forceful as if I’d run into a cement wall.
The words dried up. I sat at my computer, but nothing came to me.
Like many writers, I am a “plantser” — a cross between a plotter and a someone who writes by the seat of their pants. I always know the set up, the mid-point twist, and the end. Rather than writing strictly in order, I often write what comes most clearly to me that day. But no matter how precise my outline, or how clear the plot was in my head, filling in those blanks to complete the story felt impossible.
Notice I said “felt” impossible. Even though all my senses said the story in me had dried up and I would never finish that draft, I knew from other writers that this is often a sign that I was probably exhausted, and something in the story might have gone astray without me realizing it. Most of all, I knew there were ways to fix it.
So if you’re slogging through the messy middle, don’t lose hope. Like I told my friend, you’ve got this! Here’s the advice I found that helped me break through that block.
1. Step away from the page
Just for a moment. Maybe a day. That “time lost” isn’t lost at all — regaining your focus will take a lot less time than staring at a blank page in frustration for weeks on end.
No matter how counterintuitive it feels, take a break. Breathe deeply. Do something you enjoy that is completely unrelated to writing.
Let your poor brain let go of the problem, and it’ll be rested and ready to tackle that obstacle when you next sit down.
2. Review cause and effect
Rather than get overwhelmed by the 50% that still needs to be written, focus on teh cause and effect of what’s already on the page.
Each plot point should not only lead to the next, it should cause the next.
A character whose actions have consequences feels more three-dimensional to a reader because they influence and affect the world around them.
Conversely, if a character moves through the story without having any influence over consequences, not only will the plot feel contrived, but the author is more likely to get mired in that messy middle.
So if you’re struggling to figure out what to write next — whether you’re a plotter, a pantser, or something in between — focus on what just happened, and what consequences might come of those actions.
Specifically, what complications can come of those events?
3. Brainstorm complications
Complications make stories interesting. No reader wants to read about happy characters who never have to face their worst fears, or overcome challenges they aren’t sure they can beat.
Good story is about overcoming hardship.
So instead of going with the next logical consequence for a plot point, ask yourself: What is the worst that could happen? What is the most unexpected outcome of what just happened? What dominoes could fall as a result, piling up complication after complication for your character?
Or, what consequence of an earlier action could come back to haunt your character? Maybe the issue needed time to marinate before posing a problem.
Brainstorm ideas, and go with the choice that is most painful to your character that also relates to the overall story and theme.
The more closely related to the central theme and struggle, the more meaningful the challenge and outcome. Consequences linked to the overall theme make the reader invested in what happens to your character.
Not only will this worst-case scenario linked to theme get you through the messy middle, it will take the whole story to the next level.
And if that still doesn’t get you out of the bog between “Once upon a time…” and “The End”, it’s time to work backward.
4. Revisit previous plot points to see where the story stalled
It’s possible you’re getting stuck now due to a plot point in a previous chapter. Don’t worry, it’s easier to fix than it seems.
Go back to the last major plot point, where things seem to be leading inevitably to where you are now. Do the previous brainstorm method from there. Ask yourself: How many ways can this decision go wrong for my character?
Once you decide on a new direction to take the story, pull all the words that follow that pivotal plot point into a folder. The prose may not work here, but it may work somewhere else. Even if it doesn’t, those words weren’t wasted — they were practice to help you sharpen your craft.
Rewriting can feel frustrating, but it is also one of the quickest ways to get past the messy middle. And what’s scarier: rewriting a couple thousand words or having no idea how to write half the book?
I’d rather toss a few thousand words out the window if it means getting to “The End”.
We find ourselves in the messy middle because we’ve pushed ourselves too far in the wrong direction. Don’t be afraid to take a different tack.
My friend realized she’d been putting every waking hour into that story, exhausting herself to the point where she couldn’t see where her plot made a wrong turn. One rewritten chapter later, and she was on her way.
So if you find yourself stuck in the messy middle of your novel, don’t despair. It’s more common than you realize, and totally fixable.