The Big, Bad Middle of Your Novel
If you’re stuck at any point in this labyrinth, I wrote a piece about it that was published today in Writing Raw. It’s a gig New York Writers Workshop set up–just one more indication of how committed they are to their teachers and building a writing community. (Yes, I love these guys.)
Check it out and find your way out of the middle of your manuscript and back to dry land!
Great article, Jenny! I have the hardest time with the 3rd quarter. All the laying of elements get me through that first part of the middle, but the second part of the middle… where you pull it back together again, can be sort of painful. That reminder to keep raising stakes though, is a good one to remember. (I probably STILL will keep writing first and catching this in revisions, but that is just me… if I fix in process, the process ceases for a good long time)
Comment by Hart — February 8, 2011 @ 12:32 pm
You and me both, Hart–that’s exactly how I feel. But I thought I’d put it out there for those more sensible folk
Comment by jenny — February 8, 2011 @ 1:27 pm
Awesome, Jenny!
Comment by Savvy — February 8, 2011 @ 1:53 pm
Loved your ideas!
Comment by Judy — February 8, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
Nice article, Jenny. Good advice. I was pondering the (don’t laugh here,) 3/8 through the 6/8 parts of my 2nd act, wondering what I could do to ramp the tension. Your article helped. xo,
Comment by Pamela DuMond — February 10, 2011 @ 3:51 pm
Why would I laugh, Pam?? That’s great that you can pinpoint just where a trouble spot might be–I think I see some film background coming into play here? A sort of scene-by-scene understanding? I am really interested in your process. Wish we could get together sometime and workshop something–I think I would learn a lot. Well, maybe someday we will!
Comment by jenny — February 10, 2011 @ 3:54 pm