(**Coming soon = 2nd Annual International Plot WriMo
- Pre-plot new story
- Plot revision of NaNoWriMo
- Final test plot before send-off
Begins December 1, 2009)
The Middle of a novel, memoir, screenplay encompasses a whooping 1/2 of the scene and page count of the entire story. More writers lose their nerve in the middle of the Middle than in any other spot of the writing process.
Two ways out:
1) Develop a list of all the antagonists that will interfere with the protagonist reaching both her long and short-term goals. (For a list of antagonists, go to: Dramatic Action Plotline.) Once you have the list in place, you’ll likely find the need to introduce some of the elements earlier. CAUTION: do not go back and do it now. Make notes to yourself and attend to them in the next rewrite.
2) Develop the exotic, unusual world of the Middle. Once the protagonist moves from the Beginning into the Middle she usually enters a new world — at least new to her. Let us see, smell, taste, feel, hear that world with the use of authentic details.
Links for more on both the exotic world and the use of antagonists:
Ah, yes! In that very interesting world, lurking behind the very interesting bushes, is a very disturbed antagonist!
I just found your blog and I wanted to say how much I love the name of it! And thank you also for the information on this post.
I haven't checked in on your blog in a long time and now found you discussing exactly what I'm dealing with at the moment.
Thanks for some good ideas.