Muddy middle, mushy middle, sagging middle. Call it what you will, many writers find the middle the most difficult section to write. It’s at this point that your story is likely to wander off as you struggle to tie the two ends of your tale together. You may find yourself suffering from writer’s block as your characters reach a lull in the action or you’re unsure of how to proceed. Luckily, this is a problem that has many solutions! In this article, we’ll look at what you can do to avoid a sagging middle.
Tip # 1 Give your characters clear goals
Character goals are the underlying premise that drives your plot forward. If your protagonist does not have a clear goal from the start, it is easy to get lost and turn your middle into a forest of confusion that your reader can’t navigate. When you find yourself getting stuck in the middle, ask yourself “What do my characters want? What desire is fueling their actions?” Consider how your characters intend to achieve their goals and what obstacles they will have to overcome to do so. List the steps they will follow in the pursuit of their goals and how they will change as a result of their experiences. Plotting out the journey of your characters, based on the pursuit of their goals, leaves less room for a sagging middle than jumping from the beginning to the end.
Tip # 2 Plot your story
Sagging middles are often due to a lack of story structure. Keeping a reader engaged and turning the pages relies on being able to add layers of depth to your story as it progresses. In the middle of your story, your protagonist should encounter obstacles that force them to adjust to meet the circumstances. Before writing your novel, establish your main plot points. Each plot point should change the story in some way and drive the plot forward, providing a natural progression to the story’s eventual climax and resolution.
Tip # 3 Increase the tension
We’ve all read a book that’s un-putdownable. That keeps you turning the pages well after your bedtime, incapable of turning off the light until you find out what happens. What’s the magic ingredient of these stories? It comes down to one key factor, tension. Tension is that delicious sense of anticipation. Of needing to know what happens to the characters. As you progress through the middle of your story you should be slowly building anticipation for the climax. One way to do this is by increasing the level of conflict in your story. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. In short, you want to make the situation as difficult as possible for your protagonist. Conflict can be external, between characters or between characters and their external world, or internal, when a character holds opposing values. Consider tempting your protagonist away from their goal by pitting two opposing wants against each other. For example, a mother may love her children dearly yet still struggle with learning how to manage her needs and those of her kids.
Tip # 4 Introduce new characters
Introducing new characters that add depth to your story can be a fantastic way to revive a sagging middle. New characters can breathe new life into your story, adding suspense and conflict to your plot. We see this a lot on television shows – just as things are beginning to stabilize or return to normal, a peripheral character does something to create further interest and discord, keeping the story moving.
Tip # 5 Create interesting subplots
Subplots are an excellent way to add texture and interest to a story, especially in the middle of a novel. These subplots can teach your character new skills or knowledge they need to achieve their goals. While your subplots can be used to make the protagonist’s story more dynamic, they must still serve the story as a whole.
Tip # 6 Focus on your story’s premise
As you progress through your novel, continue to ask yourself how each new action, page, or chapter helps move your character through the story. This ensures that the story progresses naturally while continue to engage your reader. If your character isn’t moving closer towards their ultimate end, the story becomes boring. However, if you throw in a curveball just to grab the audience’s attention, it can feel like a contrived attempt.
The Bottom Line
Writing the middle of your novel can be challenging. Ultimately, it’s the point at which you want to maintain the reader’s interest as you build-up to the climax of your story. Throughout the middle you want the reader to connect with your characters and sympathize with their struggles, establishing a genuine connection with the narrative. Keep your story premise and the central conflict in your mind as you write to ensure that the plot progresses and the reader stays engaged. A sagging middle is not the nail in the coffin for your novel. It is merely an obstacle that, with a bit of forethought and planning, can be easily overcome.
