For all you writers out there, I have a question. How do you write the middle of your stories?

Question

This is my problem: I always start out with a really great idea; a good beginning and end, but I struggle horribly with the middle of my story. I've been working on this for years and I am in need of advice... any ideas on how to make the body part of my story smooth(er) sailing?

Answer 1

I began my writing doing "fanfiction" which I upload to websites and get feedback on. So I've grown very used to going chapter by chapter. I know that sounds kinda dumb, most people write one chapter at a time. But when you're writing a "book" (I am, by the way) you tend to just see it as one long story, rather than something that you write ten to fifteen pages on, then get feedback. When you're looking at one long story, sometimes it starts to feel hopeless, like you'll never get it done.

I try to focus on only one chapter at a time. I want each chapter to have something funny, dramatic, exciting...etc. I write each chapter as if it will have to stand on it's own. When I post my chapters for fanfiction, each chapter has to really hold the readers interest or they're not going to bother coming back when I post the next one. So generally, I write out a chapter, go back through it, then let my sister read and critique it for me (since I obviously won't post my original work online for others to read) before I bother trying to go on to the next. Focusing on only one small part of the plot at one time, helps break it up and I don't feel like parts are dragging or stalling. Taking it step by step, really makes it feel more "do-able" to me.

Sorry for the rambling, it's 1:30 in the morning and I'm sleepy. :) Good luck!

Answer 2

It's good that you have your beginning and ending. Maybe if you put them into perspective you can find that writing the middle is easier.

First, remember that all stories are quests. Your character's respond to a call and have a goal and must have a conclusion in the last act's final climax where the character reaches (or does not reach) the goal. What makes the character respond to the call is the inciting incident.

So, in between all this is your middle. This is where your character must try to seek the goal and find that it becomes progressively more difficult as he/she encounters greater adversity and conflict.

Like life, we take the least action we believe is necessary. If you asked me to open the door. I'm going to simply try to open it. If it doesn't open, it might be locked. So, maybe I'm going to pull harder just in case the second time. Then if it doesn't open, I'm going to maybe twist the handle while pulling even harder. Then I'm going to look around for a key if it still doesn't open. It would have been irrational had I started by first looking for a key. In all these tries, it opens up a gap in my expectation of result. Your scenes should create the same thing while moving your story forward.

Because you know your ending and your beginning (and if indeed the inciting incident and final act's climax are related, as they must be) then you can plot the middle in a series of scenes, sequences, and acts that reveal more information while sending your character through the quest.

Some of the best exercises are watching movies and seeing how they fill in the middle. It's not a coincidence, that all screenwriters plot their stories.

Check out some of the tutorials on how to do that on Story Entertainment:
http://www.storyentertainment.com

If you want to e-mail your outline, I could maybe give you some advice at where I think you're struggling. Include your theme, which is very important (you do know your theme, right?) =)

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Bread, meat, bread. It's a sandwich. A mild beginning can be overlooked. A mediocre or drifty ending can be forgiven. If there's no meat in the middle it's just a couple of pieces of bread you wish youhadn't swallowed. Make it juicy. Make it juicy, make it aromatic, make it savory. Make it -----passionate. The middle part is what you need to write---for yourself----even more than for the reader. It's where all the exposition you used as a frame for the beginning and the whunk factor of the end can showcase what the real intent ( which is what the middle of a book should be about, mainly) is. What curves which way ,and how it feels.

Answer 4

In order to get a middle of the story, you write down whatever details you feel people must know about the characters. You will then have so much written down that you have no choice but to design how they got to where they are at in the conclusion.

This leads to actually changing some of the beginning and ending of your story to make more sense out of it, and these changes improve upon your ideas.

Answer 5

A good beginning and end will set you up with a general plotline...what you need is the actual story in between them. You need to plot out the entire thing...know how you're going to start it and finish it and then work out the general story in the middle...then write it and fill in all the little details. The story will come alive.

Answer 6

You need an outline of the ENTIRE story and where it is going before you even begin. I would suggest also some courses that will help you with story development. If you have struggled this long and still have not gotten further with your stories, then you need the help of someone who knows a whole lot more than you do. Again outlines, synopsis (both for your own use) and courses and writing workshops.

Answer 7

Well, I'm an aspiring writer myself and am working on two stories right now (fantasy/fiction). What I usually do in the middle of my stories is create obstacles and conflicts or hurdles that your character(s) have to overcome. You can also introduce new characters as you go along in the middle of your story and add scenes or places that they go to and from. For example, if your story is about a mother seeking to find her long lost child that she gave up for adoption at birth, you can add a scene in the middle of the story where the mother stumbles upon information about the father of her child. She has to locate him, but in the process, finds out that he is involved with drugs and alcohol. The mother finds him and, for her to tell him she has found their daughter, she steps in to help him overcome his addiction..... and so on and so on. Do you see where I'm going with this? :D This is just an example (kinda poor one, but for arguments' sake) of what you could do to the 'middle' of your story. Just let your story flow. The characters and scenes, etc. will come to you. Let your story 'talk' to you. Just relax and let your story flow from your heart.

Answer 8

Keeping in mind the major plot and how you want it to move along, build sub-plots, additional characters, and loads of tenseness to keep the reader, and you, going. Have the peaks and valleys of the scenes intermingled sufficiently.

Above all, edit frequently.

Answer 9

Determine what you want to happen.Chart your path including time line and places. The narrative will follow.