by Jackson Palmer
Hello! It’s January, named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings.
It’s hard not to see writing a book like a New Year’s resolution. You have a clear idea, you start out strong… Then, when April comes around, things get murky. Labor Day is taken off. You try too hard on Halloween. And then the end of the year approaches and you galvanize yourself into making that final push and emerge… triumphant!
Or are you?
At a writers’ conference last year I heard a publisher say they never read the first few pages. They skip to page 99. If the writing is still strong, they go back to the beginning and give the book a chance.
Wowza.
Many books start, and end, strongly. But the middle sometimes sags and a reader finds their attention wavering. Authors tend to miss this because 1) they’re too close to the story, and 2) they think their story is bookended by two pieces of brilliance. Everything should be clear to a reader, right?
Not always.
So, how do you make sure your book doesn’t have a sagging middle?
- Tip 1 – Increase the tension. Remind yourself of your characters’ goals, and then introduce more obstacles.
- Tip 2 – Trim the fat. Every scene needs to move the story forward. If it doesn’t, and you’re as leery of deleting anything as I am, it’s time to move that paragraph or chapter into a folder labeled “Maybe Later.”
- Tip 3 – Get rid of unnecessary dialogue. ‘Nuff said.
- Tip 4 – Inject your story with urgency. Are the stakes high enough? Characters caught loitering in the middle of the book don’t care enough about the conflict. This often leads to a meandering plot.
- Tip 5 – Twist and shout. Surprise yourself, surprise your readers. The middle of the book is a prime spot for a plot twist or unexpected maneuver. If the protagonist is on a clear trajectory toward the resolution, mixing it up is a good way to keep your reader on their toes.
We all need a little help sometimes. For the same reasons you might be considering a trainer or a nutritionist, remember there are editors to help you get rid of that sagging middle.
Reprinted with permission, the 1/22/2020 issue of The Artful Editor newsletter.