tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post2111341427977738426..comments2024-03-28T12:40:14.627+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: The Long and Short of Writing the Middlemooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-55538621855594761532014-01-27T04:38:20.467+00:002014-01-27T04:38:20.467+00:00The destination has to be one the reader cares abo...The destination has to be one the reader cares about, too - absolutely.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-76871256131526028692014-01-27T00:07:40.298+00:002014-01-27T00:07:40.298+00:00@Sarah - things have to make sense in my head firs...@Sarah - things have to make sense in my head first too. Can't trust it to all just come together on the page, although it would be nice if it did.<br /><br />@Marty - I like your cooking analogy. I've burnt enough toast in my time to know exactly what you mean.<br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-23897409497670755432014-01-26T12:16:29.412+00:002014-01-26T12:16:29.412+00:00Great post. Writing is like cooking for me. I star...Great post. Writing is like cooking for me. I start off strong then in the middle get kind of busy and struggle hoping everything comes together in the end!Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00739185031970869406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-60268223022912098932014-01-25T21:55:05.370+00:002014-01-25T21:55:05.370+00:00One of the most helpful things for me as I was wri...One of the most helpful things for me as I was writing the last novel was that in my head at least the middle was divided up into three sections, so rather than looking at this big mushy middle, I could just think, okay, just need to get from here to point A, then from point A to point B, etc. It worked nicely, at least in my head.<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(From Sarah, With Joy)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-69205796628930900252014-01-24T23:44:01.877+00:002014-01-24T23:44:01.877+00:00@Jamie - the problem for most writers tends to be ...@Jamie - the problem for most writers tends to be that the middle is so big you need to keep the mistakes rolling to get from one end to the other.<br /><br />@Kate - that's an interesting approach, not sure I could keep both ends in my head at the same time.<br /><br />@Michael - a six-pack story middle is just a couple of sessions away.<br /><br />@Shallee - a good enemy defines the hero.<br /><br />@LD - sounds perfectly reasonable to me.<br /><br />@Squid - an interesting destination doesn't hurt though.<br /><br />@lee - cheers.<br /><br />@Dawn - been a while since I read it, will have to take another look.<br /><br />@Medeia - my problem is always getting from the outline to the full version. never seems as brilliant as i thought...<br /><br />@Lilith - Very true.<br /><br />@Rachna - Always helps to keep the protagonist busy.<br /><br /><br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-20636051972102581562014-01-24T16:26:06.360+00:002014-01-24T16:26:06.360+00:00Great post as usual Moody. Earlier I used to get b...Great post as usual Moody. Earlier I used to get badly stuck in the middle. But not so anymore, as I start introducing more obstacles and complicating things for my main character in the middle.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-86151808060596570122014-01-24T03:00:09.645+00:002014-01-24T03:00:09.645+00:00I can see why the middle can be super difficult. I...I can see why the middle can be super difficult. It is easy to think of a beginning and ending but how to get there can be tricky. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304701332216772385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-17229869333056301032014-01-24T02:53:48.087+00:002014-01-24T02:53:48.087+00:00I like to think my middles are okay since the outl...I like to think my middles are okay since the outlines for them seem solid, but this post has me thinking. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-85419882439449087582014-01-24T02:37:00.732+00:002014-01-24T02:37:00.732+00:00When I read Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, many ...When I read Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, many of my questions about writing middles were answered. I can't recommend that book enough. I still struggle with them, but it's usually because I haven't thought through the plot enough before I begin to write. D.E. Malonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10256696009575732721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-22565745451347415882014-01-24T01:19:09.832+00:002014-01-24T01:19:09.832+00:00I know we must have secondary characters, but in m...I know we must have secondary characters, but in my mind all of the characters are essential. Sometimes for me the "secondary" ones are the most exciting to write and I love that you mention having them as a sturdy backboard for the MC. Super advice.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-64864691845183881812014-01-24T01:13:29.866+00:002014-01-24T01:13:29.866+00:00It's not the destination. It's the journe...It's not the destination. It's the journey.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509001761075530940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88934687357826466632014-01-24T00:36:02.175+00:002014-01-24T00:36:02.175+00:00Sometimes I have trouble figuring out where the en...Sometimes I have trouble figuring out where the end of my beginning stops and the beginning of my middle begins. One sort of flows into the other. I wonder if that's a bad thing?LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-86288043322800893072014-01-23T18:10:29.938+00:002014-01-23T18:10:29.938+00:00The middle is my nemesis. :) But that's what r...The middle is my nemesis. :) But that's what revisions are for, right?Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-19987969909706688232014-01-23T16:47:51.550+00:002014-01-23T16:47:51.550+00:00Hey! Stop pointing at all of our saggy middles! We...Hey! Stop pointing at all of our saggy middles! We can get them into shape, seriously.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-41200041396601157442014-01-23T06:44:41.181+00:002014-01-23T06:44:41.181+00:00Maybe that's why I usually start writing books...Maybe that's why I usually start writing books somewhere in the middle.... I then work both ways from there as the mood hit me. Yeah, I know I'm weird. I also always write the ending before I write the beginning. I don't know how the story begins until I've written the middle and the end. If I start where I think the beginning is, I usually end up scrapping 10K or so that I didn't need to write.Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-16420018833787035992014-01-22T22:13:08.756+00:002014-01-22T22:13:08.756+00:00Great tips :)
Some of the best stories that keep ...Great tips :)<br /><br />Some of the best stories that keep me engaged is to have the MC make a mistake during the second act that costs them. This'll highlight their flaws and allow for development without bogging down the plot.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-45441860295545679552014-01-22T15:53:15.935+00:002014-01-22T15:53:15.935+00:00@Susan - always best when you know what needs to b...@Susan - always best when you know what needs to be done, even if there's a lot of it.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-90697824515429157112014-01-22T15:05:03.201+00:002014-01-22T15:05:03.201+00:00I just finished reading the galleys for my upcomin...I just finished reading the galleys for my upcoming novel and realized I did a pretty good job on the middle and also realized how much work I have to do on my current WIP.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-5107763205427128642014-01-22T09:50:42.109+00:002014-01-22T09:50:42.109+00:00@Micheal - knowing where you're going (even ro...@Micheal - knowing where you're going (even roughly) helps a lot.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-89693458896484028492014-01-21T22:29:22.652+00:002014-01-21T22:29:22.652+00:00Middles are difficult. But building the right tens...Middles are difficult. But building the right tension and obstacles really does help. As long as you know where your storing is going, getting there isn't too difficult.<br /><br />Thanks for your insight, Mood!Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-86229813773987354762014-01-21T21:40:39.884+00:002014-01-21T21:40:39.884+00:00@Lynda - it just so happens my next post is on tha...@Lynda - it just so happens my next post is on that exact subject. What are the chances?<br /><br />@Rusty - Not sure you'll find any wisdom, but carry on!<br /><br />@Nicole - Whenever I rush into a story hoping inspiration will carry me, it never does.<br /><br /><br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-50098691333152162442014-01-21T16:45:09.412+00:002014-01-21T16:45:09.412+00:00It's definitely the middle where you begin to ...It's definitely the middle where you begin to find flaws. I recently started a novel but by chapter 3 I realized...wait, I know absolutely nothing about my main character and her life. How can I move forward? I have shelved it until I get a clearer idea of her, but it reminded me that even if you are a pantser, some preparation DOES help.Nicole Pyleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06920135146911951755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-74823754514227787172014-01-21T13:50:57.994+00:002014-01-21T13:50:57.994+00:00Thanks a ton for the tips here. I'm stuck in r...Thanks a ton for the tips here. I'm stuck in revision hell right now, as my middle has kind of fallen apart on me. And it's been a slog and a half trying to get it right. So, maybe I can glean some wisdom here and carry on.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-24889446211382888822014-01-21T10:34:56.525+00:002014-01-21T10:34:56.525+00:00Most of my troubles come with endings. I don't...Most of my troubles come with endings. I don't plan them out enough because I'm too eager to start writing the story.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-67105875808926166762014-01-21T10:08:07.177+00:002014-01-21T10:08:07.177+00:00@Karen - I think most books will vary depending on...@Karen - I think most books will vary depending on the mood of the reader at the time, but a really good story will still be able to hook you and make it hard to put down.<br /><br />@Lexa - thanks for the shout out!<br /><br />@Jay - the middle is where blandness gets exposed the easiest. <br /><br />@Jennifer - I know what you mean, it can feel like there's nothing to add to the story but usually it's because characters aren't carrying their weight.<br /><br />@missy - nothing wrong with a lean writing style, just have to make sure the content has some emotional resonance. mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.com