Ten things you can do in the middles of novels

[limyaael]

This, of course, depends on the techniques you use-outlining as opposed to not outlining, structuring by chapters or scenes, whether the story’s episodic or not, how many viewpoints you’re using and what kind they are-but I’m hoping that the sheer variety of suggestions here can offer at least one that crosses boundaries.

Comments

Thanks!

[silentstone7]

This was amazingly helpful for me in filling out the middle of my outline... I've been staring at it for a few days wondering why the middle was so boring (not to mention sparse), now I'm bursting for ideas to fix it with! Thanks!

[parametric]

This is really great, very informative. Thank you so much, I have even more inspiration for my writing than before.

[tortoises]

I LOVE YOUR ICON.

[parametric]

....*giggles* I know, isn't it funny? Yours is so cute . . . .

[tortoises]

Thanks! :D Where can I get your oh-so-adorable penguins? I'm something of a penguin freak. XD

[pyrasaur]

I like the story-animal metaphor. It aptly describes a lot of writing problems -- using tired cliches is kind of like keeping the animal tied in the backyard so you don't have to think about it, that one springs to mind. And both stories and animals can be very willful things.

...*waves a carrot in front of her second novel, and is ignored*

[siege]

...try a steak?

[pyrasaur]

I dunno, man, you know how these things can get once they have a taste for meat.

[zekk_skywalk]

I just hope to god my novel turns out to follow this, because I think it does....but what I think is most definitely not what is, I'm sure....

[mutant_wolf2]

You posted this at the perfect time! I'm right in the middle of my story and I'm not sure what to do next. Thanks for all the advice and tips!