Tuesday's Writer's Tip - In The Middle - Looking Ahead #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Writing #Middles

 In each scene you write, you need to be looking ahead to what will come next. Now you don't have to spell this out in bold letters but little hints as to a coming event are good and will propel the reader forward. You need to make sure what you are planning for the next big scene or the little scene is consistent with your characters. You can also use this time to make minor changes in a character to make the next big scene seem right for the character. There's nothing more upsetting to a reader than to have the consistency broken by a character taking a step that they know wouldn't happen.

Also remember as you move from scene to scene that the appearance becomes darker and darker. The characters are coming to a time when they must make a choice that will impact their lives. But don't make the scenes so dark there doesn't seem to be a way out. There always has to be a little way forward.

 

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Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Middles - Valleys

You've driven your peak scene to the very top and have used all the tricks by making the stakes high, using verbs that drive the action, short sentences and the like making the reader breathless. This kind of writing is great but you can't continue to drive your characters in this manner without making the reader need to take a breath. This is when the middle of your story needs a valley so not only the readers but the characters can take a breath and regroup for the climax that will bring the story to the end.

Finding a valley to release some of the tension can be difficult. One great way of doing this is to change the viewpoint character. This will allow your reader to draw a breath. This used to be called "meanwhile back at the ranch." When switching to another character's viewpoint you give the reader a bit of breathing room. They must dig into another character's viewpoint and re-acquaint themselves with this character. This can also be done by softening the verbs, by changing the time limits on the goal, by lengthening the sentences.

I used this technique in "Code Blue" by switching characters from heroine, to hero, to villain all the while moving to the climax. Non-stop action can be wearing so remember when there are peaks, there must be valleys no matter what genre you've chosen. In a romance switch from the heroine to the hero. Show a bit of the normal life. Let one or more of the characters re-think what's they really want. Let them think, let them have a moment before you build to the next peak.

Writing Hints -- The Middle

Some people find the middle of their stories sag or drag. This can happen but remembering the three hints for developing a scene should help. Showing characterization, advancing the plot and providing information the reader needs.

The middle is made up of scenes and the writer must become a juggler. Things to remember are what does each major character want, why do they want these objects, such as love, finding the criminal, magical powers and so forth. How does one person's desires effect the other characters?

Every scene in the middle of the book leads to the moment of decision. Sometimes known as the Black Moment. This is when the hero or heroine is faced with a decision that may win or lose them their objective. But that is part of the End of a story so that will be talked about later.

What I've discovered as the story unfolds, one has to look for a number of things in the middle of a book. Are their scenes that are repeats? By this I mean are their repeats of the kind of scene such as a dozen restaurant scenes. Are there scenes that don't really add to the story? Is the scene told from the right viewpoint? Sometimes changing the focus character of a scene brings a fresh eye to the project.

A very important thing is does the scene lead the reader to turn the page. Is there a question they want to see solved at the end of the scene. This has to do with pacing. I've often found switching to a totally different place or character makes me wonder what will happen next.