1. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Do you ever get the "Middle Story Blues"?

    Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Cave Troll, Feb 4, 2017.

    To clarify you make it to the middleish point in your writing, and then are
    not sure of what/how to write the middle of it.

    I have fallen into the Middle Story Blues for about a month now.

    Just wondering if any of you guys experience this phenomena as well.

    Thanks. :supersmile:
     
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  2. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    I think this is pretty common. When I get stuck in a story, I'll either work on a new project entirely, or skip ahead in the story to a point in which I'm certain of what needs to happen.

    Sometimes working ahead can force you to make some choices, then, when you go back, you're just connecting the dots. And, if something great happens when you're connecting the dots, you can always go and change the end to fit accordingly.

    Another strategy is to introduce a new conflict. When I'm having trouble writing something, it's usually not a problem with me, but with my story. It's like a voice in my head that's trying to tell me something needs to change, but I'm too stubborn to do it because it seems like a lot of work. In a case like this, I'm learning to trust my intuition and enjoy the process.

    Also, there's nothing wrong with taking some time to figure your story out. It's not going anywhere.

    Hope any of this helps.
     
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  3. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    It does. I just want to avoid making it too predictable.
    Maybe I should spend sometime working on something
    else for a bit. Might help me get away from the singular
    grind of one big story. :)
     
  4. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    Its not exactly middle story, but I've been stuck at about 83k for nearly a month - i know how the ending works but getting from here to there is the issue

    The trouble with the 'work on something else' solution is that's how i wound up with 3, now 4, WIPs running at the same time in the first place
     
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  5. Sack-a-Doo!

    Sack-a-Doo! Contributor Contributor

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    I have, but this story, e=MagiC2 (read: 'e' equals magic squared) has been bumming me out for almost eight years. I love the concept, but finding a way into the story itself has been really trying. I've gone through three sets of characters, three different scenarios, and (if I printed them out) an actual ton of notes.

    So (and I'm certainly not suggesting you follow suit) I've decided to do what Asimov did at times like these. I'm going to put it aside and work on something completely new I dreamed up just in the last few months.
     
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  6. officialgovernment

    officialgovernment New Member

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    I have been in these blues quite recently, but got out of it today. I went to the bookstore with no wifi, and just dedicated that time to writing. I think I will have to do this more often, and I think I'll do it every Sunday.

    Another things I do is revisit my planning page, and either add or rearrange or delete things from it.
     
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  7. FireWater

    FireWater Senior Member

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    I just recently came up out of it, and am on "race to the top mode" now.

    How it happened for me, was that the scene that I originally outlined as my Midpoint scene turned bigger and more significant while I was writing it, and it ended up becoming my Climax sequence (which was far better than the climax I'd originally planned). So instead of having the first 50% done and having to write the last 50%, it became more like I had finished the first 1-30%, plus the 66-80% part, and now just have to go through and beef up the middle and tie up the end.

    As long as your story is solid, the Middle Story Blues will pass if you can preservere through them, and it will get better. (just like middle school lol)
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2017
  8. Catnip

    Catnip New Member

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    I'm not even in the middle and I'm stuck. Yes, I feel pathetic. But I also know what my problem is: I didn't make a plan. I need a plan, I need to know what is going to happen next in my personal life and in everything I do. I had a some sort of plan but I didn't write it down and make it more detailed so I could keep on track. Now I have written the story into a dead end and I have no clue how to get it flowing again. At the same time I am drowning in self critique that is as cruel as possible as I am a perfectionist.
     

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