tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post8923405519555900415..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: The dreaded middle: why you don't have to dread it, by Yahong ChiProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-44906746777949930212013-11-05T16:18:57.344-06:002013-11-05T16:18:57.344-06:00Middles do make me nervous, but I love this positi...Middles do make me nervous, but I love this positive attitude. Thanks!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-3309414329920753472013-11-03T19:00:12.382-06:002013-11-03T19:00:12.382-06:00Right now, I'm struggling with everything--eve...Right now, I'm struggling with everything--even though I usually love middles. I think I might employ Joe McGee's technique, and write beginning and end first for this one...Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-34775806109991811622013-11-02T10:59:27.427-05:002013-11-02T10:59:27.427-05:00I'm good with beginnings and endings, but stru...I'm good with beginnings and endings, but struggle with the middle. Thanks for your great info.Lupe Ruiz-Floreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14774297189032331537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-12933460601500632052013-11-01T05:32:11.769-05:002013-11-01T05:32:11.769-05:00It's so great to see some discussion about the...It's so great to see some discussion about the middle of a book. I always seem to get stuck there, trying to make threads connect so the ending will work. Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-8260827314919556332013-10-31T11:53:33.170-05:002013-10-31T11:53:33.170-05:00"Unwind the plot" is a great way to put ..."Unwind the plot" is a great way to put it, Greg. Making sure your middle moves forward for sure helps you stay on track.Yahong Chihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416313685829001737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-69021443235750639112013-10-31T11:49:49.603-05:002013-10-31T11:49:49.603-05:00Thanks, Marissa! Hope my suggestions help in any s...Thanks, Marissa! Hope my suggestions help in any small way, and best of luck in your drafting. :)Yahong Chihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416313685829001737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-82882927446723725122013-10-31T11:49:03.276-05:002013-10-31T11:49:03.276-05:00Wow, fascinating process, Joseph! It totally sound...Wow, fascinating process, Joseph! It totally sounds useful in keeping the ship sailing the right way. Might have to try that sometime myself!Yahong Chihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416313685829001737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-25031621498471645852013-10-31T11:47:13.147-05:002013-10-31T11:47:13.147-05:00Oh yes, that's definitely a potential snag in ...Oh yes, that's definitely a potential snag in writing middles. Thanks for commenting, Katy!Yahong Chihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416313685829001737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-61869146225650171872013-10-31T11:46:30.007-05:002013-10-31T11:46:30.007-05:00That's a good point, Matt!That's a good point, Matt!Yahong Chihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416313685829001737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-55132706864246356512013-10-30T16:36:37.593-05:002013-10-30T16:36:37.593-05:00I see the middle as the place to unwind the plot. ...I see the middle as the place to unwind the plot. Making sure everything I write moves the reader closer to a fulfilling end. I spend the longest time with the middle, so I want it to be as strong as the beginning and end. <br />Great post.Greg Pattridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761872776035591138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-64079502351296003052013-10-30T14:53:23.333-05:002013-10-30T14:53:23.333-05:00My middles always start out kind of vague and late...My middles always start out kind of vague and later on in revision I get sparks that I want to expand on. I want to hop on your positive approach for this book I'm working on now - I'm slogging through it...maybe a new setting is just the thing? Great post!Marissa Burthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079821721448782710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-89186649502440541252013-10-30T11:56:12.858-05:002013-10-30T11:56:12.858-05:00I always start off strong, with a beginning that i...I always start off strong, with a beginning that is the impetus of the creative vision that inspired the story in the first place. And then I write the end, visualizing how it all wraps up. Doing this lets me see the change that the character(s) experience and having to work towards that change is what helps me stay the course in the middle. Otherwise, I'm always in danger of overplotting myself!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11515723254886059806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-78235877446931331432013-10-30T11:13:05.293-05:002013-10-30T11:13:05.293-05:00Middles are easy for me. It's knowing when to ...Middles are easy for me. It's knowing when to move toward the end and start wrapping things up that's the problem. Probably why my first drafts are so long! Katy Uppermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07725740174190514869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-67480565811502279242013-10-30T09:01:54.849-05:002013-10-30T09:01:54.849-05:00Drafting middles has always been easy for me, perh...Drafting middles has always been easy for me, perhaps because I outline. But getting them just right, in revision? That often takes time.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.com