Shannon Lynn Fox – Author

For previous posts on this subject, click here and here.

I feel like I’m a little less positive than my last post. This section has definitely been tougher than the last bit. I keep reminding myself that all I have to do is finish the first draft, just keep putting words on the page. But some days, I feel like my writing is absolutely leaden and awkward. The character I found the easiest to write is now the hardest and vice versa. Some sections are good, I think. Some sections are downright terrible. The good news is, with the word count I goaled for myself, I’ll definitely have room to cut the things that drag the story down.

The middle to latter third is my weak point. I’ve always known that. Lots of other people struggle in this area, too. I just sort of hoped it might magically be different this time. No such luck.

Some articles helping me get through this rough patch:

Don’t Stop Writing in the Ugly Middle by Joe Bunting at The Write Practice

25 Ways to Fight Your Story’s Mushy Middle by Chuck Wendig at Terrible Minds (Warning: Very NSFW)

25 Questions to Ask As You Write by Chuck Wendig at Terrible Minds (Warning: Very NSFW)

In other news, I’ve decided to do NaNoWriMo to challenge myself to keep plugging along. I did it in 2008 and finished, didn’t do it in 2009, started in 2010, but got distracted by school and life, didn’t do it in 2011. There’s still time to sign up! It starts tomorrow. If you want to be my friend, my username is: foxyluvshorses.

Happy Halloween, friends!