Construction…
So, construction has been going on outside my apartment for the last week and a half. Every morning, I get woken up at the exact same time to the sounds of rumbling machines and migraine-inducing jackhammers. It’s fun, let me tell you.
But as I see their work coming together, I have to admit the sidewalk actually does look nicer. They might have to tear up the entire thing to get to that point, all the while driving a girl who isn’t a morning person crazy. And…
Well, in my before-coffee haze, I was going to try tying this into writing or revising somehow, but all I can think of is: Sometimes the best writing or the best revisions require tearing up what you had before, whether it be words written, process, expectations…or something to that effect. (I’m starting to think I should have coffee before writing blog posts!)
Which brings me to my progress on my WIP right now. I’m at 28k, and my goal is to get to 30k (or more!) by the end of today. This will put me firmly in middle-land. I’ve written a few books now, and I’ve come to expect something of middles. And that’s for them to be difficult, for me to have to slog through and desperately wish I’m to the point where writing the book is fun again.
Well, I’m not going into it with that attitude this time. I think low expectations of your own performance can end up crippling you. If you think that’s how your work is going to go, then likely it will. Instead, I’m going in with guns blazing (or fingers poised over the keyboard?). I’m not going to let my Dreaded Middle slow me down. In fact, I’m not even going to look at it as the Dreaded Middle. I now dub it the SuperAwesome Middle where lots of fun things happen.
But first? Coffee. 
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BONE DRY: First Draft
28,029 / 70,000 Words (40.00%)
Comments
When I was writing Starcaster, whenever I got to the point where I thought I was “slogging” through a middle, I wondered if it would show in my writing. Those were the times I decided that something unexpected needed to happen. So I’d have Tory go off and do something dangerous, or all of a sudden, she’s being chased.
And I’m now at that point with my current WIP, too. So I made something unexpected happen while I was writing last night.
But Jen, middles ARE super fun! They are my favourite part of the writing. I’m being serious, too.
I like what you’re endeavoring to do here. I, too, have been beaten down by middles. In fact, I am currently in the throes of an epic battle with a middle. Perhaps an attitude change is in order for me as well. After all, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right?
Ack! Construction noise sucks. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it finishes soon.
I never thought about whether middles were dreaded. I’ve heard it several places, though. I know sometimes I have trouble with beginnings, and with my story Blink, I had to completely rewrite the middle third of the book. It came out okay the first time, but after I was finished, I realized it was the reason my book felt off. Hang it there, and Yay for the new attitude. =o)
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