I was so so nervous about reviews starting to come in, and having this one lead the way is so exciting. I was so glad that the reviewer mentioned that the novel includes “a character with a mental disorder who never loses her humanity or becomes a caricature.” That was so important to me in the writing of the book and I’m so glad to see that came through for this reader.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a total pantser, and usually I like that because it lets me explore my characters and forge the plot from what feels right as opposed to what I’d originally planned should happen. Usually this works out great for the first part of the book.
Then I hit what I like to call the squishy middle.
The squishy middle is that point in the novel when I’ve gotten over the new WIP excitement and have exhausted all my initial ideas for where things might be going, but I’m not deep enough into it to see how everything comes together. I know my characters, but I’m not sure exactly how they’re going to get where they need to be and how long it’ll take for them to get there. I start to worry about the story overall and if it’s boring or worth the time/effort and if anyone will ever actually care about these characters. It kind of feels like being Artax in the Swamp of Sadness*:
Right now I’m in the squishy middle of my current WIP and trying to keep everything in perspective so I don’t go all Artax and burn my manuscript. If you’re in the squishy middle too, here are some things that I’m trying to keep in mind as I plow my way through.
1. Just Get It Done
The squishy middle sucks, but avoiding it just means you’re stuck in the squishy middle forever. It’s way better to finish and go back and revise than to never leave the swamp.
2. Trust Your Critique Partners
One thing that’s helped me so far has been to share regular updates with my critique group. First of all, it forces me to have new material. Second, they remind me of what things are working and help me brainstorm where things might be going. I end up leaving group excited about the WIP instead of exhausted, which is how I’d feel on my own.
3. Don’t Get Distracted by Shiny Things
When I’m in the squishy middle, I start thinking of new WIPs. You know, those bright shiny projects that don’t have any squishiness yet? Yeah, those are distracting and will end up having squish middles of their own, too.
4. Hey, You Still Like This, Remember?
In the squishy middle, it can be easy to forget why you’re writing the damn thing in the first place. Try to remind yourself of the reasons why you love this story. For me, it’s been helpful to return to my WIP playlist (Franz Ferdinand! Gogol Bordello! Bowie!) and to match the characters with their celebrity counterparts (my current main character casting is Maisie Williams).
5. You’ve Gotten Through It Before The Chance You Won’t Return totally had a squishy middle when I was in the first draft phase. I kept thinking “Oh my gosh, this is the worst, just burn it, burn it all,” but eventually I got through it. And then I went back and revised and revised and revised some more. And soon it’ll be out in the world as a real book, which couldn’t have happened without powering through in that first draft.
6. Powering Through Means You’re a Writer
Starting a project is easy. Lots of people start novels, get a few chapters in, lose steam and never return. Powering through the hard parts and putting in the time and effort is what writers do. We don’t write when just when it’s fun and exciting–we write when it’s hard and there’s a whole swamp around us.
The squishy middle is a rough place to be, but it’s worth it to get through. Because by the end of the manuscript, we can all feel a little less than Artax in the swamp and a little more like Falcor.
Share your tips about getting through the squishy middle (or any other squishy part of your draft) in the comments.
*Seriously, guys, this scene will mess you up. I remember watching The NeverEnding Story and being afraid to step on the ground that night in case the Swamp of Sadess was going to get me, too.
In movies, everyone’s an architect. (My pet peeve: YA novels in which characters have super hip jobs. Where were these magical clothing stores/hip coffee shops/etc when I was a teen?)
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of gifs. So when Natalie Parker and Julie Murphy approached me about The Hanging Garden, a project in which 2014 debut YA authors write fiction inspired by gifs, my reaction was something along the lines of:
In grad school I mostly wrote short stories, but since then I’ve mostly worked on longer projects. It’s been really fun to dive back into a shorter form and write down ideas that can exist in their own little world. Looking forward to lots more gif-fiction challenges with the Hanging Garden team!
Holy cow, this week got away from me. Another Friday Fifteen already! Here are this week’s book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.
1. Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
Read in a high school class about the 60s; powerful in any history class.
2. Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue
Short story adaptations of fairy tales. Mostly I remember the fairy tale-crossover transitions.
3. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) by Lemony Snicket
First time I remember encountering the word ‘ersatz.’ Enjoyed the depiction of the elevator shaft.
4. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Quieter than I expected, but in a good way. Touching story, beautiful writing.
5. The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Everyone wants to come over when you’re making cookies.
“When we fail to talk about sexuality, when we fail to clearly define consent, when we fail to acknowledge the various way that rape culture infuses itself into our daily lives, we fail our kids.” Christa, you are the best.
Happy Friday, everyone, and happy last day of January! Let’s end the month with some good ol’ micro-book reviews.
1. The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) by Lemony Snicket
A fun send-up of boarding school books, and the series starts to hit its stride.
2. The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block
Probably the darkest Block book I’ve read, but tough issues are handled well.
3. Melville: The Making of the Poet by Hershel Parker
I didn’t even know that Melville wrote poetry. Nice general bio info as well.
5. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A love letter to readers. Ending didn’t quite hold for me, but lots of awesomeness.
4. What Happens to a Hamburger? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Paul Showers
All you ever wanted to know about noms in a picture book.
