We’ve all been there, stumbling around in the middle of the story we’re writing, feeling utterly lost and haunted by doubts and despair. Where is the sparkling novel we set out to write? The vivid world and memorable characters? The strong plot?
This is a time to remember that this is something most (if not all) writers go through. Even famous, published authors like Neil Gaiman and Stephen King, find themselves lost in the swamps of despair, also known as The Murky Middle.
So, how do we find our way out?
Sadly, I don’t have an easy answer for you. There’s no quick fix, no magical spell. All you can do is keep going, keep setting one foot in front of the other. Adding one word after the other. Stacking sentence upon sentence. Sooner or later you will find yourself back on track, the swamp left behind. From there it is pretty much downhill. The plot might feel paper thin, the characters cliches and the dialogue awkward. But that’s okay. You are working on a first draft. No first draft is perfect. That’s what’s editing is for. 🙂
Writers Cottage 