How to Strengthen the Middle of Your Story

Of all the parts of a story, the middle is where things most often begin to loosen. The energy of the opening has settled, and the ending is still out of reach so it can be tempting to drift. But the middle isn’t empty space to cross. You should ideally be treating it as if it’s where the story deepens and earns what comes next.
 
One of the simplest ways to strengthen it is to look at tension. Not necessarily big, dramatic events, but a steady sense of pressure. What does your character want now? What’s getting in their way? If nothing is pushing against them, the story can begin to sag.
 
Momentum comes from cause and effect. Each moment should lead to the next, even in small ways. A choice, a reaction, a shift… these keep the story moving forward and give the reader a reason to stay.
 
This is also where character has room to grow. Let them struggle a little longer. Let them make mistakes. Let them misunderstand things, or choose badly, or hesitate when it matters. Conflict doesn’t always have to be loud to be powerful. It just needs to matter and have meaning.
 
And it’s worth looking closely at your scenes. Are they doing something: moving the story on, revealing something new, increasing the stakes? If not, they may need to be sharpened, combined, or let go. We have all heard the phrase “kill your darlings”. Editing out words that cause lag – no matter how much you love them (put them in a “reuse” file) – is the most important and valuable thing you can do for your writing.
 
A strong middle doesn’t draw attention to itself, but you feel it working. It holds the story together and carries the reader, almost without them noticing, towards the ending.
 
Which part of writing do you find hardest? The beginning, the middle, or the end? Let me know in the comments. I hope you have been enjoying my ramblings about writing craft, which I hope to continue doing daily with more in depth weekly posts like these too.
 
If you have a story (flash or short) or a novel manuscript that needs editing, please consider me for the job. I have lots of experience, both for WestWord and more recently for Fiction Factory, who I complete competition entry assessments for (both short story and novel first chapters). I have worked personally with several authors to get their manuscripts ready for publication. You can find some endorsements for my work at the button below, and you can also explore the rest of my website to see the stories I’ve had published, and to book for any of my courses or events.

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