Posted on by Denise Hartzler

Stuck in the middle

Being the youngest of three, I was often relegated to the middle seat. Good thing I was also the shortest in my family so it was never too uncomfortable, plus I had the protection of my older sisters on each side of me. But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t try to argue my way out of the middle nor does it mean that I liked the middle seat a whole bunch either.

At some point in your writing journey, you may experience getting stuck in the middle of your story. It feels slow. It feels like you are walking through the heavy waters of the ocean. I know several authors who rent out a hotel room or a VRBO for a long weekend, just to write the middle portion of their novel. They did this religiously. The simple act of changing their scenery, having no interruptions, relying on room service/meal delivery, etc. is what they need in order to focus and trudge their way through the middle. Not everyone has such luxury and that’s ok. It doesn’t mean you can’t get through the middle of your novel.

Here are some quick tips to help you find your way through the middle:

  • Give your character a new location. While you may not be writing somewhere new, drop your character into a new location and see how they respond.
  • Increase the tension for your main character.
  • Shift the focus from your protagonist and agitate your antagonist a bit more.
  • Look at your minor characters. Sometimes, it’s those secondary characters and their relation to the protagonist that isn’t fully flushed out. Find their purpose and raise the expectations you have of them.

As for you, the writer:

  • Change your location. You don’t have to travel far or spend any money. Try writing somewhere new, but don’t get distracted by window shopping or eavesdropping.
  • Writer from home? Ask for help in minimizing your distractions. If you are like me and write at a desktop computer without a laptop, ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to be your gate keeper. Maybe they can watch the kids, not call or text for a few hours, bring you something to eat without visiting/staying to chat.
  • If you are a “pantster” and write freely, this may be a good time to lean on an outline. Outlining – you either love it or hate it. If you hate it, you may find it helpful if you are truly stuck.
  • Get a beta reader! This is so important for all parts of your novel. A trusted beta reader must be someone who can be truthful and brutally honest with you about your story. They are not line editors, but simply someone who is invested in the characters and story and watch it take shape. A good beta reader will tell you what works or doesn’t work. So find that someone. If it scares you to share your manuscript for fear that it may be stolen, again, find someone you trust. If you can’t get past this fear, simply draft a non-disclosure agreement.

Being in the middle isn’t always so bad. It’s like the biblical saying of “walking through the valley” ~ walk, trudge, crawl, your way through the middle. I promise it will be worth it in “the end.” The middle is only temporary, eventually you, your characters, and your readers will make it to the end.

As always, I want to hear from you. How do you get through the dreaded middle part of your novel?

Posted on by Denise Hartzler

National Day of Encouragement

September 12th is designated the National Day of Encouragement. It is a day to do what you can to lift others up and have a positive impact on the people around you. Yesterday, we took time to remember the victims of 9/11 and to really embrace the every day moments of family life. As my son continues on his high school journey, the reality of how fast time is going by is setting in. I know I only have a few more years left with him living with us and so every moment is becoming more and more precious. His age reminded me of the young adults that began the National Day of Encouragement. This remarkable group took it upon themselves to overcome the grim reality of negatives and turn to each other for encouragement. Within a short amount of time this project gained popularity and purpose. President George Bush declared September 12, 2007 the National Day of Encouragement.

As a teacher, I will be using tomorrow to bring awareness to this day and ask my students how they define the word “encourage” and what can they do to encourage another person today. As a writer, there is nothing more simpler and easy to do than write a letter/postcard. So from one writer to another, I ask that you please reach out and send a letter or a postcard to someone you may not have heard from in a long time. You can also leave random notes of encouragement in places like coffee shops or libraries. I once saw a random sticky note left on a changing table in a public bathroom addressed to ‘The Mom who is struggling or tired today.’ It simply said, “you are doing a great job keeping your child alive. You can do this today.”

For more ideas and to learn more about the National Day of Encouragement, please visit: https://nationaltoday.com/national-day-of-encouragement/

I encourage all of you to get out there and do something kind for someone today, even by writing a review on Etsy for an artist can go a long way in making someone feel uplifted. Remember the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impacts on a person’s heart.

Be well. Keep writing. Keep creating.

As always, I love to hear from my readers. Leave a comment letting me know what you did today to celebrate National Day of Encouragement.

Posted on by Denise Hartzler

Feature Friday: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

Welcome to the second Feature Friday – the last Friday of the month, when I chat about books on the craft of writing. This month I am working through the chapters of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. I have many other books on the craft that I’m excited to share with you, but I thought it would interesting to put this book to use in real-time; therefore, this probably won’t be the last time I talk about it on Feature Friday.

If you aren’t familiar with Blake Snyder and the beat sheet, let me briefly explain. Blake set out to help screenwriters learn how to write their screenplays using a fifteen (15) beat structure. These beats are basically plot points. Blake claims that every great Hollywood movie ever made was structured around these same fifteen beats. The goal of the beat sheet is to help writers produce tighter and more engaging stories for the screen. Fast-forward to Jessica Brody. Jessica was a struggling novelist who was failing at selling her book. A friend gave her the book, Save the Cat!, and she started applying the beat methodology to many novels, including the great classics. It proved successful! Since then, Jessica set out to help novelists use the screenwriting beat methodology for their stories because it helped her writing career tremendously, like 15+ novels sold to major publishing houses. Impressed? I know I am.

I am in awe about the book and I am only 1/4 way into the Act 1. Each chapter is packed with practical knowledge, exercises, and check list to “Check Yourself!” It’s a slower process than other writing craft books, but I am seeing why character wasn’t where I need her to be to make it through an entire novel. Figuring out your character’s arc up front is important. It’s allowing you to see if (s)he can withstand all that will be thrown at them as the trials become a true test.

I haven’t gotten to the catalyst or the inciting incident yet. I know what I want it to be, but I will have to see if it can stand the test of the beat methodology or not. Jessica does mention how these beat sheets, aka novel roadmaps, can be sparse or detailed. I personally, am aiming for detailed, hence why I am really digging deep into the exercises. I tried the James Patterson method of creating a 6-8 sentence chapter by chapter outline to keep you writing fast, but sparse outlines don’t work for me. So I’m holding out hope for this new method.

If you are leery of purchasing craft books to help you along the way, I get it. I was able to check this book out at my public library which gave me a month-long preview to really start working through the exercises. Since I loved it, I bought it. I do this with a lot of books so I don’t have buyers remorse 😉 There are a ton of free resources on the Save the Cat! website. Once school is out for the summer, I will be treating myself to one of the many workshops they offer and who knows, maybe I’ll start incorporating the beat methodology in my classroom next year.

If you have tried the Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, please let me know your thoughts. I strongly believe that writing is a journey meant to be shared. What works for one will not always work for another, but it can help others who maybe struggling with their writing. All I know is that writing doesn’t have to be done alone. Let’s share and learn from each other.

If you need a writing companion to help keep you on track, I highly recommend, Writers on Task. A journal to help you stay focused and keep you moving closer to those writing goals..

Posted on by Denise Hartzler

Feature Friday: Called To Create by Jordan Raynor

Welcome to Feature Friday – the last Friday of the month, when I chat about books on the craft of writing. Being a writer takes a great deal of confidence and honesty. We are continually seeking improvement. Whether we are looking to improve our skills or improve habits, it can feel like a never-ending journey. But as I always say, “Writing is a journey meant to be shared.”

To kick off the new year, I always start with reminding myself of why I’m on this writing journey. Why do I have such a pull to write fiction? Why do I become irritable and unbearable when I haven’t had much time to sit and create? Why do I subject myself to rejection? Why do I write?

For me, it’s a calling that God has placed on my heart. I’m not on this journey for stardom or with high expectations of being a New York Times Bestseller. I’m on this journey because God gave me this gift to write stories for children and young adults. He has also given me the gift of teaching, so I create journals to help other writers and creatives. You may or may not know this about me, but God is the center of my life. I grew up with strong, independent, faithful women in my life, and I am no different. But does having God at the center of it all make it easier for me to write? Nope! Do I wish God would magically fill the pages for me? Yes, please! But God doesn’t work that way. I work for Him, and I should fulfill His calling in my life.

As a fictional writer, I often struggle with whether or not what I’m writing or creating will please God. It’s a battle other Christian authors wrestle with too. We have the likes of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, whose stories have withstood the test of time with God deeply woven into their works without many realizing it. Today’s authors include Ted Decker and his daughter Rachel Decker and Lindsay Cummings – all fiction writers deeply rooted in their faith. So how does a creative person balance their faith with creating something for all, even those who are non-believers?

About a year or two ago, I learned about a book in the YouVersion Bible App titled, Called to Create by Jordan Raynor. I was in a writing slump and facing yet another year of not finishing anything that I began. I questioned why God would give me all these beautiful ideas if I couldn’t get any of them through the valley to the promised land or, in this case, to the promised page. I struggled with the biggest question that Jordan tackles in his book, “who am I writing this story for?” If you are anything like me and your entrepreneurial business or your writing or anything that requires divine creativeness feels sluggish, get this book. It shifts your mindset into realizing that God was the first creative. He is the first entrepreneur. He is the creator of all creatives. And if someone ever asks, “why do you write if it’s so hard?” After reading this book, your response will be apparent… “Following the call to create means that we no longer work to make a name for ourselves; we work for the glory of the One who has called us.” 

If you are struggling, get some quiet time to be alone with your thoughts or go for a walk and ask yourself why. Why do you write? Why do you want to write? Get to know your why, and everything else will fall into place after that. If you are struggling with a specific story or character, ask yourself or your character, why? Why are they on this journey? Why is this story important to tell? 

As I always say, “Writing is a journey meant to be shared.” 

What have you been called to create? I’d love to hear where you are on your writing journey. If there is a way for me to support you, please let me know!

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Order your copy of Writers on Task (a task specific journal for writers) or my latest release, Scribbles and Squiggles (a doodling book to get your creativity flowing) today on Amazon!