If you’ve ever hit that point in your draft where the words feel heavy, the story starts to wander, and your momentum disappears—you’ve landed in the messy middle.
Every writer faces it. The difference is, some know how to push through.
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why the middle of a draft feels so hard—and how to revive your story so you can actually finish it.
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Episode at a glance:
[04:07] What Happens in Your Brain When You’re Stuck
Learn the difference between discovery energy and execution energy, and why the latter is harder to sustain. The writers who finish are the ones who learn to generate momentum.
[06:34] The Stakes Don’t Escalate
On the surface, it looks like your story is progressing. Your character is still pursuing his or her goal. Obstacles keep showing up. Your character keeps trying to overcome those obstacles, but somehow it all feels flat and false and forced.
Escalating the stakes isn’t just about making things harder. It’s about making each choice your character faces more consequential than the last.
[09:51] Scenes Drift into Episodic Sprawl
The scenes may be beautifully written, but they’re not connected to your story’s central engine. Learn two quick fixes to make sure your scenes are connected to the main story problem.
[12:57] There Are No Turning Points
Turning points are what separates stories that build escalating stakes from stories that meander through a series of events.
Learn about the hinge moment that redefines the story’s stakes and forces your character to approach their problem in a completely new way.
Links Mentioned In This Episode:
🎓 FREE Masterclass: From Chaos to Clarity: A 3-Step Framework to Finally Finish Your Story → mylivemasterclass.com
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