Shoring Up the Middle

“Is there anything more thrilling for the creative soul than starting a shiny new story? That sexy little minx seduces you effortlessly, promising you a dazzling future, and in the heady flush of new love it feels as if this perfect communion between you will never end.
And then comes the middle of the book.
When a manuscript loses its momentum, generally the issue is one of several culprits:

• The plot has lost its cohesion
• The characters aren’t progressing on their arcs
• The story stakes have deflated
• Tension and suspense have lagged
  But when things get tough, that doesn’t mean the story isn’t worth fighting for. Figuring out the problem and propping up the sag can often add even more depth and dimension.”

Tiffany Yates Martin has worked in publishing for more than 25 years, in a variety of editorial roles. She is a popular developmental editor, podcast guest, and speaker at conferences. She has pub-lished books on writing and is a novelist under the name Phoebe Fox.
We’re lucky to have her as our May speaker.