denise

Mary, I accidentally posted this to the wrong person, so please ignore the part about the middles 🙂 The first part still applies though! I think I mixed up two comments.

Revisions can indeed be overwhelming. Just take it a step at a time and don't try to do everything at once. Start with the big-picture macro issues, then work down to the micro text issues. I like doing one pass on one "fix" at a time, sometimes even just focusing on a chunk of chapters or a single act.

It's SO much easier to concentrate on a small aspect or a single type of issue (for example, checking your dialogue tags, or making sure all your scene endings are strong) and ignoring the rest until you're ready for it.

Oops, I posted this to the wrong comment. Reposting!

Oh good! I love when a post finds the right writers just when they need it.

Middles are extra hard. What helped me, was to add a midpoint surprise/event/reversal. Something big that shakes up the story and gives you something to plot toward in the first half of the book, and plot away from (recovering/acting based on that midpoint event) in the second half. It essentially breaks the middle in half, making it easier to fill. I've written about it in detail on my blog if you're curious. Hopefully it'll spark something to fix your problem.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/writing-basics-midpoint-reversal.html

Hope this helps, and best of luck!

You're most welcome. That one gets me more often than not as well. The plotter in me wants them to JUST BEHAVE, lol. Listening to your characters is always a good idea, just not always *easy* to do 🙂

Thanks! And I love being here and chatting with all the Stormies. 🙂

Great tip, and absolutely. Brains are funny things. My editor once told me she had an author who would write a throwaway manuscript in between "real" books. That seemed extreme to me, but whatever works, works! Getting the brain off the problem always works for me.

Thanks! That's a fabulous tip. I love brainstorming on paper for those very reasons. I've found it so much easier to figure out what to do when I have to write it down. It forces me to clarify my thoughts. Rambling messes can be useful! Thanks for sharing that 🙂

I'd imagine both plotters and pantsers run into sticky scenes about the same amount, just you guys do it in the drafting stage, while us plotters often hit it in the planning/revision stage. at least I hope so 🙂 I'd hate to think pantsers had it harder, lol.

Oh good! I love when a post finds the right writers just when they need it.

Middles are extra hard. What helped me, was to add a midpoint surprise/event/reversal. Something big that shakes up the story and gives you something to plot toward in the first half of the book, and plot away from (recovering/acting based on that midpoint event) in the second half. It essentially breaks the middle in half, making it easier to fill. I've written about it in detail on my blog if you're curious. Hopefully it'll spark something to fix your problem.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/writing-basics-midpoint-reversal.html

Hope this helps, and best of luck!