By Jenn Windrow

As a developmental editor, I read a lot of manuscripts across different genres and at very different stages of revision. Some are early drafts still finding their footing. Others are polished and nearly ready for submission. But no matter where they are in the process, there’s a moment where I can usually tell whether a story is going to struggle.

• Not because the prose is weak.
• Not because the worldbuilding is thin.
• Not because the romance lacks chemistry.

It’s almost always the midpoint.

The story hasn’t imploded. It hasn’t derailed. It just…flattens. Scenes continue. Characters react. Events unfold. But momentum stalls. When the second act of the book feels long, repetitive, or strangely heavy, the problem is rarely pacing.

It’s direction.

What the Midpoint Is Supposed to Do

Writers often treat the midpoint as a twist or a dramatic reveal. Sometimes it is. A secret is uncovered, a betrayal is exposed, or a relationship shifts in a way the characters can’t ignore.

But those moments are not what make the midpoint work.

Structurally, the midpoint is a hinge.

A strong midpoint does three things:

1. It shifts the protagonist from reactive to proactive.
2. It creates stakes that cannot be undone.
3. It reframes the story question.

Reactive to proactive.
In the first half of a novel, your protagonist is responding to disruption. They’re gathering information. Testing the problem. Surviving.

At the midpoint, that changes. They stop reacting to the plot and start driving it.

If they’re still scrambling after the midpoint, the second half will sag.

Irreversible stakes.
A line is crossed. A truth is uncovered. A cost is paid. Something changes that cannot be erased without breaking the story.

If you can remove your midpoint event and the second half still works, it isn’t doing enough.

Reframed story question.

Before the midpoint:

• Can she win?
• Can they resist?
• Can he stop the threat?

After the midpoint:

• What will she sacrifice?
• What happens when resistance fails?
• What if the threat is closer than expected?

The story deepens. The stakes are more dangerous, more extreme, more terrifying. It doesn’t just continue.

The Three Most Common Midpoint Failures

After years of developmental edits, I see the same issues on repeat. A great reveal, an amazing twist, but the main character doesn’t react, they move on as if nothing has happened.

1. The Cosmetic Twist

Something dramatic happens. A betrayal. A kiss. A shocking reveal.

But remove it, and the plot unfolds exactly the same way.

Diagnostic question:
Would your protagonist make different decisions if this moment never occurred?

If not, it’s decorative. Not structural.

2. The Reveal That Changes Nothing

A secret is exposed. The villain is unmasked. A backstory comes to light. Your protagonist now knows more. Their world is shaken, tilted, and may never be the same again.

But do they act differently?

New information should require a new strategy. If your character keeps pursuing the same plan, your story hasn’t shifted. It has paused.

Diagnostic question:
Does this truth force a new approach?

3. The Emotional Spike Without a Power Shift

This one is common in romance and fantasy. Something wonderful happens on the page, but it doesn’t change the trajectory of the story.

• There’s a passionate kiss
• A devastating fight
• A magical victory
• A crushing loss.

But the power dynamic remains unchanged.

Ask yourself:

Who holds control before the midpoint?
Who holds control after?

If the answer is the same, you’ve added intensity, not progression. Intensity is not direction.

The 5-Question Midpoint Test

If Act Two feels unstable, pull out a notebook and answer these on paper:

1. What does my protagonist believe the goal is before the midpoint?
2. What new truth reshapes that goal?
3. What decision do they make because of that truth?
4. What becomes impossible after this moment?
5. Does the second half escalate from this shift, or repeat earlier beats?

If you cannot answer these clearly, your hinge is weak. If the second half could exist without your midpoint event, you’ve found the structural gap.

Why Writers Miss This

We hesitate to escalate too soon. We think the real shift belongs at the climax. We get attached to the original premise and resist complicating it. Or we mistake tension for direction. The scenes are dramatic. The stakes feel high. But if the story isn’t turning, it’s spinning.

The midpoint is not where you raise the volume. It’s where you change direction. It is were you mess with your character, shake their world apart, and then send them spinning into oblivion to figure it all out.

If second half feels long, don’t start trimming random scenes. Don’t blame your prose.

Fix the hinge.

When the midpoint works, the second half stops wandering and starts accelerating toward the inevitable end. That’s when readers stop feeling like they’re reading a story. And start feeling pulled through one.

If you removed the midpoint from your novel, would the second half of the story change? I would love to hear about it in the comments.

About Jenn Windrow

Jenn Windrow once attempted to write a “normal” book—and promptly bored herself into a coma. So now she sticks to what she does best: writing snarky, kick-butt heroines, broody supernatural men, and more sexual tension than a vampire in a blood bank.

She’s the award-winning author of the Alexis Black novels and the Redeeming Cupid series, where the undead never sparkle and the drama is always delicious. Jenn moonlights as a developmental editor, helping other writers wrangle their wild plots and tangle-free prose.

When not arguing with her characters or muttering about Oxford commas, she can be found binge-watching trash TV, wrangling the slew of animals that live in her house (husband and teenagers included), or telling herself she’ll only have one more cookie.

You can find her at jennwindrow.com or lurking on social media where she pretends to be an extrovert.

Photo by Oliver Roos on Unsplash

From Psychology to Dragons: How I Became a Builder of Creative Worlds of All Kinds

When the idea of doing these showcase posts came up, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and hesitation. I’ve spent decades helping other people tell their stories — in classrooms, workshops, seminars, and conversations in almost every situation I can imagine (including an uncomfortable ICU visit at the local hospital last week where I talked to several of my caregivers about how their life experiences would make an amazing story) — but turning that spotlight inward always feels a little like standing on a stage in my socks.

What do I really have to offer?

That whisper shows up for all of us, doesn’t it? The one that says, Stay small. Don’t make a fuss. Other people have more to say.

But I’ve spent my life telling writers that their stories matter, that their voice matters, that their lived experience is a treasure worth sharing. So I took a breath, squared my shoulders, and decided to tell mine.

This post may not be what anyone expected, but it is absolutely, wholeheartedly me,

Who I Am

I’m Sarah “Sally” Hamer — writer, educator, historian, and unapologetic believer in the magic of human beings.

Professionally, I’ve worn a lot of hats:

• Multi‑award‑winning author (including two RWA Golden Heart finals)
• B.S. in Psychology (which only makes me dangerous)
• Forty years of learning and teaching a Mind/Body/Soul philosophy
• Administrator and Financial Executive of several million-dollar companies, helping a couple of them from the ground up
• MLA in history and philosophy
• twenty‑plus years teaching creative writing and memoir through the Adult Education Department of LSUS
• instructor for three online academies
• blogger for two of the top 100 writing blogs in the world
• long‑time columnist for The Best of Times senior magazine
• speaker for groups across the country on multiple subjects

Personally, I’m someone who loves people, stories, lineage, and the quiet alchemy that happens when someone realizes their life is worth writing down.

I’m not usually the loudest person in the room. I try to be the one who listens, who notices, and who asks the question that opens a door. I’ve always been fascinated by why we do what we do — the psychology, the history, the myth beneath the moment.

And that fascination has shaped everything I teach.

The Long Road to Finding My Creative Center

I’ve been writing and teaching for a long time. Long enough to see trends come and go, long enough to watch students become authors, and long enough to know that creativity is not a straight line.

There were seasons when the words flowed like a river. And seasons when they didn’t.

There were years when I taught six classes in a college semester, wrote articles, spoke at events, and still found time to work on my own books. And there were years when the well felt dry, when life pressed in, when the spark dimmed.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned after decades of watching writers wrestle with their stories:

Creativity doesn’t disappear.

It curls up in a corner where it waits for notice. By anyone. And, it asks for gentleness, understanding, and safety to shine.

And sometimes, the way back to your own creativity is through helping others find theirs.

How Teaching Became My Lifeline

When my own writing felt heavy, I leaned into teaching. Not because I had all the answers, but because teaching has always been a conversation for me — a shared exploration of what it means to be human.

I have taught memoir to seniors who believed their stories didn’t matter. I taught fiction to beginners who were terrified of the blank page. I taught philosophy to people who didn’t think they were philosophers (spoiler: they were. We ALL are). I taught writing to students who had been told their whole lives that they weren’t creative.

And every time someone realized they could write — that they did have something to say — a little spark lit inside me, too.

Teaching reminds me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place: because stories connect us. They reveal us. They heal us.

And that belief — that every human being is amazing and has a story worth telling — became the foundation of everything I do.

The Birth of a Teaching Style that, hopefully, encourages creativity

Somewhere along the way, my teaching evolved from “Here’s how to write a scene” to “Let’s build a world where your creativity feels safe.”

I started designing:

• persona‑based writing tools
• creative passports
• affirmation rituals
• mythic identity exercises
• story‑driven self‑care practices
• and full immersive seminars where writers step into a narrative world

My psychology background whispered, Play lowers defenses.
My history background whispered, Story gives us lineage.
My philosophy background whispered, Meaning is made, not found.

And my imagination whispered, What if we used dragons?

That whisper became Creating Creativity: Dragon Edition — a 10‑hour immersive seminar on May 15th and 16th with a group of amazingly creative instructors join to help writers bond with their inner dragon which represents their guarded trait, hidden fear, creative strength, and deepest treasure. For the upcoming seminar, we've chosen dragons as our thematic partners. We may use pirates, or unicorns, or even angels in the next ones.

We want it to be playful, mythic, and psychologically grounded.
And it’s one of the most joyful things I’ve ever built.

What My Creative Life Looks Like Today

These days, my work is a tapestry of everything I love:

• teaching writing and memoir
• designing emotionally resonant creative tools
• building mythic learning environments
• writing articles that help people feel seen
• speaking to groups about history, philosophy, and storytelling
• and helping writers rediscover their creative spark

I still write my own books. I still teach my classes. I still believe, fiercely, that creativity is a living system — one that needs nourishment, rest, curiosity, and play.

And I still believe that every writer, no matter their age or experience, carries a story worth telling.

A Gift for the WITS Community

Because WITS readers are some of the most generous, thoughtful, big‑hearted writers I know, I want to offer something special.

I’m opening three spots for a personal one‑hour Creative Identity Session (a $100 value) for three people who comment on this post — a conversation where we explore:

• what your creativity needs right now
• where your spark dimmed
• what story you’re longing to tell
• and how to build rituals and tools that support your writing life

To enter, comment below with:
“I want to awaken my creativity.”

I’ll choose three writers on Monday morning.

I will also choose two more writers for a golden ticket to my upcoming Creating Creativity seminar on May 15^th and 16^th, if you comment with, “I want a golden ticket!”

From Hesitant to Whole

That’s my journey — from psychology to history to dragons, from teaching to worldbuilding, from burnout to rekindling.

If you’re in a season where your creativity feels quiet, I hope my story reminds you of this:

You are not behind.
You are not too late.
You are not done.

You are simply in the part of the story where the hero gathers strength.

And when you’re ready, your creativity will open its eyes again and feel safe enough to venture out of that corner.

About Sarah “Sally” Hamer

Sarah Sally Hamer has a B.S. in Psychology (which only makes her dangerous) and an MLA in history and philosophy. She is a multi‑award‑winning author who has taught creative and nonfiction writing at LSUS for over twenty years. She writes for two of the top one‑hundred writing blogs in the world, teaches online for three academies, and has been a long‑time columnist for The Best of Times senior magazine. She speaks nationally on writing, history, and philosophy, and believes wholeheartedly that every human being is an amazing story waiting to be told. She can be reached at sally@mindpotential.org.

By Kris Maze

I have never had a writing hiatus like my current one. This break started after the last legs of my latest book launch walked off into the sunset. It has since taken up residence in my writer mind. It has been several months since I have crafted a blog post, reflected in a journal entry, or written a story. 

Other than this post, of course. You, dear writing friends, get the pleasure and benefit today of learning from my experience and its impact on my writing.

The Unlikeliness of My Writing Vacay

You may relate to my experience, as most readers at WITS have found themselves questioning the validity of their writing obsession at some point. Writing is the exercise of the mind that I crave, different from going to the gym, which I dread. Writing was a daily habit I looked forward to, carving out minutes each busy day to devote to the craft. To be cliché, writing is the air I breathe, the food I eat, and the thoughts that maintain me each day. So, how does a writer stop writing? And what happens to them when they do?

For me, it started with getting on a plane after a relatively successful book launch. As I looked over what I would bring in my carry on, I noticed that half of my bed was covered in office supplies. Notebooks, sticky notes, cords, chargers, pens… so many pens. My computer alone weighs around three and a half pounds and standing at my bedside I started to mentally add up the total heaviness. Like leaving the equivalent of a bowling ball on the bed, I left it all behind.

Facing the Writing Break

Normally, I would have been anxious to feel the keys beneath my fingers, clacking away at a new story. Twitchy as I sought the feel of the silky pen gliding across the smooth paper, wicking up my thoughts. But I felt the opposite. 

Freedom. 

The lightness of my bag was refreshing.

The extra time spent interacting with the world around me was freeing.

It had been a long time since I walked outside of my writing persona. And it felt good.

Taking this break came at an opportune time for me, as I had finished one book, and have another ready for the publishing process. The pressure to produce, plan, and promote had been lifted for a moment. I had not mindfully put my writing aside in years, and I discovered it was a great way to refresh my work as a writer.

5  Ways to Jumpstart Your Writing Return

1. Pushing pause on your writing work can be beneficial and refreshing, but it also comes with a potential erosion of your writing habits. Remember which routines made you the most productive and use those patterns to ease you back into your writing.
2.  Focus on your family and friends. I recommend setting your break around events that you would normally like to focus on other things, like the holidays or a special family or friends’ event. Being present will enrich those experiences which will add to your ability to write meaningful stories when you start up again.
3. Sign up for a writing class, workshop, or conference. I am currently participating in the WIP (Women in Publishing) 2026 virtual conference and am energized by their knowledgeable contributors, writing friend connections, and timely content. There are also classes and workshops from our WITS contributors that can improve your writing career.
4. Join, or continue working with, a writing or critique group. Having a set schedule and audience for portions of your work adds accountability to your writing goals. This can bolster your writing productivity after a break.
5. Set aside writing time for yourself and put these ‘meetings’ in your calendar. Show up for yourself and rebuild your writing muscles as you set your mind back to work.

Enjoy your writing more

Writing is a lifelong adventure for most of us, and it comes with seasons, high and low points, and occasionally breaks. Starting up after a hiatus can come with its challenges, but the rewards for writing will have you clambering away again at your computer soon. 

Remember what first sparked your interest in writing when you return after a long break. Take time to revisit your writing goals and refresh your perspective on your accomplishments. These tips can help revitalize the quality of your words and the sense of contentment you feel as you flex your writing muscles once again. Happy Writing to you all!

Describe a time when you stopped writing. How did you get back into your writing groove?

About Kris

Kris Maze is a speculative fiction author who crafts suspenseful, heartfelt stories with twisty plots and a touch of the uncanny. Her work blends science fiction, mystery, and emotional depth, often exploring the big “what-if” questions of life and the universe. She also writes darker fiction under the pen name Krissy Knoxx. When she isn’t writing, she’s likely teaching, traveling, or wandering trails pondering the wisdom of Bob Ross. Follow her author events and join her newsletter found at KrisMaze.com.

Parallel Lives – The Paths Not Taken

Check out my new release! A speculative time travel with light romance elements!

Harriet Last doesn’t expect much to change in her careful, practical life. That is, until a tech demo lets her revisit the “paths not taken.” What she finds is a glimmer of the person she used to be… and a thread of unexpected connection she can’t quite explain.

As Harriet explores these softly shifting memories, she begins to see where she set her dreams aside and where she might pick them back up again.

A heart warming, hope-filled story about rediscovering yourself, welcoming possibility, and noticing the spark that’s been beside you all along.

Buy it today wherever you purchase your next favorite story!