Still working on the middle for this revision round (which is starting to feel like a rewriting round but I digress, ha).
I was looking at my library of craft books to glean any kind of advice and inspiration to push me through to the last third of this novel, and I came across one of the classics: Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway.
My copy is dog-eared and I didn’t know there is now a seventh edition — I still have the fifth edition. This book is special to me because it’s one of the first books I bought when I started my writing journey.
I flipped through the pages reading highlighted passages and came across a passage where Burroway talks about story structure and the importance of plot in what she tagged 3-D writing:
“…there is both intense desire and great danger to the achievement of that desire; generally speaking, this shape holds good for all plots. It can be called 3-D: Drama equals desire plus danger.”
In the margins I smile at my loopy handwriting: “Love, love, love this!”
Yes, I tend to be dramatic but it does makes sense. You need all three elements to capture a reader into a story and keep them there — especially in the middle.
Now I’m going through my novel’s middle to make sure my writing has these elements. Easier said than done, but I’m trying to make it happen.
How do you make 3-D writing happen in your novels? Would love to hear some of your strategies — especially any of you writers working in the *long* middle.
Middles are hard, but I seem to struggle more with beginnings, finding that right balance between action, intrigue and character that doesn’t come across gimmicky, not too boring, enough emotion and sympathy…
Laura: I love beginnings but usually never keep the same one that I’m working on. And yes, that’s key — don’t want to come across as too gimmicky.
Right now, trying to work with the character development to get the desire, danger, and drama elements.