The middle of the Middle is the territory of the antagonists both for the writer and for the protagonist, too.
Antagonists, internal and exterior, sabotage the protagonist from reaching her goals. The very same antagonists plague the writer as well.
In the Middle, the writer begins to doubt herself. Her way becomes murky. She looks to others for validation. Old beliefs of not being smart enough, good enough, or productive enough turn from a murmur to a roar. She rails against never receiving the credit she believes she is due. Accepts all the old criticisms she throws at herself. She fears. She falters. Her passion for her project wanes. The antagonists begin to win.
Rise up out of the lower energy systems to the "third eye", the place of wisdom -- of intuition.
Listen, not with your mind or through your ego, but to that deeper voice. Make time for yourself. Partner with the process. Pull your protagonist and yourself through the slog and toward the Climax. See your way clear.
3 Comments on Writer's Journey Mirrors Hero's Journey, last added: 8/10/2009
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Wonderful advice and just in time too, since I find myself in the dreaded Middle. Just believe.
Beautiful advice. You are right. Intuition will pull a writer through the sagging middle. I have perfect vision here after reading that beautiful post. :D
Good morning and Happy Housewarming!!!
Hugs, JJ
As both a psychotherapist and writer I cannot tell you how much this is so true.
If more writers could embrace this as not simply the journey for writers but all forms of creativity and artists, that we are not being singled out, perhaps the incorporation of the plot and the universal story form, that of the heroine/hero's journey, finishing our novels and writing others would not be so arduous.
Again, thanks for your incredible wisdom on this thing called plot.