This article first appeared in The Working Margins newsletter #10.
In Episode 10 of Working Writers, we mentioned how easy it is for a manuscript to lose its momentum. One of the biggest culprits is the “sagging middle”—that dreaded stretch where the initial excitement of the setup has worn off, but the fireworks of the climax are still far away. The writer is excited and clear about the beginning and the big finish, so their middle is just padding to join the two.
Turn the Midpoint into a Turning Point
When a book wanders, drags, or gets plain boring, it’s usually because the middle part misses an opportunity—the opportunity to turn the midpoint into a turning point. There are many tried-and-true ways to do this—the shocking revelation, the devastating betrayal, the sudden change in stakes. One particularly effective approach is to change what the character’s goal means to them (or what it will require of them).
By the end of Episode 3 of HBO’s Lanterns, it’s revealed that Jon’s lifelong goal (getting the ring and becoming Green Lantern) won’t be achieved the way he expected (by hard work and honor), but by making a far murkier choice.
In both the novel and the film versions of Jaws, Chief Brody labors to protect the people of Amity from the monster via bureaucratic means (and hoping the shark will go away). When it’s clear that won’t work, he realizes ending the threat means facing his fear of water and heading out on a boat to kill the shark.
From Passive to Active
By transforming the middle from a passive bridge to an active pivot, you inject new energy into the plot (and character). The narrative stops sagging. Ask yourself: does the middle of my story include a moment where everything changes for the main character? If not, it’s your job to make it so.
Have YOU ever struggled with a sagging middle?