Comments | jimbutcher: The Great Swampy Middle

jimbutcher

The Great Swampy Middle

Jul 11, 2006 06:05

THE GREAT SWAMPY MIDDLE ( Read more... )

Comments 48

xheartrockx July 11 2006, 12:44:08 UTC

Hurray for another inside scoop ( ... )

xheartrockx July 11 2006, 12:46:15 UTC

Okay... being a little obnoxious here.. (sorry for that).
It's "Not that your endings are lame or anything" now "now".

I have already pissed off someone with a typo, so I wanted to make sure.

How's this for a delayed response? jimbutcher March 17 2008, 19:19:20 UTC

I just have a question. I get the whole fighting through the swamp thing there but what's to do when I realize that my middle is outranking the ending? I mean.. say I'm on one side of the swamp and get this whole subplot worked out for instance. And I'm doing great with it and I'm coming out on the other side and the ending starts to appear kinda lame.
Don't do that. :) The story's gotta keep building to the big finish. If your big middle is bigger than your big finish, then you're gonna burn the reader and leave them feeling the way you've described ( ... )

just_sue July 11 2006, 13:18:08 UTC

How neat! A friend pointed me this way and I am absorbing your advice like a sponge...a nice sponge! I will be popping back to re-read this at regular intervals when the GSM makes its presence felt. Many thanks.

rhodesy July 11 2006, 13:59:01 UTC

Thanks for the great advice. I find it truly encouraging to know that I'm not the only writer suffering from frustration in the GSM. ;) Thanks for sharing your tool box with us. I'll see about handling the weapons and hope to wield them with your level of aplomb. Who knows...I may just get out of the swamp yet!

Thanks again!

adalanne July 11 2006, 14:02:05 UTC

I love your writing advice. It's so simple and straightforward yet so very helpful. "Here's the dragon, and here are the armor-piercing rounds you'll need to slay it. Now slay away."

Plus it's always nice to hear your writing voice. ^_^

priscellie July 11 2006, 14:05:18 UTC

I'm not a writer myself, but I love these insights into the writing process. I can't wait to see how you slayed the GSMs of "Cursor's Fury" and "White Night"!