Beginnings, Middles, Endings: Here’s Why You Struggle Writing Them

Story Craft

13 May

For many writers, there will usually be one act of their book they struggle to write — Act One (the beginning), Act Two (the middle), or Act Three (the ending).

It can make getting through our first draft incredibly difficult when we encounter the bit that stumps us. Often, reaching this point in the book is where Shiny New Idea Syndrome strikes and we contemplate ditching the story and starting something new (and seemingly easier).

So why are these acts so difficult and what can we do about it?

Act One (beginning) struggles

Here’s why the opening can be hard to write:

You’re facing the dreaded blank page. Knowing where and how to start the story can feel overwhelming and often stop us from getting started at all.
You’re battling your perfectionism. We want to get it “right” from the beginning and this can lead to procrastination.
You feel a lot of pressure. You probably know the beginning of a book is make or break, and the pressure might stalls you. The fear of getting it wrong or “wasting your time” on a book that might not publish can make a writer not bother to start.
It’s all a balancing act. The opening needs to set the scene, introduce the characters, hook the reader, set the tone, establish a conflict and more. It’s a lot. Knowing how to balance this can be hard, which often leads to overthinking and putting off starting.

How to make writing the beginning easier:

Don’t worry about deadlines or expectations. Keep the pressure off as much as possible.
Know that you can go back and revise if it isn’t “perfect”.
Write outlines of your opening chapters and slowly expand your ideas from there until they feel solid enough to write.
Decide what information the reader definitely needs in the opening chapters.
Get beta readers, critique partners or editors to provide feedback on the opening and provide some direction and advice.

Act Two (middle) struggles

Here’s why the middle can be hard to write:

There’s a lot of pressure on the story. The fun is over and now the story needs to kick into gear and make sense. It no longer feels new or “fun” and instead feels overwhelming.
You need a lot of clarity. If you’re a discovery drafter then you might encounter blocks because you don’t know the trajectory of your story yet. Plotters can often find the middle easier to write because they have planned their story and just need to follow the path they’ve laid out.
It can get boring. Even though the middle is exciting because you’re in the meat of the story and the plot is taking shaping, it can also feel boring because it’s not the climax yet.

How to make writing the middle easier:

Don’t worry too much about hitting the story beats — just get the ideas down without pressure.
Brainstorm the midpiont (the turning point of the story) and what will happen immediately before and after.
Write chapter outline placeholders that can be fleshed out later.
Assess your plot and planning to figure out what could be happening.
Workshop ideas with critique partners.
Get feedback from beta readers, editors or coaches to help you fill in the gaps.

Act Three (ending) struggles

Here’s why the ending can be hard to write:

There’s a lot of pressure. Everything has been building to the climax and now you need to deliver. Even if you know what the climax is, you can feel the pressure to make it pay off and feel satisfying.
You need to find the end point. You need to tie up loose ends and resolve the story without letting the story drag too long or end to soon. In some cases, it may be hard to know where that line is.
You’re experiencing burnout. If you’ve been pushing yourself to get to the end, you may be burnt out and exhausted by the time you reach it.
You’ve lost your passion for the book. If writing the book has been difficult or you know there is a lot that needs to change, then you might feel uninspired to actually bother writing the ending.

How to make writing the ending easier:

Just write — don’t worry if it’s not epic enough. You can edit it later.
Make a list of all the story threads and plot points that need to be resolved to keep track of them all.
Write chapter outline placeholders if you’re struggling.
Have beta readers, critique partners, editors or coaches read your entire manuscript and provide feedback on where you can develop your ideas.

How to maintain motivation when drafting

No matter where you might be in your writing, you may find your motivation and inspiration coming and going. When you find that happening, it’s important to remind yourself that that is completely normal. Writing isn’t always smooth sailing, as much as we’d like it to be.

A few things to remember when motivation seems low:

This is just a phase. This isn’t a reflection on the quality or worth of your writing.
Take breaks and be kind to yourself. Fill your creative well and bring yourself joy where you can if writing is frustrating you.
Talk to other writers or friends who will be able to help and support you.
You’re not the only one who feels this. It’s not you — it’s just part of the process.
Try to maintain motivation with a reward system when you write or hit small goals.

If writing your novel is an overwhelming undertaking, my 16-Week Planning and Drafting Coaching takes the overwhelm and doubt out of drafting. With my 1:1 guidance and continual support, you can make it to “The End” at last. Learn more about how the coaching can help you here.