Are you questioning whether your novel’s momentum is sagging—particularly in the middle, where things sometimes feel static?
This video will help you untangle the often-misunderstood concept of pacing versus a saggy middle. There’s a fine line between the two, but it’s crucial to recognize whether your novel’s leisurely stroll or sudden standstill is intentional or a sign of trouble
Discover how a controlled pace isn’t synonymous with a problem area, and what truly defines a saggy middle.
Hello, Jane Cleland. What’s the difference between a saggy middle and a slow pace? Well, broadly, the answer is nothing. The complexity comes into the fact that you have to decide right from the get-go what pace you’re trying to create. If you’re writing a literary novel that’s moving at quite a leisurely pace, to some readers who maybe aren’t as familiar with or comfortable reading in that genre, it may feel that things are just really dragging in the middle. But that’s purposeful. So I wouldn’t say it’s a slow pace. I wouldn’t say you have a saggy middle. I would say you’re accomplishing what you set out to do.
That’s a very different issue than if you’re writing a thriller where you want something unexpected that’s going to raise the conflict, escalate conflict, and raise the stakes every few pages at the most. It really is rip-roaring, and then all of a sudden in the middle it sags, it drags, nothing’s happening. That’s a very different challenge. So, you, the author, have to determine the pace. And from there, you can determine if you, in fact, have a saggy middle.
Now, another question that I addressed in this series having to do with saggy middles is how you identify that that is, in fact, what’s going on. And that may be of interest to you as well. And, in fact, if you want to know more about the whole subject, my webinar, “Plotting Perfection: Overcoming Sagging Middles with Ever Escalating Conflict,” is available for rent on my website.
And I’d love to know how you determine what pace is right for your novel and how you avoid any mistakes. So, even in the most leisurely of paces, avoid having things drag and sag in the middle. Do put them in the comments. I do read them, and I really am interested in your views. And if you liked this YouTube short on the subject, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you subscribe? That opens up features that let us make these videos even more valuable for you. Thank you.
*Transcripts are software-generated. To report any transcription errors, please use my contact form!
