Just Keep Typing, Just Keep Typing

I am in the thick of the middle of my NaNo novel, trying not to let it become a sagging middle. This stretch is a tough one. My fabulous beginning is far behind me and I’m not close enough to be encouraged by the nearness of the end.

This is the slogging part. Where I have to force myself to keep going, keep putting in the time, keep typing in the words.

You too?

I’m guessing this is the time when, if you are going to give up, you give up. Because once you make it past the halfway point, you can tell yourself, “I’ve come this far, I may as well see it through to the end.” Or, “Most of the work is behind me.” Or, “I’m so close I can taste it!”

Middles are tough. What helps is writing not towards the final ending, but towards the next plot point, or if you are a Larry Brooks’ Storyfix devote, it could be the next pinch point, which may be even closer than that next plot point.

You’ve been working hard for days now and there are still more of those hard days in front of you. As I’m writing this, it is Day 11 with 19 days remaining, thank you NaNoWriMo stats!

Only Day 11?! Seriously—19 more days left at this unrelenting pace?! I think I might die.

I’m looking forward to the stats page saying Day 19 with 11 days remaining. Doesn’t that sound sweet? Doesn’t that sound doable?

Just keeping typing! We’re getting there.