Okay, what’s going on here?  I’m at the far end of the middle of a story that has worked very well up to this point. Now I feel like I’m pushing instead of being pulled. I have learned that my story just is not as good that way, so I need to step back.

What’s gone wrong? The conflict is still there, my characters are strong and I like them–so I’m missing something. The first thing I have to do is walk away for a few minutes (or longer). I need to settle myself (hey, the laundry has to be done sometime and it’s a great opportunity). If I’m still not there after my foray into housework–and nothing gets me in the mood to write more than doing housework–then I go back to a place in the story that was really hitting all the marks. And read it. And sit with it.

It’s day dream time. No it doesn’t look like I’m working, but no one is here to see and I know I really am getting something done. I’m letting my characters off the leash to see where they’ll take me. Remember the “When the Characters Take Over the Ship?” This is when I need them to do it.

I usually find I’m not letting my heroine show her full strength. In most of my stories it’s the heroine who saves the heroes bacon–am I not letting her do that? She’ll walk away from me if I don’t use her well enough.

I know others use charts or montages or their outline! Those don’t always work for me.  What about you?  How to you get your sagging middle taut again?

Mutiny? Well, not really. In fact, I like it. When the characters I’m writing overwhelm me and take control that means that I’ve fleshed them out on paper as richly as they appear in my mind. They’re real and have their own ideas about where their destinies should take them.

Of course, that can blow my story completely off course and I have to stop and take stock of where we’re really going, instead of where I’d planned. Ultimately I usually find out that they were right. As well as I know my characters, sometimes, no often, they surprise me.

As a pantser I really shouldn’t be surprised anymore when it happens. That left turn that the story takes (or to port if I keep up the analogy) keeps it fresh for me. After the seventy-fifth reading of a scene even my eyes can glaze over. To surprise my reader and not go where it’s expected delights me and if the characters join in to help – there’s nothing better.

Another joy is when a “minor” character rises up on his or her toes, frantically waving their arms and saying, “Hey! Write more about me!” Now you’re heading into sequel territory and even more fleshing out of the story.

Hey, I’m a writer. These people are as real to me as the people down the hall at work, and often more pleasant. They’re always willing to talk to me and flood me with ideas – especially when I don’t have time to write them down – but that’s a different blog.

Does this happen to you? Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do plotters have this problem? Let me know!

New Year – when did it get to be 2014? This past year went so fast. I definitely remember when it took eons to get to be Christmas, now I barely get one paid for before the next is upon me.

I’m expecting some big changes this year and unfortunately not all good. My boss (the best boss ever) has announced his retirement. I was not ready for that one and I’m still reeling. I have no idea what it means for me but it will mean major changes. Morale at work isn’t great to begin with, so this is really a blow for everyone.

So I’m going to be working harder than ever on my writing. On one hand it takes me out of the real world which can be nice. And on the other I can be creative. Writing does take me away and I love that. 

Of course there’s the same old resolutions – lose some weight, do more exercise (and btw I’ve been on the treadmill every morning since Christmas), complete at least two books (that’s one I will do) and try to save a little more money toward retirement.

What about you? Do you have resolutions? Do you have big changes on the horizon? I’d love to hear from you, maybe get some inspiration! Have a wonderful, safe New Year!

Hope a lot of you got that eReader from Santa, so I thought I’d answer that question. First, have you looked at my review page? The short answer is everything. Even I didn’t realize how wide ranging I was until I looked back at it.

Yes, my favorite for as far back as I can remember has been science fiction, but I branched out into fantasy years ago. I finished The World of Time series by Robert Jordan a few months ago.  I took a year and read the Gunslinger series by Stephen King, then picked up the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and started at the beginning again. Such worlds to get lost in . . .

Now I’m concentrating a lot on Romance – Regency, Highlander, Women’s lit. A lot of that is because I know these authors, but I’m also learning so much from them. I love the flow of the voice, the weaving of the plot or the turn of a phrase.

It’s different reading now. I read for enjoyment, fun. If I learn anything, that’s just gravy on top. But the thing is, I do learn every day. It’s kind of like going to plays now. For years I just sat out front and enjoyed the performance. I paid no attention to anything else. Then La Daughter became a professional stage manager (got a degree in it!) and boy did that change my point of view. Now I know how quickly they rush to change scenery, how heavy it is and how they ensure that special prop is exactly where it should be. I even catch the lighting cues and shift in music.

I guess I’m just no longer complacent. I can see the inner workings of books that way too and I’m delighting in it.

What am I going to read next? It’s anyone’s guess!  Books