The Beginning - Exciting, The End - Epic and Then There's The Middle

As authors we write everything that comes to mind. At times that demands us to write in a series. Be it a trilogy, five, six, or twelve books we continue a story for as long as the muse wants the journey to last. A series is often needed because; let’s face it, no one wants to read a book with two million words. As a new author it is often recommended that we keep the word count below 100,000 words. This is even more reason to write in a series. However, many with a debut novel do not go the direction of a series. Why? They want to make a splash with their first novel, being a standalone novel. It is the one thing that screams, “I did it!”



As for me, I had no choice in the decision. The muse demanded this story and demanded that it span three novels, making it a trilogy. How do you know when the muse is taking control? The story builds and grows as you write. The tough part about trilogies is the middle novel. It’s like the middle movie; everyone expects it to be the weakest link, the letdown of the series. Truth be told, it often is. I’m not sure if it is the cliffhanger ending, all the plotlines remaining untied or the story hanging in the air but middle novels, like movies, are viewed with a critical and skeptical eye. It is a daunting task to write a middle novel that maintains the stories momentum and pace from the first novel while injecting energy and intrigue of the unfolding story. Yea, that was a confusing sentence but it illustrates the maelstrom that can be the middle novel. Those are tricking waters to navigate. How do you write a solid, entertaining, and driving middle novel?



It helps to read the previous novel or novels before you start the next one. Make sure your notes are up-to-date and accurate. Also, add notes as needed to make sure all the crucial information crosses over from novel to novel. Don’t forget the story you want to tell in the novel. This aspect can be lost in all the characters and plotlines crossing over from the first novel but stay true to the story. Stick to your story, follow through, and trust your notes. By the end, the plotlines should bond together more and form an even stronger story.



This is the approach I took with Drago’s Revenge. It was not easy and at times it was frustrating trying to decide what to tie up, what to continue, and when to start a new plotline. I did my best and, yes, I enjoyed writing Drago’s Revenge. With its release I’m sure the reviews will shed more light on how successful I was navigating the treacherous waters of the middle novel.