#25: Stuck in the Middle
Show Notes\n\n\n\nSummary:\n\n\n\nHundreds of thousands of writers are in the middle of National Novel Writing Month, or what is affectionately known as NaNoWriMo\u2014where writers have signed up with the goal of completing a novel draft of 50,000 words.\n\n\n\nIf you are among the participants\u2014or if you decided to tackle a nonfiction project during the same month, tapping into the resources and momentum of NaNoWriMo\u2014you\u2019re heading toward the middle of the month and, presumably, the middle of your project\u2019s draft.\n\n\n\nThe middle is hard. A lot of people stop in the middle of things.\n\n\n\nHow were you doing on your New Year\u2019s Resolutions back in July?\n\n\n\nHow about some hobby or craft you started but stopped about halfway through, that\u2019s boxed up in the garage or basement?\n\n\n\nThe halfway point is critical, because you know what it took to get to that point, so you know you need at least that much effort to finish.\n\n\n\nIt can feel overwhelming.\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s easier to just stop and shelve the project. Click save. Say you\u2019ll come back to it someday, but you know you probably won\u2019t.\n\n\n\nSome people have trouble just getting started.\n\n\n\nSome people have trouble finishing.\n\n\n\nWhen you're stuck in the middle, you have to keep pushing through the middle. Keep the pen moving or, you know, the fingers tapping.\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re in the middle of a project now, or you\u2019re envisioning some of the half-finished drafts of poems, articles, essays, or novels, sitting on your hard drive, open a file today.\xa0Open the current project or dig into your archives.\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re halfway through\u2014if you\u2019re stuck in the middle\u2014you can begin again. You can finish.\n\n\n\nOn Saturdays I post a writing quote\u2014something to encourage you along the way. This past Saturday\u2019s quote came from Ausonius.\n\n\n\n\nBegin, for half the deed is in beginning;\n Begin the other half, and you will finish.\n\n\n\n\nBegin the other half, friends. Begin\u2014keep going\u2014and you will finish.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIdeas from this episode:\n\n\n\n\nThe middle is hard; it's where a lot of people stop.\n\n\n\nNaNoWriMo participants are about halfway through their projects, and they can celebrate their progress; everyone should celebrate their progress if they made it to the middle.\n\n\n\nIf you're halfway through any writing project, begin again\u2014by beginning again, you will finish.\n\n\n\n\nResources:\n\n\n\n\nWrite in the Middle of Everyday Distractions: 7 Strategies for Getting Back on Track\n\n\n\nWrite in the Middle: Yes, You Can Maximize Distraction-Free Writing\n\n\n\nWrite in the Middle of Chaos\n\n\n\nNaNoWriMo\n\n\n\nNaNoWriMo stats\n\n\n\nWNFIN/NaNonFiWriMo\n\n\n\nHow the Cuckoo Found Its Voice\n\n\n\n#1: Just Get Started (podcast)\n\n\n\n#14: Progress, Not Perfection\xa0(podcast)\n\n\n\n#21 One Thing Every Writer Needs to Succeed\xa0(podcast)\n\n\n\nWriting Quote - Begin, for half the deed is in beginning\n\n\n\n\n* * *\n\n\n\nListen for the full podcast. You can subscribe with iTunes\xa0and\xa0Stitcher,\xa0where I'd love to have you subscribe, rate, and leave a review. You can also\xa0use the feed with any podcast player you use.\n\n\n\nConnect with me on Twitter\xa0and\xa0Facebook, where I'm always sharing\xa0ideas to help us be more curious, creative, and productive.\n\n\n\n_______________________\n\n\n\nBook Discussion - The Art of Memoir\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDo you read or write memoir? If so, you'll enjoy the book\xa0discussion of Mary Karr's recent release\xa0The Art of Memoir. On Saturday, I launched with questions about the preface, and on Tuesday we'll dive into\xa0the first three chapters.\n\n\n\nJoin the conversation Tuesdays at my Facebook page:\n\n\n\n\nPreface\n\n\n\nChapters 1-3