Navigating the Messy Middle:
Sometimes, it can become incredibly difficult to know how to move forward. This can happen with just a single scene, or an entire novel… and it’s most prevalent in sequels/prequels (where the second book becomes a bridge to the third, which is bad). Other times, the second novel can become so convoluted and confusing that you get lost— and then, irritated to the point you feel like scrapping it! But you can’t, of course.
An example I have heard about —though not read myself as of just yet— is “Stay In The Light” by A.M Shine, the sequel to “The Watchers”. Many reviews I have read say it suffers from the trope of only existing to introduce the third book. It has some interesting characters and plotlines, however: the story itself drags on and ends on a cliffhanger, making the book feel pointless (according to reviews). I haven’t read it myself yet since I need to read “The Watchers” first, but I am currently reading his newest novel, “Grace”. The same problem that “Stay in the Light” allegedly has is common in sequels, but thankfully… it can be avoided!
First off, recognizing this problem is the most difficult step… but once you do, it is possible to fix. The way to recognize it (from my own experience) is to trust your gut that something is wrong— and to read the plot aloud. When speaking the lines out loud to yourself— even to a friend or a trusted colleague— you should be able to say them all without pausing, questioning, or rewording any of it. If you can do that, congrats! Listen to what your friend has to say first, though, before patting yourself on the back (and actually listen! Don’t be a fool!). Now… if you did pause, or change something, or ask a question: then congrats, you now know your plot is flawed. It’ll need reworking, or perhaps entire revamping. Because if you go through with it anyway, you’ll only invite struggle onto yourself and you’ll wind up publishing something that readers look down on because you felt it was okay to release that trash! (Sorry if it’s harsh, but I’m speaking from a place of having done it myself!)
Once you recognize that something with your plot is critically wrong: you need to isolate it, talk it out again, and narrow it down. Once you do that, then you can begin cutting it and reworking the plot; characters; or whatever the problem turns out to be. Congrats, you’re on your way to writing something good!
An example of this is the prequel to my book, “Agony”. I had the entire trilogy planned out 100%, and I was so excited! Wrote the first book easily… but the second book? Well, I just started— It’s been almost a year since I wrote the first draft of Agony, and just starting the second has taken this long due to this exact problem! The plot felt off. I knew what I wanted; knew how it ended & how it started; the characters, themes, everything… But something wouldn’t let me start! I eventually talked out the plot to one of my best friends, and right there: I paused. In that moment, my friend and I both knew something was wrong (and he isn’t even a writer). Since that moment, I spent months trying to figure it out. I went through a dozen different plots, and it was driving me insane! I almost cancelled the trilogy— but I knew I couldn’t, because these stories need to be told and these characters need to be read. Eventually (after reading other books, watching movies, playing games, listening to a random podcast about a cult of children targeting other children encouraging self-harm and suicide), I finally narrowed down the plot. It’s completely different from the original. I do think I can keep the original plot… but it would be a different book than the sequel I had planned at that point. My solution to fix it was messy and not easily replicated. It was a soul-searching experience, and it was a chance collection of unrelated things that all coalesced into the book I am currently writing.
If you are struggling with something similar to this… Always remember the great inspiring words that have helped many in times of need! To quote Michael Jordan, “Stop it, get some help.”