The Messy Middle: How to Keep Writing When Motivation Fades
Week 1 of Novel November is full of excitement. ✨
Fresh ideas, blank pages, and the thrill of finally beginning.
But by Week 2? The shine starts to fade.
The “new draft energy” wears off, the plot holes start peeking through, and the word count feels heavier than it did a few days ago.
Welcome to the messy middle.
🌀 Why the Middle Feels So Hard
The beginning is fueled by adrenaline.
The end is fueled by vision.
But the middle? The middle requires grit.
It’s where doubt whispers:
This story isn’t good enough.
I’ll never catch up.
What’s the point of finishing if it’s going to be messy anyway?
Let me rip the band-aid off: every writer faces this moment, and every breakthrough begins right here.
🛠️ 3 Ways to Push Through the Messy Middle
1. Shrink the Goal
Instead of chasing 1,667 words a day, focus on the next 300. Or 15 minutes. Or one scene. Big goals feel heavy in the middle, but small goals feel doable.
2. Write Forward, Not Perfect
Resist the urge to go back and fix chapters. Messy middles get messier when you stall in revision. Move forward. Keep the momentum. You can clean later.
3. Lean Into Community
Isolation fuels discouragement. Accountability fuels progress. Whether it’s a writing buddy, a Telegram thread, or a sprint—you need voices around you reminding you that you’re not behind, you’re becoming.
🌿 What I’m Reminding Myself This Week
Here’s how I’m navigating my own messy middle right now:
Choosing progress over polish – I’ve promised myself that editing stays off-limits until December. (Messy now, magic later.)
Celebrating tiny wins – I’m marking down every 500 words as a milestone. It’s keeping me motivated to keep going.
Staying connected – I’m showing up in sprints and threads, because when I want to quit, someone else’s energy carries me.
✨ A Final Word for You
The messy middle isn’t proof that you’re failing—it’s proof that you’re in the fight.
It’s the exact place where most writers quit… and the exact place where you’re being invited to keep going.
🚀 Next steps
Drop a comment with your current word count so we can celebrate you. 🎉
And if you need extra fuel to get through this messy middle, here’s your reminder that our Inklingz community is cheering, sprinting, and writing alongside you every step of the way.
