The Fantasy Writing Show with Jed Herne

How to Write the Middle of Your Fantasy Novel (Detailed Guide)

June 2, 2026·55 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Writing the middle of your fantasy novel is hard. Lots of people talk about how to write a great opening, or how to write a great ending. Yet hardly anyone discusses the middle, and that’s a massive problem, because not knowing what to do with your middle is maybe the biggest reason why you’ll get stuck with your story.But that won’t happen to you, because in today's episode, I’m going to show you how to master the middle, so that you can confidently get from the start to the finish of your first draft, without giving up halfway through!Here's what we'll cover today:First, I’ll explain the two common pieces of writing advice that are secretly sabotaging your middles.Then, I’ll explain the better approach (which I’ve taught to many of my students, helping them master the middles of their stories).Next, I’ll plot a new fantasy novel in real-time, so that you can see how to actually build the middle of your own story.Lastly, I'll cover some important mindset and troubleshooting tips for getting through the middle of your first draft.Want to improve your writing even further? Read my new book, Plotting Your Fantasy Novel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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