How to Firm Up the “Mushy Middle” of Any Story (5 Weeks)

Everyone writes great beginnings and endings to their novels, but when it comes to the middle they get bogged down and lose their way. It’s called “the mushy middle” and there seems no way out of this quagmire.

But there is hope. There is a process that can ensure a strong middle throughline for any story. Jeff Lyons will teach you the two-key story-structure engines needed for any story’s middle, and the two essential character patterns needed to build a character’s arc through the middle.

These engines and patterns work together to not only assure a narrative throughline that avoids episodic or meandering writing, but that also gives you a repeatable process that will produce solid middles for any story you might write in the future. Say goodbye to the mushy middle, and hello to stories that work.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Screenwriters (film, TV)
• Novelists
• Memoirists
• Anyone telling a story

WHAT YOU GET:

• 24/7 Online Classroom access — The learning environment is a forum-discussion-based learning system (Canvas) with a robust and easy to use interface. Students have 24/7 acess to all discussions, assignemnts, lectures and class materials.
• Weekly Video/Chat Sessions—Every Monday the instructor will hold live video/chat sessions with all participants to do one-on-one work and review issues, premise lines, and answer questions . All sessions will be recorded.
• Online Feedback — The instructor will montitor all students discussions, assigned work, and online questions and respond daily to all student's input. Feedback is constant and timely.
• Email Support — All students can privately email the instructor for additional support as needed.
• Class Materials — All students will recieve worksheets, forms, and other class materials to facilitate assignment completion.
• One-on-One — All students can have a weekly video chat for one-on-one attention arranged directly through the instructor. No one slips through the cracks. Everyone gets handson help. All private sessions will be recorded for the participant.

TICKET TIERS:

• Early Bird: This is a discount priced admission with a start and end date. On the last day, only regular admission will be permitted.
• Regular Admission: This is a full-price admission that will be available up through the first week of class. No admissions will be allowed after tht.
• Refunds — Refunds are allowed up to 7 days prior to class start and are automated through Eventbrite. For disputes please contact the instructor directly.

BONUS:

As a bonus for joining this workshop, you'll also receive one free month in my colleague Jenna Avery's online Called to Write community (details below) so you can not only learn these skills, but ensure you have support and accountability to put them into practice.

ABOUT YOUR "CALLED TO WRITE" BONUS:

Jenna's online Called to Write community is a place focused exclusively on supporting writers to make writing actually happen. You'll share your monthly writing goals and check in for support and coaching as needed throughout the month. Being a part of the Called to Write community helps you normalize the ups and downs of writing, troubleshoot writing challenges, end writer's isolation, and provide a safe space to stay accountable and in action with your writing.

This is the only "writing group" I recommend. This community does not offer critiquing, but instead puts attention on taking action on and completing all your writing projects which, in my opinion, is the point of coaching.

Find out more about the Called to Write Coaching Circle at https://calledtowrite.mn.co/. Note that this offer is not available to current Called to Write members. Current members may contact Jeff or Jenna for details about a special members-only benefit for this workshop. When our class completes, Jenna will provide us with a specific registration link so you can access this bonus.

"My real-life writer's group is disappointing by comparison, as we talk and don't write much." —Called to Write Member

DISCALIMER

By purchasing a ticket you are agreeing to allow your image and voice to be recorded during the video/chat sessions. Recordings will not be downloadable, but can be streamed by paid particiants for up to one month after class end. If you do not want your image or voice to be recorded or can turn off your camera and mic during the video recording. After the class concludes, snippets or pieces of recorded class sessions could be used for marketing, promotion, and educational puproses by the instructor to promote other classes and/or educate other students. Private one-on-one recorded sessions may also be used for these purposes, but the instructor will get verbal and written permission to do so for one-on-one sessions only, separate from the recorded class video chats which are encompassed by this disclaimer.