The imploding middle

Larissa talked the other day about the process of revision. While I’m writing a book, I often take wrong turns. My gut starts to cringe with each new page and I realize then that it’s going off track. The problem is, knowing what and how to fix it. Inevitably it’s the characters’ feelings and motivations. In my first draft, I don’t develop those enough and then before I know it, I have a careening trainwreck on wheels, posing as a novel.:shocked: I have to keep slapping myself, saying, “It’s a romance, you idiot. You’ve, um, kind of left out the ROMANCE part!”

So tonight I’ve put on the brakes and I’m printing out what I have so far. Until I’ve fixed the first third, the second third isn’t going anywhere. I’m hoping this won’t be too terribly painful. Otherwise chocolate in vast quantities will be consumed. Reality tv will be watched. And there will be much gnashing of teeth.

I was laughing at some of the other Harlequin Historicals authors. They informed me that I have Middle-of-the-Book syndrome. Which, they informed me, is not to be confused with:
1. What-Was-I-Thinking-When-I-Proposed-This-Book-Syndrome
2. Why-Do-I-Always-Back-Myself-Into-A-Corner-Syndrome?
3. I-Hate-This-Book-And-Want-To-Write-Something-Else-Syndrome.
and my favorite
4. You’re-Not-The-Hero,-So-Get-Back-In-Your-Own-Corner-For-Now-And-I-Swear-I’ll-Give-You -Your-Own-Book-Later-Syndrome

I have a secondary character who’s doing that right now, come to think of it. Which is probably why I tied him to a post and left him out all night.
(Yes, I actually did that.)

Have you got any book syndromes of your own, for those of you who are writers?

(P.S.–Today’s the last day of my January contest! Sign up for the newsletter below the menu bar on the left for a chance to win an Amazon $10 gift card.)