Common Writing Mistakes Post 1: Fix a Weak Story

The problem

Great scenes cannot save a wobbly spine. If the protagonist’s goal is fuzzy, the stakes feel low, or cause and effect does not line up. The middle gets “soggy.” The ending feels unearned.

Quick symptoms checklist

• You cannot state the protagonist’s external goal in one clear sentence

• The middle third feels long or repetitive

• Plot points exist, but the cause and effect chain is weak

• The Climax resolves a problem that was not sharply defined

• Beta readers say the book is slow, confusing, or meandering

Before and after

Before:

Mara wants a better life. In the middle she tries a few ideas. The villain shows up near the end and they argue. She decides to leave town.

After:

Mara wants the antique shop deed before the bank auction in 21 days. Midpoint: she discovers the deed is hidden inside the rival’s ledger. Stakes rise when the bank moves the auction up. Climax: she risks arrest to break into the records office, forces a choice, and wins or loses on the page.

How my dev edit fixes it

I use a Story Arc visualization that aligns your core goal, stakes, and turning points.

• Goal and stakes lock

• We define the protagonist’s want vs need

• We write a single sentence that names the goal and the cost of failure
  

• Arc mapping

• I map Inciting Incident, Plot Point 1, Midpoint, Plot Point 2, and Climax

• I check causality and escalation between each beat
  

• Middle rebuild

• We add complications and midpoint consequences

• Each scene must push the plan forward or break it in a visible way
  

• Earned ending

• We mirror the Climax with the opening promise
  Internal change is demonstrated through external action
  
  

I use Fictionary StoryCoach tools to visualize the Story Arc, evaluate scene purpose, and surface missing or misplaced beats. I am training to be a Certified Fictionary StoryCoach editor, and I bring that framework to every pass.

The payoff

• A clear promise and pay-off

• Tighter pacing with real momentum
  A middle that tests your protagonist in meaningful ways

• An ending that feels inevitable and surprising

Want me to map your arc and rebuild a sagging middle? View my Services here, or Contact me