Myths & More

Image Source 4 Top Tips To Get You Through the Middle of Your Book Writing Fear The middle of a story shows us how successful our plot and characters will be, which may deter us from the writing process. Some ways to overcome this fear are listed below. 1. Build in windows of opportunity  -Move information from the beginning of the story to the middle -Helps to expand the plot and avoid dead-ends 2. Build a bridge -Understand the defining events of the beginning, middle and end of a story -Similar to a plot pyramid (see Freytag’s analysis) , the bridge helps us recognize the middle of our story 3. Exploit your theme -Use your theme as a guide for writing the middle section -Build a sub-plot or main-plot based on the central idea of your story 4. Dig a little deeper -Use research to help write your story -Some information can be used later as a major plot point

Illustrated by H. J.  Ford Link to story. Title: How the Dragon was Tricked (cont.) Publication: The Pink Fairy Book, 1897 Author: Andrew Lang Illustrator: H. J. Ford Notes: Andrew Lang (March 31, 1844—July 20, 1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and anthropologist who wrote a multitude of folk and fairy tales. In his series of Lang’s Color/Rainbow Fairy Books (a collection of 25 books overall), the ninth installment known as The Pink Fairy Book was published in 1897. Henry Justice Ford (1860—1941), a successful English artist and illustrator, did numerous illustrations for Lang’s books. Characters: Dragon Dragoness Trickster King King’s daughter Places: Europe (based on a Greek tale) Events: As the dragoness is about to kill the trickster, he slays her instead The trickster steals the bedding and returns to the king The king orders the trickster to capture the dragon The trickster waits for two years to grow his beard as a disguise Dressed as a beggar, the trickster visi...

Illustration by H. J. Ford Link to story. Title: How the Dragon was Tricked Publication: The Pink Fairy Book, 1897 Author: Andrew Lang Illustrator: H. J. Ford Notes: Andrew Lang (March 31, 1844—July 20, 1912) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and anthropologist who wrote a multitude of folk and fairy tales. In his series of Lang’s Color/Rainbow Fairy Books (a collection of 25 books overall), the ninth installment known as The Pink Fairy Book was published in 1897. Henry Justice Ford (1860—1941), a successful English artist and illustrator, did numerous illustrations for Lang’s books. Characters: Father Oldest brother Youngest brother/Trickster Shepherd King Flying horse Dragon Dragoness Places: Europe (based on a Greek tale) Events: A man has two sons that do not get along Out of jealousy, the eldest son ties the youngest son to a tree The boy tricks a shepherd into freeing him, driving away his sheep The trickster becomes popular for his mischief The king hires the trickster to st...