by Lana Christian @LanaCWrites
As authors, we have a love-hate relationship with the messy middle of our novels. We can’t wait to get past it. We wonder how we’ll get through it. (Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?)
In the messy middle, our characters often make wrong choices. Barriers block their goals. Their lows get lower. Revelation and resolution are yet to come. Yet the plot needs to keep moving forward so readers keep turning pages.
Similar to books, much of our life happens in the messy middle. A few mountaintop experiences, some really low points, often years of in between. And a frequent God-what-do-You-want-of-me feeling.
That may persist through endless diaper-duty months of parenting, the what-next after crushed career dreams, the burden of extended illness, or the agony of grieving that doesn’t subside.
That time of no-and-not-yet can shift into “coasting”—getting by until life gets better. Coasting through repetitive activities or extended loss is one thing. Coasting with God is another.
I can say that because I’ve done that.
When life continues without upgrades, we may relegate prayer and worship to a checklist. That’s a more palatable way to manage one’s faith rather than face the fear of what God is waiting to tell us.
We can’t afford to mark time in the messy middle of our books. Similarly, we should do more than get by in the messy middle of our life.
If we do the opposite and go deep, wonderful things can happen.
That means doing the scary. Total surrender to God. Yet it yields insights we wouldn’t get otherwise. Grasping God’s perspective of our life also gives us clarity with our characters—their wounds, struggles, questions, unbelief. As God transforms us, we can transform our characters into more interesting, complex people through their messy middle. As we trust God more, our resilience can transfer organically into character growth that resonates with readers.
Growth isn’t linear or clean. It’s messy. Rough-edged. Unfinished. Maybe that’s what the messy middle is for.
In my second book, Survival Secrets, the Wise Men are forced to search for an alternate route home as they flee Herod and other enemies. Each decision they make for the sake of their caravan’s safety sends them in the opposite direction of their destination. As enemies and the elements bear down on them, the Wilderness of Paran becomes their messy middle—a crucible of testing for their newfound faith. Prayers seem to go unanswered, while the stakes get higher with each dangerous step forward.
In books and in life, the messy middle yields few answers. Yet God is always working behind the scenes. We can convey the same with our character arcs. Readers won’t be able to see their fully written story (unless they cheat and skip to the end), but we can show them what’s simmering underneath the surface. Shifting priorities and beliefs. New ways of handling setbacks and relationships.
We can do so much in the messy middle.
Life is like books under construction. Both have a messy middle. While we (and our characters) yearn for a roadmap through it, we can demonstrate that God looks upon His not-yet-revealed plans the same way as He sees the end of our story. That’s real hope. We have the privilege of conveying that through our books.
Even (and especially) in the messy middle.
Lana Christian is a biblical fiction and nonfiction author who’s garnered seventeen faith-based writing awards since 2021. Her author website includes her Selah finalist blog, “Encouragement from Living History.” Lana loves the mystery/discovery of hiking, secret staircases, and third-story windows. She believes many problems can be solved with chai tea and common sense, but God can solve all problems. Connect with Lana through her Website, Facebook, Twitter/X, BookBub, and Goodreads.