Rebekah asked Sandi Ward:

I love your books so much! How do you stay motivated to write? Whenever I try to write something I can never get past the middle...

Sandi Ward Thanks! That's a good question. I think there's two parts to it. First, I get motivated to write a story because I feel very compelled—I have an idea that I feel passionate about, and have to get it out on paper (or, in my case, on my laptop). Often I get ideas for scenes when I'm doing something mindless where I don't have to think too much, like walking my dog, and then I type it up later. So I guess I don't have to force myself to sit and write because I do it for fun! I find it entertaining (and probably therapeutic).

The second part, though, is that once I start a story, I have to figure out where it's going to go. That's harder. Sometimes I have an idea, get the characters in place—but then I'm not completely sure where to take it. I don't outline or plan my books ahead of time, so I have to figure everything out mid-story.

I assume that if a story line isn't compelling to me, it won't be compelling to readers either. So if I'm running out of steam, I change it up. I'll throw in a few twists or unexpected turns in the middle. I try to think: what would be surprising here? And then I can go back and edit what I wrote before to fit. I'll try to give readers a few moments of "I didn't see that coming—but of course, that makes sense!"

I think a lot of writers find the middle hard to get through, even when they have an ending in mind. I usually have a few secondary characters to play with who can step up and insert themselves into the plot, sending things in a new direction. And I sometimes throw in exterior obstacles, whether it's a broken leg or a snowstorm.

Writing realistic fiction for me means thinking about dramatic things that happen in our everyday lives, and then amplifying them. What if everything my character hoped wouldn't happen actually came to pass? So I try to make things increasingly more complicated, and incorporate scenes that are fun (or interesting, or heartbreaking, or inspiring) for me to write.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your writing!

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