Writing the MIDDLE of the Story: 12 Tips to Help You

[@giantksudo]

I bet the butcher I could reach the meat on the top shelf. He said no, the steaks are too high.

[@purplepepper2503]

SleepingGiant XD

[@davidbrow9757]

If you haven’t been told this you are a really well spoken teacher of art and story. I really like the way you make cards printed with the information , these are very structured, easy to follow and understand. You give practical and useful information, you are another reason why I love KZbin so much.

[@markcrilley]

Thank you so much, David! :)

[@ThatJapanArtist]

Advice from a soon to be published comic book artist ~ *Always have your Beginning and End planned and completed in your story, then fill out the middle last!* :-]

[@PBVStudios]

Do the middle last....really? The middle is so hard for me! I think I'll take your advice! Thank you!

[@NapperNeru]

I came here to find out how I can fill in the middle 😂

[@bzuku9554]

@Devika T. A ' hint ...think of a sandwich... you can't make a sandwich without the bread. you could have the juicy parts in the middle but there's no foundation

[@j.mbarlow5952]

I'd like to expand on your note about pacing - like all writing, there is no written rules. Oh the irony. But there are some pretty basic guidelines in most aspects of writing, many of which you mention, that can be followed. Regarding pacing, there are two types of scenes - Action, and Reaction. Sometimes they are amalgamated into a single scene, but it essentially boils down to Action = stuff happens, Reaction = how the characters reflect on it. When plotting (or looking at your first draft if you "pants"ed it, look at the events - the things that happen, plot wise. Those scenes should all show to some degree a character reflection. The higher scale impact of an event, probably the longer it takes to process it. If your story is jumping from action to action too much, the pacing is off. Slow it down. If things are going to slow, skip a reaction scene. To simplify, Action = Plot Development. Reaction = Character development. I highly recommend K.M Weiland's blog at HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com for a lot of really good writing advice. She's a novelist, but almost everything she teaches can be applied to general storytelling. Mark, I love that you do these videos - not just how to draw, but how to tell stories, how to put it all out there. How to maintain a positive mindset about everything creative, really. For a guy like me, it's a real help.

[@NytheCreates]

A great video. In relation to the Vader/Luke thing I always saw it that Obiwan told Luke that Vader killed his father as a metaphor. That Vader was the darkside which killed the good side of Anakin, killing the man he used to be.

[@purplepepper2503]

I think my problem is that when my story doesn't feel like it's good enough, I try to change it and aim for "Pixar" standards (which hasn't helped at all and only made me feel incompetent ._.) But then, seeing the stories you and other KZbinrs make, I realized that I don't have to create the next "big hit"- and that I'd rather write because of my love for stories.

[@believerchances8600]

Wow inspiring 🤣😁 I really want to create a manga and its hard to make a really interesting story that makes sense and because of you and mark crilly and others im just going to do it because I love drawing and telling stories so thanks 🤣🤣😁😁

[@powercouchreloaded8131]

Never stop creating. Just keep practicing. Write stories you like to write and read books and or articles and analysis about storywriters you trust. In germany we have a saying: Es ist noch nie ein Meister vom Himmel gefallen. "No Master/Professional has ever fallen from the sky"

[@purplepepper2503]

Best Jay20 Yeah!! Just lately, I decided that I was going to work on my story- even if I had no idea what in the world I was doing xD It was really bad at first, but now it's getting better! So keep going, dude! I'm rooting for your comic/manga/story! :D Keep going even if it looks bad at first/if it doesn't make sense.

[@purplepepper2503]

Power Couch Reloaded First of all, oh my goodness! You're from Germany?! :D I'm over the moon, you guys and your country are awesome!

[@anm1236]

I find that if you like the idea but not how it sounds on paper, try rewriting it with new words that lead into the events after and connect to those before. I personally have started to do that with my introduction and let's just say I hate it a lot less(still needs work tho lol)

[@ignisvis8867]

I usually create the plot twists first XD In my story I made an huge plot twist near the end that crush all the beliefs of the protagonist and he has to find the will to fight. I also made him cry for the first time in the whole story because he fells lost. I think that deciving the protagonist is one of the best way to make a plot twist since you don't only get shocked by the reveal but also empathize with his emotions.

[@DarkoFoxfire]

Is it like a single plot or does it change with twists or turns type of story?

[@ignisvis8867]

I try to keep the sense of continuity of the story but when you put a big twist the point of view of the protagonist and the reader changes so I think it's normal for the plot to get reshaped ^^

[@lawrencescales9864]

Also, coming at the story from s different angle can help. I was getting stuck on a comic book script and decided to try and make one and complete it in a day. Instead of going through each scene and each piece of dialogue, I wrote a summary with scene beats and a very basic storyboard. I take notes of lines I come up with as I go. Worrying about little details too early on will stop you from completing your work.

[@SillverBel]

Ratatouille was so underrated. It's so good!!!

[@markcrilley]

Pretty much a perfect film :)

[@linkno1]

I used to try writing from beginning to the end...Key part being "used to". These days I usually begin with the beginning and the end, then brainstorm all the possible obstacles the protagonist could 'realistically' face to get from A to B. Could end up being a linear journey with a clear goal in sight, could end up being a big twist due to how drastically the end differs from the start. The journey is a lot easier once I know where I came from and where I have to be.

[@brendaevangelista7783]

Out of all of your videos, these are my favorites, because I always learn so much! As always, thank you for sharing!

[@markcrilley]

Thank you Brenda, you're the best! :)

[@Nocthena]

I read a really nice piece of advice at some point for people struggling to, so to speak, connect the dots of their beginning and ending. „Think about what you’re protagonist wants. And then think of ways to keep him from getting it.“ It kinda just gave me a better sense of what these „problems“ are that they need to encounter and just slightly rephrasing it like this helped me visualize it.

[@brandoncrystian405]

I was always naturally a good story writer and artist,( Which to me is the best combination) but, you have excelled my learning form 0 to 100, you sir are like the god of this.

[@JoeJames-aka-the-undefined]

OMG Darth Vader is Luke's father! 😨 Hehe couldn't resist :) awesome video Mark, I will be coming back to this as a refresher over and over 👍

[@plowboysk8r]

I am grateful for your videos. I rediscovered arting this past summer and have learned so much from you and other youtubers. I had an idea for a graphic story and knew how I wanted it to end. I came up with a beginning and as I developed the middle, it didn’t work out with that beginning. So I created a new beginning working from some middle ideas back. Since then the beginning has changed. Now I am going to use the other beginning and middle with a different ending of a graphic short. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

[@mibber121]

The problem that i'm having with my story is that i have a large amount of set situations and events that together do make a story, but i dont know how to string them all together. Its not like theyre random situations that im trying to link. Ive thought it through and ive got 80 percent of it planned to the T, but im not sure what drawing and writing to use to bring together together the bits ive done

[@ignisvis8867]

Same XD It's hard not to make boring the parts that links the main events together

[@theorosef]

If you write down all of the events, it's easier to find ways to link them or make one lead to another! At least it's easier for me haha

[@gansetsukon]

You guys know how to make a mind map? It's really useful for this sort of situation :p

[@viiravos]

mibber121 when I have problems like that, I start experimenting, putting them in different orders and seeing which I like best

[@PBVStudios]

ignis vis, sooooooo agree. I feel like ALL my links are like dead ends and as boring as toilet paper.

[@androth1502]

formula writing isn't bad at all. i pretty much love all of edgar rice burroughs books and they are all the exact same formula. simplified: -hero has main goal to pursuit. -every chapter the hero is faced with a new dilemma that frustrates the hero's goal and distracts from the main goal. -the hero can rest during a crises, but each new chapter should begin with a new problem/crisis to overcome.

[@odeimaginations5267]

It worked! I hoped for a story-related video and here it is :D. Thank you! This was a very supportive and instructive video on the topic. Maybe you have the power to fulfill wishes... You know, I've always wished for world peace, right? No? Oh, come on. ;)

[@pbrunet44]

This is the type of content that is pure wholesome KZbin as it was always meant to be. Great work!

[@hiddentreasureseeker]

“...too many dialogue scenes in a row we start to definitely get bored.” Ugh! This instantly took me back years ago when I took Anne Rice’s “Memnoch The Devil” and threw it in a corner. Talking, talking, talking! I picked it up again months later and finished it and thought it was good, but obviously the frustration has stayed with me to this day. I’m bitter.

[@kiyaxl4111]

Thanks a lot for this video! I've been thinking about starting my own story and I've had trouble with thinking up things for the middle. So this really helps! ^^

[@aikana1604]

Thanks for the advice! Now I can continue my story! 😊 Keep up the good work!! 😃

[@leonfatmandrawings]

I always struggle for stroies for my animations and these help a lot :D

[@SheepUndefined]

YES. FINALLY! Strangely enough, I have no problem with beginnings and endings, but somehow, interpolating the two seems to be where I end up falling flat! Glad to see this show up. ^^

[@isabellajeffs9351]

I have the same issue lol

[@itzalmigtyak5388]

Thx Mark, Ive been subcribed for a few years now and all your video, whether it your how to draw, or elements of writing a story. They really have inspired to make my own graphic novels some day, and become an even greater artist like you so thank you, and Happy Holidays to you and the family.

[@martyna7058]

I got the Mastering Mangot 2 a few days ago from my boyfriend for Christmas and I just discovered your channel through it! Your work is awesome!!

[@markcrilley]

Yay! Please tell your boyfriend I said Thank you :)

[@cornbreadenthusiast9958]

These tips are so helpful! It even gave me an idea for my book! Thank you so much, Mark!

[@Scented_Shadow]

I got Manga Art! I've been loving it so far. Really different style sometimes than your usual manga books, and I appreciate that. Another book for my Crilley collection!

[@markcrilley]

Thank you so much!! ^_^

[@drazgonz]

Hi Mark

[@alphinart]

Hey Mark! Thanks for being such a great help and inspiration to all of us aspiring artists! You're one of my biggest inspirations!

[@purplepepper2503]

Oh my word, thank you!!! I've been struggling with this for a week and this is just what I needed :D

[@NintendoPolitics]

This is exactly what I needed!

[@DexterDLopez]

I always love and appreciate your advice and videos, thank you mark so much for being my inspiration!

[@dumplingsrgood3066]

This helps out so much. Thank you Crilley!

[@sketch2471]

Thanks Mr. Mark!

[@BigSupercast]

sketch 24 Mr. Crilley

[@tomholder183]

I'm going to japan and publish my manga one day.. even though i don't know how to draw.. I'm getting in there.. -Everyone can draw.. Source: Internet.

[@jamescannella1395]

I got three basic stories want to collaborate ?

[@レッド-h1i]

Bakuman vibes

[@jamescannella1395]

bakuman vibes ?

[@tomholder183]

The Protagonist HAAHAHAAH

[@レッド-h1i]

james cannella nah it's just that anything about aspiring to be a Mangaka reminds me of Bakuman

[@cardquest2118]

ok the way you dealt with pages 86 to 88 in book 1 was super cool

[@watermelonslime2971]

A way I usually use to keep high stakes stories interesting is by not simply saying "the world is gonna end" but showing how smaller parts of the world are suffering. Maybe a small segment about a town thats struggeling to find food or a family coping with the loss of a loved one do to whatever the main big threat is. It helps people relate to the issue on a more conperhensable scale and gives an idea of why you should care about the world thats being threatened

[@skygelbron6321]

Thank you Mark! I love these advice videos and they are so helpful!

[@vnayak098]

Mate... you are amazing. I am writing my first book and you are such a great help ! Thank you for everything.

[@marteme2273]

this really helped! Got my thoughts going on new problems and solutions to the middle of my story. Thank you

[@jaelbutler7966]

Thanks for the video. I've been working on my own manga for sometime. I really felt like my middle was a bit dry, maybe a bit slow and uninteresting, as I found it took time to introduce the world and characters properly. Your advice was quite inspiring and gave me a few tips and points to consider as I likely make some revisions. God has given you some amazing talents; keep up the good work! :)

[@Creeperboy099]

so, is a good example of a shocking twist when a villain is mistaken to be dead after a battle of some sort but comes back stronger later?

[@DuchessOfDoofus]

This is super helpful and _really_ practical advice just thank you so much for this video deserves way more views

[@Arkillian]

Very informative video! Thank you for making these videos on the basics that many don't cover- it makes a big difference :D

[@markcrilley]

Thank you, glad I can help :)

[@rathankumar7262]

You are really good... The explanation u do... The art you create is really great... Thank u very much.

[@GcorpCoPrez]

I haven’t watched the whole video yet only 1:58 of it. Mark mentioning LotR and the middle being the longest part, struck a thought at how one can tackle the middle of the story. The middle is the journey your characters take to get to the end. Sprinkled throughout are their trials and tribulations for the characters to reach the ending. There may be funny moments, sad, and happy ones and they help shape the characters or introduce lore and backstories for them. Its kinda of a way to say, let’s cram as much as we can do to document their life before the ending. We introduced these characters and maybe the plot, villain in the beginning. This how they lived for the middle. Now watch it come to a close in the ending.

[@carkpet]

BUT I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORY WHEN THIS WAS POSTED XDDD

[@adriantrujilloflores9020]

when mark mentions #10... *thinks to myself* "my beginning part of the story is bland" *cries bc its re-written 1000 times*

[@anm1236]

Honestly same, I still have work to do on that but I know we both can get there

[@adriantrujilloflores9020]

AnM123 yes indeed

[@e.johnson8454]

Adrian Trujillo so how's it coming?

[@annanoeldraws]

You give such great advice, and your art is even greater. thanks! :D

[@supreetkaur996]

Neon Artist hey check out my art vedio

[@supreetkaur996]

Neon Artist and can you tell me how you got so much of subs without even posting a vedio 😅😅

[@annanoeldraws]

I saw some of your video it's cool

[@annanoeldraws]

I do have one video but for some reason it doesn't seem to show up on my page

[@glanni]

I really love your videos! You are always very helpful. I hope to write soon 🙄

[@CiroGalli]

Hi Mark, I've a question for you. Maybe for some upcoming q&a video in the future: Which particular manga or anime best showcases the points you mention in this video? Keep it up man!

[@anshu281]

So nice tips mark Thank you

[@dinar7000]

Great video! even though i havent seen it, its probably super helpful and great

[@mohammadkamal2953]

This drawing is adorable

[@Sammy_47]

I always have a tendency to restart my story over and over again never being satisfied how it is; I like the idea of using an existing genre as a reference if you can't think of anything.

[@MrProducer-ec5jq]

This is a great video! THANK YOU!!!

[@clutterbot7279]

great video ~ was super useful

[@ivanmalau4945]

I really love the cyberpunk genre and im happy that netflix is starting to promote it with altered carbon and mute later this month. I hit a wall with story im writing based in this world but yeesh is the middle hard . This video helped clear out a lot :) Hoprfully cyberpunk 2077 gives me more ideas lol

[@Lieu_Tenant_Gambit]

thank you for posting. your videos are always helpful. was wondering what markers you use for shading??? thank you in advance, an aspiring artist

[@yui-chan8627]

hey mark...you are really a good drawer

[@alexchandler8476]

Thank you for this lesson. Very practical points. Have you considered a book on how to write the novel in the practical way you have here. Giving example

[@GuiBRx]

Hi from Brazil, nice job

[@gansetsukon]

Oh! Brazil! Nice! Soccer! Samba! 7x1! Zuera, tb sou br :V hdusahduifha Falando sério, o Mark Crilley é foda pra carai! Adoro os videos dele tb :P

[@GuiBRx]

Sim, acompanho ele faz anos kk

[@lostitoto298]

Ae, acho que é a 1° vez que vejo br aqui!

[@anm1236]

I've debated within myself but I'm going to say it... no story is truly original! It's just wording and characters. The hero has a thousand faces but is the same guy.

[@anm1236]

Also when I stumbled soon your mastering manga book I loved it and now have that whole series(starting a book of my own) and have found you as very inspiring Mark. Thanks! It is hard to put into words and i consider myself pretty good at wording.

[@ghostofcanidstheinnovator4275]

Thanks Mark Crilley

[@darkscarlet1012]

I’m trying to convince my mom to make a comic class is our home school co-op, so I’m finding a bunch of videos (mostly yours)

[@emeraldqueen1994]

HTTYD has great storytelling if you’re looking for an example

[@redberry8386]

Only thing about adding characters: if you use that principle too many times, it won’t be interesting anymore and it’s going to be redundant. It’s as if to keep your story going, you just add characters. Not that I’m a pro at writing stories, but from what I read, I can say that adding too much characters can be bad.

[@MasterTow1994]

If you only know the beginning and the ending, you have a premiss - if you have the beginning, the ending and the middle you have an idea.

[@tanerismailoglu9789]

i dont exactly listen to what Mark Criley is saying when i am listenting, i just listen to him when i draw because he is soothing

[@constipatednuggets2185]

Can u make a tutorial on to make a comic title cover? Pls and thank u

[@emicandea9819]

Thank you!

[@yukichan1630]

My manga is different because it’s like the Case Closed Mangas, There is one case at the start of the story and then there are two more cases that come after the first one so it wouldn’t really have a middle you can say it has a long middle but at the end of the manga the third case isn’t solved because that case is solved in the next book.Dose anyone have any tips on how to not make the plot too long and stretched out.Dose this make my manga strange or bad,because some people tell me that it doesn’t make sense or that it’s not normal for a manga to have a plot like my manga.

[@catpaws1913]

I think I'm the kind of person who'll get really emotionally invested in the characters, accidentally kill them while crying, question myself and slowly bullshit my way to the ending which I've already thought out. I would be such a disappointing writer, too bad, it's just a hobby to get crazy dreams out of my head

[@abellopez1586]

Hey mark crilley i want ask you something i have heard something about i need learn much thing before draw manga and my question is ¿what should i learn if i want begin in the art world before make my man manga style?

[@minibro01]

Not Mark, but in my opinion: you don't need to be an amazing artist to start. The things I'd recommend for a visual novel is: •perspective •anatomy •designing (if you're creating a world) •landscape •still life The top two are important and the rest are icing on the cake but not mandatory

[@abellopez1586]

minibro01. I am a spanish speaker, where could i find those thing? What book would you recomend me? The thing is want to be better each day o year.

[@minibro01]

Abel Lopez look them up on KZbin and practice. That's what I've done and it really helps

[@abellopez1586]

minibro01 thanks greetings from guatemala.

[@nathandodson301]

¡Buena suerte!

[@maedehm715]

Thanks alot

[@herroyalblondeness7645]

I've watched a LOT of your videos and I LOVE everything you do! I know this is off topic - I was just wondering, do you find it hard to recreate a scenery (with just drawing) when adding a lot of detail to the surroundings? I know that some people will create a background from different angles, then add the characters on top of everything in Photoshop. And that should be pretty easy to do, but I don't have a scanner at home or anything like that... I know I could go to a store, I just don't want to show my art because I'm not ready for that yet. So I'm left to just drawing everything over and over again. Which is totally fine! It's just more time consuming. I don't have a lot of time at this moment, but I thought if you read this and knew what I was asking, or anyone with advice, I would REALLY appreciate it! Thank you!

[@fluffy3355]

Could you go over 4th wall breaking in writing stories? I’d like to know how I could use it for comedic effects but I don’t know how to start at it.

[@HTMangaka]

Watching you draw this scene, I couldn't help but think....I NEED a Brody's Ghost Live Action Film! Of course, if they botch it I'll have to hunt down the executives and burn them at the stake. It's too good a concept to ruin!!! ...actually, maybe a company just picks you up to turn it into an anime. That would friggin' rock! Talk about hard work, though. I myself am always more intimidated by the difficulty of animation work as opposed to the much simpler comic/manga work. I dunno if you feel the same.

[@PBVStudios]

I am currently working on a story about a anorexic girl....and having a very hard time. When I try to work on it, I feel doubtful and end up erasing most of what I write. I know how it ends and I like my beginning but the middle is really messing me up.

[@ssquiggless6068]

listen i probably wont get a reply but have you got any advice for a comic creator? btw i love your videos

[@DreamTravelerZenddrex]

I agree, Crilley-sensei. The lack of steaks is a big problem I've noticed in most stories.

[@purplepepper2503]

Indeed

[@user-vq6jc8uh6p]

Odly enough, now I'm feeling hungry.

[@anm1236]

*stakes (if you are to write, someone has to give you a pencil)

[@DreamTravelerZenddrex]

Nope, I definitely meant *steaks*.

[@marcosbubbles]

Hey Mark, I been wondering the answer for this question I was wondering if you could answer it. When turning a reference on your phone into black and white, does it have to be in Mono or Tonal or Noir?

[@RenDrawsWarbirds]

Put the hat on! Put the damn hat back on the pen! On a more serious note, it'd be really interesting to hear your thoughts on experimental story telling.

[@blizzard2390]

Nice Video😉

[@mohammadkamal2953]

Can you please make a video that you explain how todraw anime faces a love drawing and want to draw from my imagination so thank you and please if you have time do that video

[@thiccada]

Heres a real pro tip from a guy who isnt published: If the middle isnt working out for you, then make a story thats just a beginning and and ending. Who needs a middle, right?

[@oh_look_a_nerd384]

I'm 12 and trying to make a comic about a girl who finds out that hafe of her friends are monsters and stupidly gets them in danger and has to try to save them. Is that a dum story line?

[@theblackryan]

I'm amazed at how well you draw trash & clutter 😏

[@frigglediggle2]

Is Brody's Ghost finished and will you start a new series after it?

[@SQUIGLEZ]

Hey Mark! Great video as always :) Im sorry this is kind of unrelated, but my channel is based on drawing too, and I think im producing quality content! It dosent seem that I am growing though :( any tips? Thanks!

[@ashketchem2274]

how to draw anime elder sister and younger brother.. please

[@QueenFiria]

How can this be the final installment as it is the middle of the story?? ;)

[@markcrilley]

The truth is I started with the "endings" video, having no idea that I would eventually cover the other two topics. :)

[@kathykeller744]

How about t doing this Brody scene in color

[@johnmudd7882]

Speaking of Star Wars and writing as you go along: did George Lucas know he was going to make Luke and Leia siblings before they had them make out?

[@calamari816]

i wish broady's ghost was an anime like if wish broady's ghost was an anime

[@ilamvlogwithniroj]

Can you draw and son

[@SokwanNhep]

How to draw a realistic cat in a box looking left and looking right.

[@liverenjoyer]

MORE STEAKS EVERYBODY! THERE'S A LACK OF STEAK NOWADAYS

[@ilamvlogwithniroj]

Please draw Mother and son