Episode 58: Mastering the Mushy Middle with Guest Michelle Lee

Host Sharon Skinner chats with author Michelle Lee about tackling the “mushy middle” of kidlit novels. Michelle shares her journey from poetry and academia to middle-grade fiction, reflecting on her love for lyricism and diverse storytelling. They discuss practical strategies for overcoming story stagnation, including reviewing emotional arcs, evaluating character presence, and revisiting earlier scenes to find narrative seeds. The episode emphasizes the importance of connecting every scene to character growth and encouraging writers to embrace revision and emotional honesty to create cohesive, engaging stories.

Connect with Michelle Online:

Website: https://www.michelleleewritesmagic.com/
Instagram: @michelleleewritesmagic