An Interview with Kristen Tate
Looking for help with your novel’s middle section? While countless craft books offer guidance on crafting gripping openings and satisfying endings, the challenging second act often gets overlooked. In this workshop episode, we dive deep with freelance editor Kristen Tate, author of the new craft book Novel Study, who reveals why middles become “saggy” and explains why so many writers struggle with this section. Whether you’re a meticulous outliner or a spontaneous discovery writer, Kristen shares invaluable strategies to keep your story’s midsection as compelling as its beginning and end.
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Kristen Tate is the owner and lead editor at the Blue Garret, an editorial services firm that helps authors transform their work from rough draft to finished book. She has a PhD in English from Columbia University, with a focus on
publishing history.
In her latest book, Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction, Kristen analyzes novels by authors including Ann Patchett, N.K. Jemisin, Tana French, Casey McQuiston, and Rebecca Roanhorse to show writers practical tools and techniques they can use in their own work.
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