There’s a moment in every powerful story that doesn’t get enough attention.
It’s not the beginning—where everything is familiar.
It’s not the ending—where everything finally makes sense.
It’s the in-between.
The space where your character is no longer who they were…
but not yet who they’re meant to become.
And honestly?
That space is where the real story lives.
Why the “In-Between” Matters
Readers don’t just connect with transformation—they connect with struggle.
If your character changes too quickly, it feels unrealistic.
If they don’t change at all, the story feels flat.
But when you let them exist in that messy, uncertain middle?
That’s where things feel real.
This is where:
- Old beliefs clash with new truths
- Habits don’t match intentions
- Growth feels uncomfortable, even unwanted
- They question everything—including themselves
This space is not clean. It’s not easy.
But it’s honest.
What This Space Looks Like in a Story
The “in-between” often shows up as tension your character can’t escape.
They might:
- Make choices that don’t match who they want to be
- Fall back into old patterns
- Push people away… then regret it
- Try to change, then resist it
- Feel like they’re losing themselves
This is especially powerful in fantasy and romance (your sweet spot), where transformation can be both emotional and literal.
Think:
- A vampire learning to resist hunger but still craving it
- A werewolf struggling between instinct and control
- A mage whose power grows faster than their identity can handle
They aren’t fully one thing or the other.
They’re both.
And that duality creates tension.
Let Them Be Contradictory
One of the strongest things you can do?
Let your character be inconsistent.
Not in a confusing way—but in a human way.
They might:
- Want love but sabotage it
- Crave peace but choose chaos
- Fear power but still reach for it
Growth isn’t a straight line.
It’s messy. It loops. It breaks.
If your character feels conflicted, you’re doing it right.
Show the Internal Shift (Not Just the External One)
It’s easy to show change through action:
- They defeat the enemy
- They leave their past behind
- They claim their power
But the deeper transformation?
That happens inside.
Focus on:
- The thoughts they try to ignore
- The emotions they don’t understand yet
- The quiet realizations that shift everything
Sometimes the biggest change is a single moment where they think:
“I can’t go back to who I was.”
Even if they don’t yet know who they’re becoming.
Use the World to Reflect Their Change
You love using nature and atmosphere in your writing—and this is where it shines.
Let the world mirror your character’s in-between state:
- Unpredictable weather
- Changing seasons
- Storms that don’t fully break
- Overgrown spaces reclaiming what was controlled
The setting can feel like transition.
Not quite one thing. Not quite another.
Just like them.
Don’t Rush the Transformation
This part is important.
It can be tempting to “fix” your character quickly—to move them into their final form.
But if you rush it, you lose the weight of the journey.
Let them:
- Sit in uncertainty
- Make mistakes
- Resist what they’re becoming
- Take longer than expected
Because when they finally step into who they are?
It will mean more.
Writing Prompts: The In-Between
Use these to explore that transitional space in your own stories:
- Your character realizes they can’t return to their old life—but they don’t know what comes next. What do they do in that moment?
- They make a choice that reflects who they used to be… and immediately regret it.
- Someone sees the change in them before they do. How does your character react?
- Your character almost becomes who they’re meant to be—but fear stops them. What are they afraid of losing?
- Write a quiet scene where nothing major happens—but internally, everything shifts.
- Your character is caught between two identities (human/monster, past/future, love/fear). Show the tension without resolving it.
- A physical transformation mirrors their internal struggle—but it’s incomplete.
A Final Thought
The “in-between” is uncomfortable—for your character and sometimes for you as the writer.
It can feel slow. Uncertain. Hard to pin down.
But this is where your story breathes.
Where your character feels real.
Where growth actually happens.
Where readers lean in instead of pulling away.
So don’t rush past it.
Stay there a little longer.
Because who your character is becoming…
is shaped right here.
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 