By Eric Myers | Soul of a Writer | April 15, 2026

The Real Reason Some Books Keep Us Awake at Night

Have you ever told yourself, “Just one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.?

Yeah. Me too.

As a writer (and editor), I’ve spent years trying to figure out what makes that kind of story — the one that steals your sleep and interrupts your dinner. And after working with hundreds of fiction writers, I found something: it’s not fancy writing or even perfect grammar — it’s tension.

Not the screaming, action‑movie kind — but emotional, spiritual, heart‑level tension.

The same kind that runs through Scripture: when Abraham waits for a promise, when David hides in caves, when Peter denies Jesus, when everything hangs between “not yet” and “almost.”

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” — Proverbs 13:12

As writers, our job is to make readers feel that gap — the waiting, the anticipation, the ache for resolution.

Let me show you how.

1. Build Up to a Significant Event — “So Much Has to Happen Before the Big Scene”

Ever realize your story drags in the middle? That’s not your writing failing — that’s the “waiting” losing purpose.

I once wrote a middle section so slow I could practically hear the yawns. The problem wasn’t my pacing — it was aimlessness. My story wasn’t headed anywhere. It was wandering around like Israel in the desert.

Then I gave it a destination — a gala where every secret would unravel. Suddenly every scene before it mattered again.

What’s your “Mount Sinai” moment — the event your characters are unknowingly walking toward? Is it revelation or reckoning?

Writers who lose momentum mid‑story aren’t short on talent; they’re short on direction. Build anticipation toward something your readers can feel coming, and you’ll keep them turning pages.

“Write the vision; make it plain, that he may run who reads it.” — Habakkuk 2:2

2. End Every Chapter with a Door Half‑Open

Ever close a chapter thinking, “That’s a good stopping point,” instead of, “Just one more”? That’s your problem.

When I was pastoring, I used to preach by leaving each point slightly unfinished — a question hanging in the room. People leaned in because their hearts were seeking the next piece.

Fiction works the same way. If every chapter wraps up like a polite thank‑you note, your reader will put the book down and — let’s be honest — never come back.

Have you ever watched a show that ends mid‑sentence, and somehow you click “Next Episode” before you even breathe? That’s what your chapter endings should do.

Writers who fear “leaving readers hanging” forget that suspense isn’t cruelty; it’s care. It respects the reader’s emotional investment by trusting they want more.

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.” — James 1:4

Finish by not finishing. Leave a door cracked, and your readers will walk through it.

3. Plant the “Something’s Coming” Seeds (Chekhov’s Gun in Biblical Clothing)

Ever catch yourself adding details that look pretty but don’t lead anywhere? Yep — that’s story clutter.

Early in my editing days, a writer described a locked trunk in the first chapter but never opened it. When I asked why, she laughed. “Oh, that was just scenery.”

Friend, no reader forgets a locked trunk.

In Scripture, nothing is accidental. The ram in the thicket doesn’t just appear; it’s planted for a moment when all seems lost.

“The Lord will provide.” — Genesis 22:14

Every seemingly small thing should eventually echo into significance — a broken charm, a secret note, a childhood scar.

Look at your first three chapters. What early image, object, or emotion could you echo later to create closure?

Readers disengage when stories feel random. If your details feel intentional, your readers feel safe to trust you.

4. Give Readers Curiosity — The Gift of Waiting

Are you terrified your readers will get bored — so you dump information all at once? Guilty as charged.

When I began counseling, one of the hardest lessons I learned was silence. I used to rush to fill every pause. But healing doesn’t happen in noise — it happens in space.

Writing’s the same. Don’t hand readers every answer up front. Let them wonder. Let them sit in the discomfort of not knowing. It engages their minds on a deep emotional level. They naturally want to solve the puzzle and feel the satisfaction of reaching a conclusion. Let them have those moments.

You know when you’re halfway through a book, shouting at the pages because you must know how it ends? That’s not frustration — that’s engagement.

Many writers overexplain out of insecurity, as if readers will leave if they’re confused. But readers love mystery; they love chasing breadcrumbs.

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search it out is the glory of kings.” — Proverbs 25:2

Leave sacred space in your storytelling. Curiosity keeps readers close.

5. The Writer’s Faith Lesson: Let the Story Breathe

Sometimes the reason readers can’t feel your story is because you won’t stop holding your breath.

When I was drafting my first novel, I hovered over every sentence, terrified it wasn’t good enough. I wrote like God needed an apology for my prose.

But grace doesn’t rush perfection. It moves through progress.

The moment I loosened my grip — let the Spirit breathe through messy words — the story came alive again.

Every writer has that moment when they re‑read a line and whisper, “Maybe that’s not awful.” That’s hope — that’s God showing up in ink.

We lose joy when our only goal is control. Let the story breathe. Let the process become worship instead of punishment.

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” — Job 33:4

Final Reflection: The Writer’s Calling

Whether you’re writing thrillers, romance, or fantasy epics, your one sacred task is the same — keep your reader wanting more without giving everything away.

It’s how God writes our stories, too. He rarely shows us the entire plot. He gives us just enough light for the next step.

So, write like Him — patiently, purposefully, and full of anticipation.

Now pause and ask yourself:

Where does my story stop short of tension?

Am I leaving the right questions unresolved?

Share this post with a writer who is lost in their middle chapters and remind them: unfinished doesn’t mean failure — it means the story is still alive.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” — Philippians 1:6

Keep writing and trust the process. You were made to share your writing with the world.

Eric Myers,

Founder of Soul of a Writer, helping you become the writer God meant you to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0uOWdGAXuY