You're 40,000 words into your novel when it happens. You know where you started, you know where you need to end up, but the middle has become a swamp. You write a scene, delete it, write another version, wonder if it contradicts something from Chapter 3, check your notes (what notes?), and suddenly you're stuck. You've got promises you made to readers that you're not sure how to fulfill, plot threads you can't remember the details of, and that sinking feeling that you're just spinning your wheels.

Here's the thing: most advice tells you to either push through or go back and outline. But what if the solution isn't about forcing words or restructuring everything? What if it's about creating a system that prevents the paralysis before it starts?

Enter what I call The Promise-Thread Tracker—a hybrid approach that combines Brandon Sanderson's "Promises, Progress, Payoff" framework with Story Bible tracking to create a living document that keeps you moving forward even when the middle gets murky.

Understanding the Middle-of-Story Trap

The reason we get stuck in the middle isn't usually because we don't know what should happen. It's because we've accumulated too much story complexity without a system to track it. You've made promises to your readers—character arcs to complete, mysteries to solve, relationships to develop—but these promises are scattered across tens of thousands of words. When you sit down to write the next scene, you're not just asking "what happens next?" You're unconsciously asking "will this contradict Chapter 7?" and "am I keeping my promise about the magic system?" and "didn't I say her father was dead, or was he missing?"

This cognitive overload is what stops you cold.

What Makes the Promise-Thread Tracker Different

The Promise-Thread Tracker isn't a traditional outline, and it's not a complete Story Bible either. It's a targeted tracking system that focuses specifically on three things:

1. Promises Made: What have you set up that needs payoff?
2. Progress Markers: Where are you in delivering on each promise?
3. Critical Facts: The story details that would break continuity if you got them wrong

The genius of combining these elements is that you're not just tracking facts (like a Story Bible) or structure (like an outline)—you're tracking the momentum of your promises through the story.

Building Your Promise-Thread Tracker: Step by Step

Step 1: Mine Your Existing Manuscript for Promises

Go back through what you've written and identify every promise you've made to readers. Sanderson defines promises as anything that creates expectation. These include:

- Unresolved questions or mysteries ("Who killed Marcus?")
- Character goals stated or implied ("Sara needs to reconcile with her sister")
- Established rules that should matter ("The magic works differently underwater")
- Relationship tensions ("The mentor doesn't trust the protagonist yet")
- Objects or information that seem important (Chekhov's gun situations)

Create a simple spreadsheet or document with each promise on its own row.

Step 2: Track Progress in Real-Time

This is where it becomes powerful. For each promise, add a "Status" column with three options:

- Promised: You've introduced it, but nothing's happened yet
- In Progress: You've added complications, developments, or reminded readers about it
- Paid Off: You've delivered on the promise (resolved, answered, or concluded)

Add a "Last Mentioned" column with the chapter or scene number where you most recently progressed this promise.

Step 3: Add Critical Continuity Facts

In additional columns, track the facts that support each promise thread:

- Character details relevant to this promise
- Timeline markers
- Locations involved
- Rules or constraints that apply

This isn't a complete character profile for your whole Story Bible—it's only the details connected to active promises.

Step 4: Update as You Write

Here's the game-changer: before you write each scene, you consult the tracker. You look at which promises are stuck in "Promised" status for too long, which ones you've been neglecting, and which ones are ready for payoff. After you write the scene, you update the relevant rows.

Seeing It in Action

Let me show you how this works with a concrete example.

Imagine you're writing a mystery where Chapter 2 promised readers that "the protagonist's sister disappeared ten years ago under mysterious circumstances." You'd create a row:

Promise: What happened to the sister?
Status: Promised
Last Mentioned: Chapter 2
Critical Facts: Sister's name is Elena; disappeared June 2013; was investigating something at the old mill; protagonist blames herself

By Chapter 15, you notice this promise is still "Promised" status. It's been 13 chapters! Your tracker shows you this thread has gone cold. So in your next scene, even if it wasn't originally planned, you have the protagonist find an old newspaper clipping about the mill, or overhear someone mention Elena's name. You update:

Status: In Progress
Last Mentioned: Chapter 16
New Critical Fact: Mill was demolished in 2014—potential evidence destroyed

Now you're no longer wondering "what should happen next?" You can see exactly which promises need attention. When you reach Chapter 28 and finally reveal what happened to Elena, you have all the critical facts right there to ensure your payoff doesn't contradict earlier details.

Why This Solves Writer's Block

The Promise-Thread Tracker eliminates the two main causes of middle-story paralysis:

First, it removes decision paralysis. When you're stuck, you open the tracker and immediately see which promises need progression. You don't have to invent what matters to readers—you've already documented it.

Second, it removes the fear of continuity errors. You're not paralyzed by "I think I said something about this earlier but I'm not sure what," because the critical facts are tracked alongside each promise thread.

You're essentially creating a feedback loop: your story tells you what needs attention, and your tracker tells you the constraints and facts you need to remember.

Getting Started Today

You don't need to track every possible detail to make this work. Start small:

1. Spend 30 minutes identifying your top five promises from what you've written so far
2. Create a simple document (even a Word table works)
3. Fill in the status and facts for each promise
4. Before your next writing session, check which promise has been neglected longest

The Promise-Thread Tracker grows with your story, but even a basic version will give you direction when the middle gets murky. You'll know what you've promised, what still needs work, and what facts you can't afford to contradict.

And suddenly, the middle isn't a swamp anymore. It's a map.