5 Curve Balls You Can Throw at That "Sagging Middle"

So, you have a great beginning and a great ending. But what about the journey from start to finish? Do you have the dreaded sagging middle?

I think we've all hit that wall where we say, "Holy crap! How the hell do I fill this 6 month gap? Where did this even come from?"

Oh yeah, I've sooooo been there. But instead of letting it drag down my plot, I threw a curve ball at the main characters sister. I knocked her up!

Some events are package deals, with tons of extra scenes included. Here are some good ones:

Getting Married:
This event doesn't have to be a joyous occasion. It could be the characters father marrying a gold-digging tramp half his age. Or maybe it is a good thing, perhaps your MC's parents fall back in love after years of divorce.  

1. The Proposal 
2. Dress shopping (for female characters)
3. Stag and Hen Parties
4. The Wedding day
5. The Honeymoon

Death:
This event is generally always a bad thing, but hey it's bound to be eventful. 

1. The COD (cause of death)
2. Trying to save/revive the character
3. The emotional fall out
4. The funeral

Pregnancy:
Like a wedding, this is not always a happy occasion. One mans bundle of joy is another mans bundle of poop.

1. Conception
2. Missing her period
3. The pregnancy test
4. Announcing the news 
5. Nine whole months of potential disasters! (And a miscarriage is pretty dramatic too.)
6. The Birth, of course!
7. Parenthood

Divorce:

The MC's best friend? Mom and Dad? Brother? Bitchy boss who totally had it coming?

1. The problems that lead up to it
2. Breaking the news to the spouse
3. Telling friends and family
4. The awkward period before the move
5. Moving out
6. The court battles 

Affairs:

Now this could be it's own book, but it could also be that little spicy element you need to punch up your story. 

1. The red flags
2. The deteriorating relationship
3. The discovery
4. The confrontation or confession
5. The fall out (make up or break up)
6. How things turn out with the "other man/woman"

Now, these are huge events that might not work into your main characters path. But to have a secondary character go through it is eventful enough to keep the plot moving without throwing your story off track.

However...

 It's a very fine line. Adding a new story line should move the main plot forward, not lead you off on a tangent. I chose to knock up my MC's baby sister because it was the catalyst I was looking for.

So tell me, what kinds of events have you used to spice it up? Are you struggling with a sagging middle?