I'd have to say the middle is...where you're growing a bit stale of your characters and aren't at that point where the climax is coming up. Starting off a story is not difficult. Begin at a part with action, as close as the most important parts of the story as possible. For instance, instead of giving us a normal day in the life of a merchant followed by a stranger arriving at the end of the day, start at the end of the day when the merchant arrives, despite all that research you did.