Dull Scenes (Get Excited About Them)
Every writer comes to those scenes in your book that you’re just not that excited about but they’re absolutely mandatory. Whether the scene serves to set up the context of your world, is plot exposition, or simply scene and character description, you might not be all that hyped to write it but you know it belongs there. Everybody has scenes they MUST write in order to get to the ones they really WANT to write. For instance, if you are a romantic, you really want to get to the interaction between your main characters and watch the chemistry grow—but first you need to set the stage. This takes time and just as much planning and effort in order to get to the one scene you’ve been dying to write. Don’t get me wrong, you can always write your scenes down in any order they come to you, but BEFORE you put them in your book you have to get through the first 50 pages or so of the story. Sometimes, if you’re like me, the scenes you’ve been dying to write (the ones that started it all for you) don’t even take place in book one. So, how do you get excited about scenes you’d rather skip?
There’s two types of filler scenes, Necessary and Unnecessary: First, ask yourself, is this scene necessary? If not, maybe that’s why you’re not that into it. This is a good way to gauge if a scene is relevant, therefore, answering one of the reasons you might not want to do it. Sometimes, you write a scene you were excited about but end up scrapping it, that’s another story.
What to do if you’re not a THAT scene type of person: After determining if the scene is necessary, you still realize it’s not your most favorite thing to write. Me, I have trouble describing places and fight scenes. I prefer dialogue. However, with the types of books I write, I can’t really avoid them. So, what do I do? I make myself write them anyway and try to find ways to get excited about doing them. If I’m describing a place, it’s best to have a picture in my mind and make the description as well written and tangible as possible. For fight scenes, I watch a lot of them in movies and TV shows for inspiration and a realistic portrayal. I prefer to watch fight scenes than write them because I feel I bore people with interactions they can’t see. However, if I can see it all play out in my mind, blow by blow, and describe it well enough, this helps my reader feel invested as if they were seeing it on the big screen and not reading it in my book. Basically, it involves, practice, inspiration, and talent. You get excited about what you’re writing and your reader will too.
When scenes become stereotypical: Every writer get taxed by work, where they’ve been typing away for hours and realize what they’ve been writing is no good. I know I’ve come to a scene between characters where I’m writing and it just feels unexceptional. Sometimes, it is because you’ve been at it too long and need a break. Other times, you need to re-immerse yourself in the possibilities of your world and your characters’ motivation. This falls under the category of “Your scene is boring and you need to brainstorm why and the ways to make it intriguing.” Let’s look at two examples:
Example 1: Your character has to go to somewhere to establish something for your plot. How could you make this more interesting than them just going there and getting what they need? Maybe, they run into their rival/love-interest on the way and it serves as a scene to further their relationship. Or, maybe they meet the villain of the story for the first time and get an opinion of them. (This is an example of using the possibilities of your world).
Example 2: Your character is having a conversation with their rival/love-interest, but it’s starting to read like a stereotypical romance novel that doesn’t sound like your unique characters AT ALL. (Review your character’s motivation). What is driving them? What would they say. while staying true to their character, and what wouldn’t they say. What is their problem with each other and how does it come to a head every time they meet? Getting excited about these kinds of scenes can be as easy as doing a roll play of each character with yourself and documenting the dialogue you really like and want to use in your novel. Yes, when I roll play the conversation can go on forever and I may not use it all, but it helps to play a scene through with all it’s possibilities. You may scrap what doesn’t work or use it for a later scene.
Remember, you’re a writer, which means you’re a World Builder, an Actor, a Comedian, a Romantic, and, at times, a Fight Choreographer, all at once. You most certainly CAN DO IT. You can write that Dull Scene and Get Excited About it so others can make it to The Scene That Started It All.
-Hannah
