In a post on Killzone, James Scott Bell offers advice for cutting the dull parts from your scenes. What are those dull parts?
- Description Dumps. Like exposition, description should be relevant and kept to a minimum. “The way to go is to write not so the reader merely sees the scene, but rather experiences it,” Bell says. “The best descriptions are a) woven into action, and b) consistent with the mood of the story.” Use your viewpoint character to set the tone and let them describe the scene in their own language.
- Uninteresting Characters. If your reader can predict what your characters will do or say, you risk losing them. “When you think about the scene you’re going to write, plan one action (even if it’s just a line of dialogue) a reader won’t see coming,” Bell suggests. “A good practice is to make a quick list of the things the average reader might expect to happen…then don’t do those things.”
- Lethargic Action. If your characters aren’t striving for something important, your scenes will feel dull. Whatever they want to achieve in each scene should lead them to the overall story objective, which itself must feel essential.
- Leaden Prose. Your prose should be more than functional; it should sing with your unique voice. “Work on expanding your voice,” Bell says. “Do some morning pages where you write page-long sentences. Try things. Make up wild metaphors, not to use (necessarily) but to stretch. Read challenging prose, even in nonfiction. Read poetry out loud.”
