10 Ways to Spice Up Boring Scenes (Writing Advice)

Learn how to turn a boring scene into an interesting one with these ten tips!

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0:00 Intro
0:47 #1
1:16 #2
1:46 #3
2:35 #4
3:45 #5
4:37 #6
5:40 #7
6:22 #8
7:02 #9
7:27 #10
8:12 Outro

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The Anatomy of Story REVIEW:

Save the Cat Writes a Novel REVIEW:
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[queenmarynovelwriter]

I try to make 'info dump' interesting with dialogue as much as possible. Newspaper articles, news cast, letters or journal entries can be fun too as long as they're not too cliché.

[victorbryan]

Your last tip, injecting humor, romance or action, is actually my favorite one.

[AnotherDuck]

If I write a transportation scene, I either just skip past it quickly, or add dialogue. That can be either infodumping or those smaller character interactions that inform the reader of their relationship. Or add an external threat if the area is supposed to be dangerous, so I can show that rather than tell.

Or on the reverse, I always try to avoid white room dialogue. There should always be something happening during the conversation, even if it’s as simple as having a meal.

[doormatt]

The star wars example is awesome. I literally didn't even recognize they were doing that, which really shows how well done it was.

[gregorwalton]

Often when an author gives a list of points/options like this I think "please just give me the list and don't make me watch the video". Even though I have used every one of these methods I still found this held my attention. The examples given have broadened my understanding of how much more I could be doing, how much more variety I could bring to the techniques.

AND... it's 8 minutes long, instead of 25 to 35. I get the feeling that Brandon has thought about and planned what he wants to say. So much more useful than sitting in from of the camera and rambling, so that he can luxuriate in his own cleverness like many (lesser) authors. Thanks for this, the extra effort is appreciated.

[jez]

Put them in a different situation. I had a couple discussing their very different ideas about their coming wedding. Originally i planned it to take place in a bar or a coffee shop. I changed it to home and the female character was busy painting her toenails. The whole dynamic changed.

[nessie]

I was just thinking over how to spice up my boring transportation scene, this is uncanny! Thank you, those are some great tips

[Lithilic]

I really liked that idea of starting the scene as late as possible. I think that's a great way of thinking about how to keep the pace of the story from dragging. It's something I struggle with because I find myself putting in too much narration in order to set the scene.

[notaprobrob]

I’m new to writing so this isn’t exactly an expert opinion but there are three things that generally help me feel better about slower scenes.

(Stole this from lit fic authors I like)

1. One thing is not one thing.

Whether it’s a feeling or an action, it can be more than it is on the surface. Feelings are not simple, and introducing the small nuances a character might feel makes the scene feel less cut and dry for me.

The same with actions or small details, which can be descriptive, but can also be read as thematic glimmers.

2. Explicit foreshadowing

I like doing this for small things that might feel unimportant, noting that this unimportant thing is something a character will miss or the last time they would feel that for a while.

I wouldn’t give it to much attention, and it only works once or twice without feeling too contrived. It helps give some weight to the little things tho.

3. I forgot 😎

[Saucy.Waffles]

Awesome! Thank you so much this helps immensely. I’ve never had a video specifically made off of a question of mine. This is so cool. It really shows how much you care to help us beginner writers succeed. Once again thank you.

[FindingMomo]

Seeing the first nine tips and I'm like, "Wow, I better incorporate plenty of those into my scenes" and then you get to 10 and I realize "No wait, many of my quiet or slow scenes tend have unexpected feats of humour or action."
E.g. In one of my books, there are just a couple of friends playing video games, nothing much going on. Until, one character falls a sleep and another notes how adorable that was until proceeding to drench her with a glass of water. She springs up and yells in her home language like she'd received a wake up call from her dad.

[bunniesruletheworld]

This is a great list. I particularly like the advice on switching to a different character's pov whose perspective is more engaging.

[Horneciu]

I love these videos. Very quick, but effective and simply straight to the point

[theimaginarium]

one way to info dump is to, as McKee says have two characters use "exposition as ammunition"--like Brandon says, have dialogue that attacks and defends, but giving info dump stuff as well

[Shahowhunter]

I use the anagram to keep readers guessing, 'fork in the road.' A beneficial outcome, or utter peril. If not, a question from a character from common action they do seen seamless, they then state something; introducing mystery.
If I do info dump, I'd either foreshadow or change my tense to decrease dialogue to prevent the awkward conversation, resulting in melodramatic moments.

[jesusromanpadro]

I like the trick used in the anime The Slayers. Anytime they have to explain anything about the world that is supposed to be common knowledge, they have the character that was already presented as not knowing anything about these things ask about it. Lina, the short tempered protagonists, get mad at him and then gives him the info dump.

[SilverSquirrel]

It's easy to spice up a boring scene; just add a giant mechanical spider. It worked wonders in Wild Wild West.

[WhateverDayIsThis-mlid]

I recently found your channel. Love all your videos, but this one has been extremely helpful. I'm writing a children's chapter book, and although I like my characters, many necessary boring scenes have come up that make me want to abandon the entire idea. I use humor (#10) most often because it suits the tone of the story, but I think your ideas will add variety and make the writing process more fun.

[bldcaveman]

That bit about who has the most to lose is great... you could even use that to choose a central character

[flingstrike]

Delivering exposition is tricky, but I think my favorite advice in general is to have the exposition delivered to someone who has an emotional reaction to the exposition or to have the exposition be a secret that the Pov character tries to keep from someone because they know it will be bad if he/she finds out