Sometimes when you're stuck, the problem is that a scene just refuses to come to life.
In that case, think about what makes a scene (or a party) more interesting:
- introduction of a new character: who could come into the scene and stir things up?
- introduction of a different emotion (of course it must be motivated, but what could set off an emotional reaction in the characters in your scene?)
- introduction of new information (that has emotional implications)
- open up a subtle conflict (what could make one of your characters resent another?)
- a subtext that goes counter to the text (we know what they're saying--but can you also hint at what they really mean?)
- a dramatic change in the environment: this could be the weather, a blackout, something breaking. Again,it should be something that relates to the rest of the scene, not random.
- a realignment of loyalties: what sparks one character to change his or her view of another?
If you've ever studied improvisation, you'll recognize many of these as the tools of the skilled improvisor. When a scenes starts to go dead, one or more of these can bring it back to life. If you'd like to find out more about improvisation, check out Keith Johnstone's wonderful book, "Impro".
(You'll find lots more tips in my book, "Your Writing Coach." If you want a free copy of my report, "Seven Things That are Stopping You From Writing and How to Overcome Them," click here.)
