The Breakdown: Shaping Story

Q&A: How to deal with pesky scenes you can't flesh out. My advice on writing craft and how to conquer story blocks.

Question: “How do you deal with the scenes you've been dreading that don't want to flow or take shape properly? What would be your advice to conquer those dreadful scenes?”

This is a great question because I get asked this a lot, and it’s part of the reason I created The Dauntless Author Brainstorming and Outlining Workbook.

The short answer is - you are likely a plotter to some degree and need to spend more time on your story before sitting down to write it.

The longer answer…

First, depending on how much you’re dreading it, maybe it’s not a scene you need to have in your story. That being said, if it is necessary and daunting for any number of reasons, you have to suck it up and write it. And yes, those can be rough days. Writing isn’t always easy - hence how perfect “dauntless author” felt when conjuring it up. We’re word warriors, after all. There are bound to be a few battles.

Regardless, any hangups you have when it comes to your writing are a sure sign that you need to spend more time fleshing out the characters, world, and/or plot. If you’re a discovery writer - or a pantser, as we say - who likes to make the story up as you go, this isn’t generally an issue. And if it is, the same advice applies.

If you’re a plotter to any degree, like I am, you need to spend enough time fleshing out your story so that you know where you’re headed. This looks different for everyone, but it’s important to consider the fact that any sort of “writer’s block” or “stuckness” you feel when writing can usually be sorted when you take a step back from getting the words down and analyze where you are in your plotting and development process.

Inspiration and writing flow isn’t a magical unicorn that comes and goes as it pleases. If the muse is gone, there is a reason, and you need to figure out what’s holding you back. It is always something.

I loosely outline the first half of my novels, and at some point, I have to stop, reassess, and plot the next handful of chapters to ensure I’m on track, or perhaps my end goal has changed altogether.

Your writing process is your own. It’s different for everyone, so don’t sit down and think the words will simply flow like someone else you know. That’s not how it works. What is your brain telling you? Listen to it. And, more importantly, listen to your gut. It usually alerts you to what the underlying issue is.

Ask yourself some of these questions to help flesh out the issues you’re having with your scenes: