What do you do when you’re stuck in one scene? I have everything that comes after that scene planned out but I can’t get past this one.
Depends on why you’re stuck…
When you know what needs to happen but aren’t sure how it should play out:
You have what comes before and what comes after, and have an idea of what needs to exist in this scene, but the exact details are muddled. Skipping the scene would leave a hole in the story.
Jot down the facts of what’s required for the scene, then look at the surrounding scenes to give it context, especially paying attention to what should logically be happening. You’re going have to take some time to brainstorm and test ideas out. I recommend outlining multiple versions of the scene since writers usually get stuck for a reason, and that reason is typically easier to pull out and tackle when you approach the problem from multiple angles.
Also, sometimes writers get stuck on scenes when their plan turns out to be not such a good plan once they start writing. Sometimes plot holes are exposed, other times the planned events was a lot better in your head, but ultimately you may have to tweak other parts of the story to really help this scene align. If this is the case, then know that it’s a normal issue to run into, even for more advanced writers.
When you don’t know what needs to happen but there needs to be a scene there:
You have what comes before and what comes after, but the bridge is an unknown void. Skipping the scene would leave a hole in the story (or so it seems).
Ask yourself what logically should be happening in the scene, especially paying attention to cause-effect strings between the planned scenes. You’re building a bridge and it needs to connect. If the plot logic exists, then the ideas will come if you think creatively enough.
Not having any idea of what bridges two scenes can be a sign that you have a plot disconnection. Plots run on cause-effect strings so if there’s no logical bridge then that overall plot might need tweaking. Sometimes external factors can start affecting a plot in a way that adds to the cause-effect, but if that external factor isn’t important enough to affect the scenes after it then it’s likely not a good one.
There’s also a chance that you’ve convinced yourself you need a scene there, but in reality it’s no more than a placeholder. This happens more often with writers who tell themselves they have to write a certain number of scenes, a certain number of chapters, or are otherwise trying to force-fit a story into a mold. In that case, you may me more in a situation like…
Stuck on a scene because you’re just filling space between two events:
You don’t need this scene; skip it. Filler scenes should only exist in fanfiction, and even in fanfiction, they should only exist when the writer has an idea for the filler. You want scenes based on substance, not numbers nor a preconceived setup that’s not doing the story any favors if it’s forcing filler.
In the case that it’s more of a “transition scene” where something small or something not worth crafting an entire scene for happens, this would be an appropriate time to use “telling” and attach the info to the scene that comes before or after it.
Good luck with your scene!
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