Stop Writing Boring Scenes -- Use this Secret 9-Step Formula 

"be late with your scene" jokes on you, im late on writing in general

0:16 Start late, end early (dive straight into action, end after the climax) 1:37 Use the plot engine (how will you make readers keep reading) 1. Hidden Identity 2. Threat of violence 3. Character's lie 3:22 Make scenes multitask (merge scenes) 4:34 Play with time (speed up and slow down the action, skip boring stuff) 5:28 Supercharge your conflict (giving information is boring, add tension, disagreement etc) 7:06 Make your characters change (learning, changing or growth) 8:00 Make sure the scene is essential to plot progression 8:56 Prioritize actions and dialogue over thoughts and backstory 9:44 Three essential questions for every scene What would happen if I cut a scene? What has changed by the end of a scene? How does the scene move the plot forward?

"If you can write a great scene, you can write a great book."

This was really helpful. Please include more videos on scene structure. These are pretty uncommon online. Most people focus on the overall story rather than this important unit of story. Thanks!

I’m always worried that I have too much dialogue and action and I need to be more introspective… so this was very reassuring! 😊

I recently reread SHOGUN. Every scene is driven by conflict! Some conflicts are subtle, but every scene has some. The effect propels the reader through the book! It is hard to put down.

I watch a lot of RU-vid videos about writing, editing, and publishing and you are by far my favorite. This video is gold and I am saving it for future reference. Thank you for making such incredible and practical content!

My favorite writer / coach, because you give actionable tips. Other youtubers are so vague it doesnt help me. Thank you for making these

Does anyone else think he did a great job starting and ending the video using his scene techniques? John: "Then you have written a scene that has earned a right to stay in your book." End scene!

This is a wonderful guide. I don’t see enough people talking about scenes and how they build upon one another to make a story cohesive.

I found this really helpful! I am writing my first novel and ran into this weird halt to my writing. Writing compelling scenes is more than composition; it links it like a train, moving and pushing the development of my plot and concept forward rather than info dumping. Love it! Thanks for your help

Great timing. I was rewatching all videos waiting for more. I'm gonna enjoy this.

Each one of these steps is gold. And their usefulness is not limited to scenes. In my opinion, *everything* in a novel should multitask. Keep that bit of advice in mind and HEAPS of lackluster dialogue will be eliminated, for instance. But why ah why did you call it the "secret formula"? This is such a red flag, usually, that I almost ignored the video because of it...

I just did a lot of writing and this video came at the perfect time. I can say that overall my scenes have fulfilled a fair portion of the checkboxes that you stated! Especially point 9, all three. Now, I'm excited to go back and check every single one of my scenes and make them even better. Thank you so much! :D

I’m going through your book and these videos are great supplements to the physical copy I’m notating and marking for reference as I sit to write.

I already start my stories as late as I can, usually starting at the initial incident, but I hadn't considered trying to start each individual scene as late as possible. This is good advice.

I love your videos and get so excited to see there is a new one! They are so helpful

Excellent tips, going to use all of them in my WIP.

I really dig how you present information with one caveat: I would appreciate more concrete examples. at 4:29 you talk about breaking down a scene to see what it's doing. That would be a great video in itself if you ever have the time. Thanks for the resources you're creating

This is really useful with some very enlightening tips 🙂

This was extremely helpful. Thanks very much, John!

Tarantino chops the last line of action/dialogue from the end of scenes in the final draft

Brilliant insight, man. This was most useful. Good job.

I’m glad this exists because I was struggling with what to write next for a scene in my rough draft.

Absolute gold.

That is super helpful, thanks!

Thank you.

Why’d RU-vid just take down your Hemingway video? You didn’t violate any policy and you put SO much work into it

thank you! best wishes:)

Starting late and ending early is brilliant advice but what if this is the first scene of the book and I have a LOT of worldbuilding to set up just so that the conflict and the character's actions make sense? I had to extend my scene opening three times because readers kept asking for more context. How do you tell when you're starting just right vs too late?

So how does ALL this advice apply to the cozy reads genre? I'm not sure it's applicable but then I'm not an editor...

Never stop making videos

Awesome timing, but now I have to scrap like a third of my first act LOL

While these are nice, don’t follow all these tips to a T. “Nice characters”/“nice moments” are refreshing every now and then. You don’t always have to have that conflict, while he’s right that you have to find it, just don’t FOCUS on pushing that conflict or making it obvious. Amazing video just think that section was worded a bit funky.

What about the scene that characters try to emotionally support or comfort each other in a calm situation for example after the conflict or before one? They are nice to each other and there may not be a great conflict, so how can they still remain in the story?

hey i really like your channel and your work, please can you make a video on how to progress the plot the problem with me is that im more of an idealist(idk if thats a real word) i get wonderful and intersting ideas about writing something but *i just dont how how to progress that plot* , for ex: one time i had a plot about a species that has evolved when humans did, but have hidden themselves for millions of years as they deemed humans dangerous, evolving perfectly against us from the shadows and now they are out to get us i decided the story will go over both species POV, ours and thiers, and to show the readers that we are not the good guys and neither are they, we are just as cruel as them and they are just as cruel as us, even if they look like monsters they are no much of a monster than a bear or a lion, scary but still just an animal but i just dont have any idea on how to progress this, like how do i start or how do i make it well...a story, stupid question to ask ik but im just a newbie in this and i have no idea how to start writting these mini stories that will progress the plot and stuff so please if you can PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS

7:09 doggie or kitty spotted in doorframe

Wow, what a gold!! I immediately subscribed😊 Thank you so much 🙏💖

I have a question but it isnt related to scenes: Is it okay if my novel is written in Spectral font, and if not what fonts can I use?

But without coin, connections, crews, clout, computer code, control, corporate communities, and opulent opportunities... not even *exemplary* work will matter. That's just how it is. No money nor manpower for marketing equals no recognition; no exceptions.

I don't use scenes at all... I just don't get it. I probably should. I know I'm technically using scenes, but it's not on purpose. I just spam out chapters...

First

When we can see the draw and the winners of this challenge: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hMifPtrIBp8.htmlsi=WVsubw58SF2Lu33E. ?!?!?!?!?!