Cut These 5 Scenes to Strengthen Your Novel ( Are your readers yawning through your sex scenes?)

Photo by Girl with Red Hat on Unsplash

Hello, and welcome to my blog. Today, I’ll give you some writing tips that helped me. I’ll tell you which scenes in a story aren’t necessary and why you should cut them. Each of the following slows the pace and diffuses the focus from your plot. 

Leaving in the wrong details leads to boredom. We don't want our readers to yawn like this sleepy feline. 

Let’s get to it.

     

 1.    Characters en route

Cut traveling scenes unless something exciting happens or the character needs a moment of reflection. Long journeys with elaborate description is boring. 

If the characters are having an important conversation, consider letting them talk at their destination. There are exceptions. If what they're saying builds suspense, don't cut the scene.  But keep it short.  

2. Chit-chat

Making small talk is painful for me. I don’t believe readers want to wade through paragraphs of sluggish dialogue. Stories must move the plot forward. Avoid anything that slows the pace. This includes consecutive pages of flirting. A little goes a long way. Also, delete mundane activites such as taking showers and eating. Unless something interesting happens, no one cares.

   3.     Long Sex Scenes

Less is usually more. If you're writing romance, stick with the standard guidelines. Research what readers expect from each genre. Know your readers and what they like. A friend once told me she read a popular erotic novel and 

after a few chapters the sex got boring. Who knew? Right? 

4.    Static setting descriptions

Long descriptions (more than a few lines) don’t advance the plot. Integrate setting details so the reader isn’t getting a laundry list that they'll want to skim. 

5.    Vague dream sequences

These scenes are distracting and confusing. Multiple dreams kill the suspense and hurt the pacing. When a story includes dreams, I might read the first one. After that, I stop. Even movies structured this way annoy me.

Now, what if you have fabulous descriptions or witty dialogue, and you’re finding it hard to hit the delete button? It pains me to cut lines I love from my own stories. But I pick out the relevant phrases for my work in progress and move the rest to a reference file. Sprinkle those lines into future stories.

I hope you find this advice helpful. This is what has worked for me. Are there any scenes you cut that I haven’t mentioned? If so, leave a comment below. Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. 

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How to Show and Not Tell When Writing Stories

I found the concept of show not tell hard to grasp when I began writing. After all, isn't everything we write telling? The concept still frustrates me when I don't recognize too much telling in my own stories.

When we write we want to avoid making simple statements that don't add any details to the piece.
For example: The man was happy.

The sentence only tells us his emotional state. Instead, paint a picture and describe the man's happiness. His gestures, actions, expressions will help the reader see him.

Here is a showing example for the above sentence: The man hummed his favorite song as he bounced across the parking lot. 


Telling example: The room was a mess.
Try describing the items in the room that make it messy and how a character might react to it.

  Showing example: Jack stepped over the an empty pizza box,  dirty underwear, and used tissues that littered the floor. 

Telling example: John was mean to Jill.
How can I fix this telling line? I can by showing what John did to Jill.
Showing example: John clenched his fist and pounded Jill in the arm, leaving a bruise the size of a tennis ball. 

Telling example. Drapes covered the windows.
It is better to show someone acting upon the drapes than to tell the reader about the decor.
Showing example:  Margaret parted the velvet drapes, letting the sun inside. 

Telling example: It was hot outside.
Pick out some details that show the effect of how hot it was.
Showing example: Perspiration rolled down her back, and she tugged at her damp top.

Telling example: It was icy.
Add details to the writing.
Showing example: Her foot slipped on the ice covering the sidewalk, and she tumbled to the ground. 

Use senses to show and not tell. Touch: How did something feel?  Smell: What did it smell like?
Hearing: Describe the sound. Sight: What did it look like? Taste: What was the texture, temperature, flavor? Describe a character's action upon, perception to or reaction to surroundings, weather, and situations to better show the reader your story.

The word was doesn't help to show anything. Look for was and consider revising the sentence if an opportunity to show has been missed.