My #1 Tip to Salvaging a Sagging Scene
When you're writing a scene, it helps to ask three key questions:
Which character has the most to gain or lose?
Who does the reader need to know more about at this point in the story?
What will move the plot forward the most?
I don’t always go through this checklist. Most of the time, I rely on my intuition and write from the POV that feels right. And, usually, it works.
But there are times when it doesn’t. 😐
Years ago, when I was writing A Christmas Proposition, was one of these times. For whatever reason, every word I wrote into this particular scene felt wrong. And not by a little—by a whole pantload. I’d type a line, pause, and wrinkle my nose. My brain looped the same thought: This is garbage. Abort mission! ABORT!
Tell me I’m not alone.
Have you ever pushed yourself through a scene simply to reach your daily word count, ignoring your intuition in the process? Have you ever kept typing, praying that you’ll uncover a hidden truth annnnny word now…? But the deeper you dig, the more you unearth, you realize all you’ve managed to do is uncover is a big ole pile of meh. You can practically feel the dullness radiating off your screen like a bad smell.💩
The Good News
If it’s a first draft, YAY. That means you’re allowed to make a mess of it.
Writers don’t celebrate this freedom nearly enough. First drafts are meant to be messy. They’re a space to experiment, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of consequences. The cleanup comes later when you read back what you wrote.
Back to My Story...
After hours of writing in the wrong direction, I finally gave up. My chapter was a disaster, and the final breath it drew sounded suspiciously like a death rattle. I hadn’t hit my word count for the day, but at least I knew it was time to step away from it. So, I waved the white flag.
I set my work aside, watched a lot of TV, and justified it with every excuse in the book: It’s my day off anyway. It’s cold and rainy. My husband’s out of town. I’m tired.
In the morning, something miraculous happened. I woke up certain about what needed to change in my scene, which was...
The POV 🤯
I’d written this particular chapter from my heroine’s POV. Logically, it made sense. She’s hosting a Christmas Eve dinner for families who can’t afford the holiday. She has the most to gain if it’s a success—the most to lose if it flops. It’s her event, her emotions, her perspective.
Why wasn’t it working?
Her POV felt… clunky. Like a to-do list you’d write in a planner. She was mentally planning the next steps, managing volunteers, worrying about her upcoming wedding (this was a marriage of convenience story), and the result was a lot of tasks, which made for a dull reading experience.
I had a crazy thought. What if I switched to the hero’s POV instead?
He’s the grouchy, Scroogey head of security for my heroine’s brother. He’s only attending the dinner to keep an our heroine safe. But here’s why the scene was so much more compelling from his point of veiw: this is the first time he sees a warm, charitable side of her. He knows her as a stubborn, organized, determined woman but, in this setting, witnesses her big-heartedness as she interact with families. Her generosity as she offers Christmas gifts to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have any. Seeing this in her makes him soften toward her—and so do readers—because we’re seeing her through his eyes.
Once I switched POVs, the scene came to life. Not only did the writing and pacing flow better, but the hero also gave us some insight into his world and the heartbreaking reason why he struggles with this time of year. Him being with the heroine is helping him begin to heal—especially after they marry and act on their feelings.
If you’re struggling with a scene—if you know it’s not the setting, the timeline, the plot, or the character arcs—try switching the POV. Sometimes seeing the story through another character’s eyes makes a huge difference.
Happy writing!
xo, Jessica 🍋