The boring parts and getting through them

[Thor_Doomhammer]

As with all of you writers out there I'm sure, I have a big picture in mind for my story. I know exactly where I want it to go and how. The problem is that at various parts throughout the story, the writing is just BORING. Those parts are still crucial to the story, but they can be boring to write, especially when you know the rest of the story and you know all the exciting parts that you can't wait to get to so you can write them. How do you get past these wickedly boring parts, and maybe even enjoy writing them?

 

[Piyi]

Well, if they're boring for you to write, then they are sure to be boring for your reader. Why not try to somehow make them interesting? There must be something you can do to throw in a little interest so that the reader will keep turning the pages. Out of experience as a reader, if I get more than a few pages of stuff that's just dreadfully boring (even if it is vital to the story), it is not likely that I will finish the book.

 

[WriterDoug]

If you are not afraid of writing completely out of the natural order, then I suggest you write some or all the most exciting parts first. Yes, this often includes the ending!

I can tell you what this accomplishes. If all goes well, you should end up with a large chunk of a novel; if not, then it may be important to reconsider the exact ratio of your boring parts to your exciting parts. Hopefully you will have a substantial amount of work written.

This next part comes off as predictable, but it's the best I can do. From here, you should feel a lot more inspired to fill in all the gaps in between the exciting bits for at least two major reasons:

1. At this point, you should really be able to see your novel grow and come to life. The more that is physically present before you, the more tantalizing it becomes to complete the entire thing.

2. It is much less daunting at this point. Forcing yourself to write the boring parts first does nothing but turn you off from the entire process of writing. Some writers manage to do this, but I think many of us would also go crazy if we forced ourselves to "eat dinner now" and "enjoy dessert later."

Also, who knows? Maybe the boring parts are not as dull as you think. Maybe later on down the road you will come up with more "mini" exciting bits to insert in between to really make the story an emotional rollercoaster.

If better thoughts occur to me, I will reply later. I have been in your same shoes on this matter in the past. I am also currently facing it right now while writing a contemporary horror novella.

cheers,
WD

 

[Thor_Doomhammer]

If you are not afraid of writing completely out of the natural order, then I suggest you write some or all the most exciting parts first. Yes, this often includes the ending!

I have considered doing this, but I always feared that if I did this my novel would never get finished because all the really, really exciting parts would be done. But you had some very valid points, and perhaps this is the solution to the dilema of the "boring parts". After all, once you write the excitement, and you have a fairly big chunk of writing that simply needs some filling to be a complete novel, you should be fairly motivated to fill it, right?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

A word of caution: don't try to liven up the "boring" parts by inserting a lot of false drama -- pointless arguments between the characters, for instance -- under the impression that will make those scenes more exciting. The result is more likely to be unsympathetic characters, and a longer delay between the parts that actually move the story.

 

[Thor_Doomhammer]

A word of caution: don't try to liven up the "boring" parts by inserting a lot of false drama -- pointless arguments between the characters, for instance -- under the impression that will make those scenes more exciting. The result is more likely to be unsympathetic characters, and a longer delay between the parts that actually move the story.

Also good advice. If there's too much drama......it gets to the point where you don't want to read the book anymore

 

[WriterDoug]

I have considered doing this, but I always feared that if I did this my novel would never get finished because all the really, really exciting parts would be done.

Likewise, this is a valid point, but it is important to ask a question at this point. If you are worried you will quit writing after the exciting parts, then do you really want to write a novel? Are you just possibly itching to use writing as an outlet to communicate some scenes in your mind?

I have noticed a few others at this forum seem to have a similar problem in which they want to write a novel-length story, but they feel intimidated or put-off at writing the whole thing because they might lose interest.

In some people, this COULD possibly indicate that they should try to write something smaller, such as a short story or a novella (and heck, maybe even expand it from there if that turns out easier than expected.) The longer a piece of fiction gets, the more likely you are to encounter "a lot of stuff in the middle."

On a funny note, I am sitting on an epic fantasy series that I would love to start writing, after I have had a few more years of experience and planning. I want seven novels total, and currently Book 2-4 are like big, gaping voids while 5-7 are far more vivid in my mind.

cheers,
WD

 

[Thor_Doomhammer]

If you are worried you will quit writing after the exciting parts, then do you really want to write a novel? Are you just possibly itching to use writing as an outlet to communicate some scenes in your mind?

Very true, but to a point isn't that all that writing a novel is? Having an idea in your mind, and then moving and writing to make that idea take form and shape?

 

[WriterDoug]

How to Finish A Novel

Holly Lisle wrote a neat article about this same topic. She called those exciting parts the "candy bar scenes," and I have been using the term eversince!

She also advises you should know how your story ends. If not, that is perfectly alright, but the whole trick here is to get YOURSELF hyped up to want to write and complete the novel.

cheers,
WD

 

[Birol]

Why are they boring? What is it about them that doesn't interest you?

 

[Thor_Doomhammer]

Why are they boring? What is it about them that doesn't interest you?

Its not so much that they are boring, its that they aren't as exciting as other parts. I.E. They don't have any stunning revelation, major plot twists, action scenes, etc.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Sometimes the quieter scenes are good for subtle character development or for minor revelations about their background, which, providing the reader is already interested in the characters and curious to learn more, can be exciting, too, although in a different way than the action scenes and the big revelations.

Obviously, I don't know if the scenes you are talking about will -- or even can -- fall into that category, but it's something you might think about.

 

[Feordel]

I agree, I'm currently on these scenes but they are important. Everytime I feel bored, I just look at the plan and see how close I am to the better bits =]

 

[ray gower]

A word of caution: don't try to liven up the "boring" parts by inserting a lot of false drama -- pointless arguments between the characters, for instance -- under the impression that will make those scenes more exciting. The result is more likely to be unsympathetic characters, and a longer delay between the parts that actually move the story.

Do agree, but that doesn't mean no drama.

What the boring bits do is allow you to add interest, variety and/or invite the reader to explore your characters with you.

If you get it right, then the 'boring' is integral to the 'exciting' and nobody will see the join.

 

[lin robinson]

I've thought about this a little, but just can't come up with a single reason to write any boring parts.

I tend to have fun chapters to write and chapters I have to sweat over (or better yet, procrastinate) but it it's too boring to write it just doesn't go in. Or more like, if it bores me, I never thought of it in the first place.

 

[JDP]

Writing the climax of the novel or 'exciting' scenes first wouldn't work for me. Getting to the point where I can write these scenes is the carrot that spurs me through the more difficult ('less exciting') scenes.

Saying that, there's no reason why a scene has to be dull just because it's not a battle or massive plot twist or great revelation. If your characters are fullbodied and interesting, they can carry you (and a reader) through the quieter parts of the plot with ease. Humour is a great tool for adding interest to a slower part of a novel (depends on your characters, but it's often how people act when they're doing something a bit mundane), or these scenes can be used to build tension for the action to come.

I also saw somewhere above the suggestion to give some small insights into a character that wouldn't have otherwise come up - this is also great advice. It could be that, for this scene, you use the POV of a previously underused character; this could liven the writing up for both you and the reader.

In summary, try not to think of these scenes as 'boring'; if that's what you keep telling yourself they are, then that's how they'll end up. Let your characters rise to the occasion and show you what they're made of. No part of any novel need be boring.

 

[MJRevell]

I don't think the original poster meant the book, or characters were boring - more that certain scenes, when you know there are downright awesome ones to come, don't seem so thrilling to write.

 

[JDP]

I don't think the original poster meant the book, or characters were boring - more that certain scenes, when you know there are downright awesome ones to come, don't seem so thrilling to write.

Is this in reply to my comments?

Sorry, I didn't say that his/her book or characters were boring, did I? He/She said that some scenes were boring to write and asked advice as to how to get through them.

I replied with some advice that might help him/her get through these 'wickedly boring' parts and the statement that 'no part of any book need be boring'. I wasn't suggesting that the original poster's book or characters were boring.

 

[Interference]

Ever read a fight or a battle or some similar scene and thought, "Gosh, this is boring"? Ever read a scene between two people chatting and thought, "Scintillating"?

The original reply to this post is still, in my view, the best and most apt:

Well, if they're boring for you to write, then they are sure to be boring for your reader.

There are parallels with filming a 'boring' scene. One needs to find the hook or the angle that makes it interesting enough to say 'action'. It might be a setting or the introduction of a subordinate character. I wrote a scene once for a radio play - sorry, personal experience has to come into it, but personal experience is so subjective that you might not see why I'm making a fuss about it - where two characters met in a bar. Dull. And talked. Dull, dull. And one found out that the other was a villain. Big deal.

But I enjoyed writing it because the villain, an archetypal thug, had just found out that "wherefore" meant "why", and not "where" as most illiterati might think. So he spent much of the conversation wondering what other words he'd been getting wrong and, ultimately, marvelling at people who actually watch a play by the Bard and understand it. The scene is one of my favourites from that particular series. It got laughs, too, so I think it must have worked.

Make the boring scenes interesting to yourself. Include something in them that you want to share with your reader, whether it's plot-relevant or not. You're a writer and you have a vast imagination. You must have more to say beyond the limitations of that one-line plot note (Caroline meets Izzy in the bar and she discovers that she can't trust him).

Or to invert Piyi's contention: Interest yourself and your audience will follow.

 

[The Curious Orange]

I think it was Charles Buckowski who said he just takes all the boring bits and doesn't write them.

I try to put conflict on every page, which was the mantra I was taught when I first started writing. When I come to a boring bit, I just use a section break and start writing again when the next interesting thing happens. Even when I'm writing necessary description, etc, I try to put in something to keep the reader interested, eg: Have a character express an opinion that is at odds with the POV character's impressions.