When read sequentially, a novel is a series of scenes. The majority of scenes should be dramatic. Scenes of climax, revelations and danger are all dramatic scenes. The reader will be bored if you have a lot of scenes that lack drama or conflict. The tips listed below will help you to transform a previous scene (that was written by you) into a new scene with more drama and conflict. The tips aim to make scenes enjoyable to read.

1. Resistance

A simple scene where your protagonist is exchanging information with someone else can be transformed into a fight of wits if you make them or him refuse to speak or keep an important piece of info secret. In order to get the information that your protagonist needs, the protagonist must be clever, elusive and convincing. In order to achieve this, it is important to convey the importance to the other person before the scenes. It will make your protagonist feel more anxious and tense.

2. Funniness

Make an ordinary situation funny and you will be sure to keep the scene in your readers’ mind for long. You can imagine your scenes as humorous by reading them and imagining what they would look like. Some scenes cannot be turned into a comedy – they are just too serious. You can make a scene more dramatic and exciting for the characters by making it funny.

3. Petitioning; Requesting; Begging.

In this situation, your protagonist is in a similar position to the first, but instead of asking for information, he needs someone else’s assistance. If your protagonist needs more time, shelter, or an agreement, they can act as the supplicant. Your protagonist needs to convince his counterpart to help. This scene is usually tense. Having your protagonist almost beg is an effective way to make it more dramatic.

4. Retention of information

You can add character backstory by using memories. When the protagonist is trying to concentrate on another thing, adding a memory can make the scene more intense. A good, but important memory to the plot can enhance the mood of the main character.

5. World Building

Every novel must have a world. You will need to describe your characters’ worlds in certain scenes. This will make the scene more exciting if your protagonist reacts to his surroundings. Consider how the locations you describe will affect your protagonist. Does he enjoy them? Does he hate them? Does he have an emotional attachment to his home or room? Why is he feeling that way? Your readers will remember these places and connect with your protagonist if you answer the questions. They will also be more interested in the other places in the world that he lives.