Fix the "bridge" scenes to elevate your writing
Advice from a TV writer/showrunner
Whether I’m writing a screenplay or a short story, I’ve been guilty of this. And I’m guessing you’ve been too.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written a scene that I absolutely love. The premise, the pacing, the dialogue… all of it works. And the good news is, I’ve got another great scene that’s right around the corner. I know my reader/audience is going to absolutely love it, and I’m anxious for them to get to it as soon as possible.
However, there’s a bridge scene in between the two. It’s a necessary transition that sets up the scene to come.
And that bridge scene is boring. It’s exposition. So naturally, I want to race through this bridge scene as quickly as possible, in order to get to the good stuff, right?