#252. Value Shifts: How to Tell if a Scene Is Working (or Falling Flat)

#252. Value Shifts: How to Tell if a Scene Is Working (or Falling Flat)

From Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice by Savannah Gilbo

June 16, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 252

About this episode

This episode helps writers diagnose why a scene may feel flat and how to determine if it needs improvement or removal.

If you’ve got a scene that feels flat and you can’t figure out why, this episode will help you diagnose what’s really going on—so you know whether the scene is working, needs strengthening, or may not belong in your story at all. You know that feeling when a scene just isn’t quite working, but you can’t put your finger on why? The sentences are clean. The dialogue sounds right. Line by line, it reads fine… and yet the scene just sits there. Here’s the thing: a lot of the time, the problem isn...

People in this episode

Host: Savannah Gilbo

Topics covered

  • scene analysis
  • creative writing
  • storytelling
  • fiction techniques
  • writing tips

Keywords

  • scene working
  • writing scenes
  • fiction writing
  • creative writing tips
  • story structure

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