Hook the Agent: Writing Strong Scenes That Keep the Pages Turning

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If you can get an agent past the first few pages of your manuscript (my thoughts on how to do this coming soon) the next hurdle is keeping them engaged—of course this goes for any reader of your story—and the best way to achieve this is by writing solid scenes.

Writing a great scene isn’t about dazzling readers with beautiful prose or clever dialogue. It’s about purpose. Every scene needs to move the story forward, develop characters, or reveal something new. If a scene does none of these things, it’s filler. Do this enough times and you slog the pace.  

Here are a few key points to keep in mind when writing your scenes. I’ve included a mini-checklist at the end.

Start with a Character’s Goal and the Obstacle Preventing It

Every scene begins with a character’s goal—something they want. It doesn’t need to be earth-shattering. Maybe they’re trying to get to work on time or avoid their ex at a party.

For every goal provide an obstacle, something unexpected that throws a wrench in your character’s plan, forcing them to switch gears.

Your character is driving to work. They can’t be late again or they’ll be fired. They hit traffic or get a flat tire.  At the party your character trips and falls right into the arms of their ex.

In Twilight, Bella’s simple goal in the cafeteria scene is to sit down and survive another day of high school. But things change when she notices Edward staring at her.

Too often I see scenes were the author shows what doesn’t happen. For instance, they’ll go on for pages with their character stressing out about being late and getting fired, as they run around the house frantically getting dressed – only to have them get to work on time, with no issues. It’s clear nothing changes and if you take the scene out, nothing is missed.

The Turning Point

A strong scene should connect to the big-picture story and do one or both of the following:

Revealing new information (a revelatory turning point).

Your character uncovers new information that changes the game: Luke Skywalker finds out Darth Vader is his father. Internal stakes get raised.

Forcing the character to take action that drives the plot forward (an active turning point).

Your character takes action that shifts the narrative forward: Katniss volunteering for Prim. This decision forces a new challenge and pushes the plot forward.

The Crisis and the Climax

Each scene should have a moment of crisis—a point where the character faces a tough decision between two bad options. These choices are where readers emotionally connect with your characters. It’s not about whether the character wins or loses; it’s about how they decide.

Crisis: Will your protagonist tell the truth, even if it risks a friendship, or lie to protect someone’s feelings?

The climax follows when the protagonist acts on that decision, creating the consequence that moves the story forward:

Climax: Your character confesses—but instead of forgiveness, they are met with rejection.

How to Avoid Info Dumps

Info dumps usually happen because writers love their characters and feel the need to share every detail about them, or they panic thinking the reader will be confused if they don’t tell them every detail up front. Trust me—your readers are smarter than that.

If you stop to provide information that isn’t immediately relevant to what’s happening, you’re interrupting the flow, slogging the pace and most likely diluting the scene you’re trying to build.

Example: A character orders a coffee and reflects on their childhood trauma.

Only give readers what they need to know right now. Weave backstory in through action and dialogue. It’s OK if readers don’t understand a reference or piece of backstory until three chapters later—that’s what keeps them engaged.   

Resolution and Big Picture Shift

The resolution wraps up the immediate conflict in the scene but doesn’t answer every question or tie up every loose end. Leave something open-ended to keep the reader turning the page.

Every moment in your story should serve a purpose—whether it’s developing characters, moving the plot forward, or revealing key information. Keep readers engaged by creating goals, obstacles, and meaningful turning points. Let your characters face difficult choices, and don’t be afraid to leave a bit of tension unresolved.

SCENE CHECKLIST:

Each scene is a building block in your story. It should connect to what came before and lay the groundwork for what’s next. Use this checklist to ensure each scene pulls its weight:

1. Why is this scene important? Does it reveal new information about the plot or characters?

2. Does this scene introduce or resolve conflict? How?

3. How does this moment push the story closer to the main goal or climax?

4. Does the scene reveal key aspects of the protagonist’s motivations, fears, or desires?

5. Are you relaying information relevant to the scene at hand? (i.e. avoiding info dumps)

6. If you remove this scene, would the story still make sense? If yes, reconsider its inclusion.