#2 -The Scene-Hopper
This series explores the most common (and most relatable) writer types we see again and again—and maybe even are ourselves.
- The Eternal Outliner
- The Scene-Hopper
- The Over-Editor
- The Praise Addict
- The Fearful Genius
- The I’ll-Finish-It-One-Day
- The Silent Novelist
Last time, we met the Overplanner Supreme: The Eternal Outliner. This week, we dive into the exact opposite…
✍️ The Scene-Hopper
Subtitle: You’ve written the big kiss, the final showdown, and three dream sequences—now what?
🧠 Who They Are:
The Scene-Hopper is a writer of passion. They write when the lightning hits.
Their docs are bursting with dramatic monologues, fight scenes, gut-wrenching reveals, and steamy moments.
The problem?
They’re all floating in space.
No transitions. No connective tissue. No timeline. Just… fireworks in a fog.
It’s not a novel. It’s a greatest hits album.
And without context or buildup, even the best scene can fall flat.
💪 Strengths:
- Intense emotional instinct
- Knack for voice, tone, and pacing
- Can create unforgettable moments
- Amazing at dialogue and character tension
⚠️ Pitfalls:
- Avoids “boring” scenes that link the plot
- Gets lost trying to stitch it all together
- Often writes scenes out of order with no way to connect them
- Risk of burnout when the inspiration fades and structure is required
🔓 Why You Stay Stuck:
You tell yourself you’re just “following the energy.” And yes, energy is great. But if you never learn to bridge your big moments, you’ll never finish a book.
And finishing is what makes you a writer—not dazzling fragments.
Your scenes need meaning.
Meaning comes from context.
And context comes from doing the hard, “unsexy” work.
✅ Next Steps for the Scene-Hopper:
- Outline backwards. For each big scene, ask: What needs to happen right before this to make it land?
- Write one “boring” scene on purpose. Then challenge yourself to make it unboring.
- Create a storyboard. Lay out your big scenes and figure out the in-between beats that earn them.
- Set a “no new scenes” rule. For one week, only write connecting content—no fresh drama allowed.
Are you a Scene-Hopper? What’s the wildest out-of-order scene you’ve written?
👇 Tag a friend who needs to glue their plot back together.
