1. Setting
Each and every one of your book’s scenes should have a setting that is clear and descriptive. Is the character in their room? At a park? Is it daytime or nighttime? Without the establishment of setting, characters will feel as though they are floating, and readers may get lost as a result.
2. Characters
A scene isn’t a scene without characters. No one wants to read an entire “scene” that’s solely a description of the setting. A great alternative is to have your character interacting with the setting in some way.
3. Dialogue
It’s very easy to write a scene with little to no dialogue. Sometimes we get caught up in description or internal dialogue. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing all the time, but it’s important to keep in mind that readers typically enjoy the dialogue between characters. If one scene contains two characters giving each other the silent treatment (totally okay), consider using your next one to break that silence, or to have one character talking about the fight with someone else.
4. Action
Your characters have to be doing something. Remember that “action” doesn’t always refer to fistfights and car chases. Your action can come from your character doing something mundane such as attending yoga class or doing the dishes.
Note: Actions are only boring if you write them that way!