Conflict is the engine of story.

Let me put you on to a tiny storytelling trick that has saved countless writers from boring scenes, and yes, it comes from South Park.

Here’s the what they're saying:
If your scenes feel flat, disconnected, or the story feels boring… it’s because you’re stringing ideas together with “and then.”
“And then they talk.”
“And then they fight.”
“And then they travel.”

That’s not a story.
That’s not a movie!

South Park’s creators use one test between every beat:
If you can’t say “BUT…” or “THEREFORE…” between your scenes, you don’t have conflict or consequence... "you're fucked."

“But” = obstacle.
“Therefore” = result.
“And then” = snooze.

Try this today:

• Read your outline out loud.

• Anywhere you hit an “and then,” swap in a “but” (problem) or “therefore” (reaction).

• Raise the stakes once.

• End the scene on a change: a shift, a reveal, a decision, a surprise.

Simple. Fast. Effective.

Fixing a boring movie isn’t about adding more scenes. It’s about making sure each scene can stand alone AND that it creates some kind of new problem or revelation. "But" or "therefore" are key indicators that you're doing something right. Your story starts breathing the moment your beats start colliding instead of politely lining up.

See you on the inside,

Nicki Micheaux

Quote of the Day:
“Conflict is the engine of story.” — Aaron Sorkin

Don't forget... TOMORROW is my free webclass if you're ready to finally get your project financed or distributed

I’ll show you how to package your project so investors and audiences say yes...no gatekeepers required.