Why you can't let go

There are scenes that don't work.

Sometimes, however, you love those scenes.

Those are the scenes that came to you in a moment of inspiration and that you don't want to let go. They're the scenes that speak directly to things you lived and want others to learn from. They make you laugh, scream, or shiver.

Still, they just don't work in what you're writing.

Don't get stubborn and defensive about them. Get wise.

Take a closer look. Why aren't these scenes working?

Are they not moving the plot forward? Are they not true to your characters? Are they too slow? Are they in the wrong place?

There can be a lot of reasons why a good scene doesn't work. Try to find out why before chopping your favourites.

And, in the end, if you really can't figure out why the scene isn't working, save it for another story. The right story and the right moment will come to you eventually.