How do you write fillers?

[Ellieporter]

So, I'm doing Chapter 7 of my current novel and i decided that some parts of it would be a filler (The school festival) that focuses more on a couple of minor characters. Should i add more slice of life that deviates itself from the main story?

 

[Snusmumriken]

Why do you want to write a filler? Fillers are considered a bad thing.

Write a character arc if you must - explore these minor characters and flesh them out so they make your story deeper. Don't write chapters that have no relevance to the main plot - you might as well put them into a separate book if you need to write them out to wake your muse or something.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Btw, fillers are things that are completely unrelated to the story. If those minor characters further explain the world background, they are recurring characters, and they are getting fleshed out more, it's not a filler. In my opinion of course. A filler is something that isn't essential to the story. Like, completely unnecessary. The part of the story that can be thrown out.

 

[Ellieporter]

Why do you want to write a filler? Fillers are considered a bad thing.

Write a character arc if you must - explore these minor characters and flesh them out so they make your story deeper. Don't write chapters that have no relevance to the main plot - you might as well put them into a separate book if you need to write them out to wake your muse or something.

I see... Alright, i will start outlining their arcs.

 

[BenJepheneT]

I think what you wanted to write is a little bit of side story that explores the intricacies of your other characters, not an actual bloat to you story.

 

[Ellieporter]

I think what you wanted to write is a little bit of side story that explores the intricacies of your other characters, not an actual bloat to you story.

Yes, that could be it as the main story is full of sex. I want to write a lighter side of romance that mostly involves dating in a sense

 

[BenJepheneT]

Yes, that could be it as the main story is full of sex. I want to write a lighter side of romance that mostly involves dating in a sense

Then first dictate that you want to show about that character, and then use the scenario to your advantage. If your character is a war veteran then have the date take place in a laser tag arena. If your character is a book worm, go to the library. So on and so forth. Identify what you want to present then set the stage

 

[ForestDweller]

Write whatever you want. Don't let your readers decide what you should write.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I never consider anything I write to be filler. It's character development or a gateway into a new arc.

 

[Derin_Edala]

I don't write fillers.

Ask yourself why you want to write this festival bit. Is it to develop these side characters? Then it's not filler, it's character development for them. Is it a 'beach episode', giving your audience a bit of a breather between tense scenes? That's not filler, it's mood control, and it's the perfect space to sneak some character development or extra worldbuilding that you normally don't have time or space for. Figure out what this scene is supposed to be doing and write that.

 

[Motsu]

Imagine writing a filler when you're still at CH7.

 

[skillet]

Oh I love fillers!! :D There's so many ways you can use them, haha

You could use them potential oohh, you thought it was a filler but it was actually deep-rooted foreshadowing >:) surprises or as breathing space for some comedic/heartwarming scenes, or ways to explore a side of a character to make them more human (and usually more likeable thereafter), or to introduce a new character, or to set up a new recurring series of jokes, or to just write what you always wanted to write, or to just wing it for your own satisfaction. (Sometimes the best fillers come from winging it, and sometimes the best ideas come from winging a filler.) And you know what? You could use them to fulfill three purposes that I've listed here, and that's honestly the best feeling.

Good luck with your fillers, and have fun with them!

Edit: I just read all the previous responses and now I'm kind of sad that fillers are seen as a bad thing..... I usually consider them capable of being what really brings the reader into a story, giving a story its flavor and fleshing out the world and the characters, the bits that I always return to and remember after the fact because it made me laugh or endeared its characters/world to me more. ._. ah well, I guess