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Plot Spine Diagnosis: Cut the Fluff, Keep the Heart

Your Story Has a Spine. Is It Broken?

Every story has a backbone—the major plot beats that carry everything else.

But when you’re knee-deep in rewrites or staring at a bloated middle, it’s hard to tell which scenes matter... and which are just filler dressed in clever dialogue.

This is where plot spine diagnosis saves your draft.

How to Find the Core of Your Plot

A clean narrative usually hits these four essential beats:

1. The First Turning Point (25%) – The moment your protagonist commits to the journey.
2. The Midpoint – A twist or revelation that flips the mission on its head.
3. The Crisis – When everything falls apart and the hero hits rock bottom.
4. The Climax – The final choice or action that decides everything.

If a beat doesn't lead to, strengthen, or react to one of those four—you probably don’t need it.

The D.I.M.E. Test for Every Scene

Here's a quick diagnostic:

• Does the action add weight?
• Is it filler?
• Make it tighter?
• Eliminate if not crucial.

Every scene must either push the plot forward, reveal character, or raise stakes.

If it’s not doing at least two of those, it’s dragging your story down.

Use this AI prompt to help you out: ​ ​"[Insert a scene] Analyze this scene and ask me clarifying questions about whether this scene adds to the story or if it should be cut. Every scene should move the plot forward, reveal character, or showcase worldbuilding."

Don’t Just Cut—Restructure

Some scenes aren’t bad—they’re just in the wrong place.

Sometimes what feels like fluff becomes essential when it shows up earlier, later, or from another POV. Editing isn’t always subtraction. It’s reshaping.

A Quick Test for Boring Beats

Ask yourself:

• Does this scene change anything?
• Can I combine it with another?
• Would anyone miss it if it disappeared?

The answers will tell you what’s actually working.

And if you're still not sure? Just blue-pencil it. Keep a copy. You can always bring it back if it turns out to be the missing puzzle piece.

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That's all for now. Thanks for being a subscriber!

– Kevin from StoryFlint

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