: Re: When is it ok to add filler to a story? After a couple iterations I came up with the "skeleton" or summary of my story. I have read many places and guides saying "if it's not advancing

@Welton431

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Your not so much adding filler, as you are adding in the details. Its very easy to write a brief summary of the events and what happens.

I can describe a date as, we went to dinner together and then went home.

Or I can say what happened. We walked through the door, sat down, ordered our food. Ate it then went home.

You can in more details about what happened, such as:
We walked through the door and signaled at the waiter for a table of two. He grabbed two menus and directed us to a table in the corner of the room.

You can add in a description of the table, people, restaurant and food. The actions you take, the things other people do. Your characters internal monologue, etc. It was a small square table covered in a white cloth. Two plates lay on the table with a fork and knife on each side. Two slightly dusty wine glasses stood in the middle of the table.

You should provide enough information so that a reader can build an image of what is happening. Talk about the things you would hear, smell, see. The choices you are presented, internal dialogues, nervousness.

Things happen between A and B, and if you need more content, all you simply have to do is explain it in more detail.

For the date example, a date isn't just 5 dinners. Its the time spent arranging it, getting dressed, the anticipation, the trip to the restaurant, sitting down at a table, ordering food, small talk, eating food, paying, leaving the restaurant, getting dessert, walking home and that small bit where they try and see if there is a second date in line.

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