You know exactly what needs to happen in your scene. Your detective confronts the suspect, your protagonist confesses her feelings, and your character makes a life-changing decision.
However, when you sit down to write it, the scene feels too big. too important, or too complex.
This is where the AI Momentum Builder technique saves you. Instead of tackling the entire scene at once, you start with a single detail. Then you build from there.
AI makes this process incredibly effective. Furthermore, it helps you identify that perfect small starting point.
Why Big Scenes Feel Impossible
Complex scenes paralyze writers for good reasons. Multiple elements need to work simultaneously.
You need dialogue that sounds natural, emotional depth that feels authentic, and pacing that maintains tension. Then, your character reactions must make sense.
Moreover, you know this scene matters. It’s a turning point. A revelation. A confrontation. Therefore, the pressure to get it “right” becomes crushing.
In addition, you can see the whole scene in your mind. The complete vision sits there, fully formed. Nevertheless, transforming that vision into actual words on the page feels impossible.
Here’s the problem: You’re trying to write everything at once.
Here’s the solution: Write one small thing. Then write the next small thing. Build momentum through tiny wins.
What the AI Momentum Builder Technique Does
The Momentum Builder breaks overwhelming scenes into manageable pieces. However, it’s not just about making a list of elements. Rather, it’s about finding the right starting point and building naturally from there.
Think about building a campfire. You don’t start with large logs. Instead, you begin with kindling. Small twigs catch easily. Then you add slightly bigger branches. Eventually, you can add the logs.
Writing works the same way. Start with something small and easy. Let that small success build heat. Then gradually add larger elements.
AI helps you identify:
- Which small detail to start with
- How to build from that detail naturally
- What to add next without overwhelming yourself
- When to expand into the full scene
Furthermore, this technique works whether you’re stuck before starting or stuck in the middle of a scene.
Finding Your Starting Point With AI
The hardest part of the Momentum Builder technique is choosing where to start. You have dozens of possible entry points. Which one will actually build momentum?
AI excels at identifying productive starting points.
Try this prompt:
“I need to write a scene where my protagonist confronts her business partner about embezzling money. The scene feels overwhelming because it needs to show her fear, his defensiveness, their history together, and the stakes of this confrontation. I’m completely stuck on where to start. What’s one small, concrete detail I could focus on writing first?”
AI might suggest starting with:
- The physical sensation of her hand on the office door handle
- The way her partner’s desk is unusually organized today
- Her noticing how his smile doesn’t reach his eyes
- The sound of her own heartbeat in the silence before she speaks
Each suggestion is concrete. Physical. Manageable. Moreover, each one naturally leads somewhere.
Pick the detail that sparks something in you. That’s your kindling.
Building From One Detail
Once you have your starting point, the next challenge is knowing what comes next. This is where AI becomes your building partner.
Write your small starting detail first. Get those sentences on the page. For example:
“Sarah’s hand trembled against the brass door handle of Marcus’s office. The metal felt cold, solid, real – unlike everything else in her world right now.”
Then ask AI what to build next:
Try this prompt:
“I started my confrontation scene with this detail: [paste what you wrote]. This shows my protagonist’s physical nervousness before entering her business partner’s office. What small element should I add next to build toward the actual confrontation?”
AI might suggest:
- Her taking a breath and opening the door
- A sensory detail about what she sees/hears when entering
- His immediate reaction to her unexpected appearance
- Her first small action inside the office
Choose what feels right. Write that piece. Then you have two building blocks instead of one.
Moreover, each piece you complete makes the next piece easier. Momentum literally builds.
The Power of Sensory Details
Sensory details make excellent building blocks. They’re concrete, specific, and short. Furthermore, they ground readers in the moment.
When you’re stuck building momentum, ask AI for sensory suggestions:
Try this prompt:
“My character just entered her business partner’s office to confront him about embezzlement. I’ve written her opening the door and seeing him at his desk. What sensory details could I add to build tension before anyone speaks? Focus on what she notices – sights, sounds, smells.”
AI might suggest:
- The too-loud ticking of his desk clock
- Papers stacked with unusual precision
- The faint smell of the cologne he wears to important meetings
- Sunlight creating harsh shadows across his face
- The absence of his usual coffee cup
Pick one or two. Write them. Suddenly, your scene has atmosphere. Tension. Reality.
In addition, these small details buy you time. Your momentum is building while your character observes the space. Then the dialogue will flow more naturally.
Build Dialogue Gradually
Dialogue often feels overwhelming in important scenes. You want it perfect. Meaningful and real.
However, trying to write perfect dialogue from the start can kill momentum. Instead, build it piece by piece.
Start with just the opening line:
If you can’t find the perfect opening line, try this prompt:
“My protagonist has entered the office. She’s noticed the tense atmosphere. Now she needs to speak first. What’s one simple, realistic opening line she might say before getting into the actual confrontation? She’s nervous but trying to appear calm.”
AI might suggest:
- “We have a problem?”
- “I need to talk about something.”
- “I found something concerning today.”
- “How long have we known each other, Marcus?”
If you like one of these, write it down. Then ask AI about his response.
Try this prompt:
“She said: [your chosen line]. Her business partner knows something is wrong but not what. How might he respond? Keep it short. I just want his immediate reaction.”
Now you have an exchange. Two lines of dialogue. Moreover, you can see where it’s going.
Furthermore, you can keep building this way. One line at a time. Before you know it, you have a complete conversation.
When You Get Stuck Midway Through
Sometimes momentum starts strong but stalls halfway through a scene. You’ve built several elements successfully. Then suddenly, you’re stuck again.
This is normal. AI can help you restart momentum:
Try this prompt:
“I’ve written this much of my confrontation scene: [paste what you have]. I was building momentum well, but now I’m stuck. What small element should I add next to keep the scene moving forward?”
AI analyzes what you’ve written. Then it suggests a logical next piece based on what’s already there.
What’s more, AI can identify if you’re stuck because:
- The scene needs a beat of silence or pause
- You’re missing an emotional reaction
- A physical action would break the tension naturally
- The dialogue needs grounding in the physical space
Each problem has a small, manageable solution. Therefore, you can restart your momentum quickly.
Knowing When to Expand
The Momentum Builder starts small. However, it doesn’t stay small forever. Eventually, your kindling becomes a fire. Then you can add larger pieces.
How do you know when to expand?
You’ve written several small details. The scene feels real now. And you’re no longer paralyzed by the idea of writing it.
That’s when you can start adding bigger elements:
- Longer dialogue exchanges instead of single lines
- Complex emotional reactions instead of simple observations
- Multiple actions happening together instead of one at a time
- Subtext and layers instead of surface details
Notice, the small pieces you’ve already written guide these larger additions. You’re not starting from nothing anymore. Instead, you’re expanding what already exists.
AI can help with expansion too:
Try this prompt:
“I’ve built the opening of my confrontation scene through small details: [briefly describe what you have]. Now I’m ready to expand into the actual confrontation. The stakes are [describe stakes]. How can I develop this into a fuller, more complex exchange while keeping the momentum going?”
AI will suggest ways to deepen what you’ve started. Then you can write with confidence instead of confusion.
The Psychology of Small Wins
Here’s why the AI Momentum Builder technique works so well psychologically. Every small piece you complete is a win. And as we know, wins generate motivation.
Writing two sentences feels achievable. Therefore, you do it. That success makes writing two more sentences feel possible. Consequently, you do that too.
Before long, you’ve written twenty sentences. Fifty sentences. A complete scene. However, you never faced the crushing task of “write a complete scene.” Instead, you faced a series of tiny, manageable tasks.
Each small win reduces anxiety. The scene that felt impossible now feels merely challenging. Now, the challenge is energizing rather than paralyzing.
AI amplifies this psychological benefit. Instead of guessing what to write next, you have clear direction. Therefore, each small step feels purposeful rather than random.
Practical Example: Building a Complete Scene
Let’s watch the AI Momentum Builder create an entire scene through small steps.
The challenge: Write a scene where your protagonist tells her teenage daughter she’s moving them across the country for a new job.
That feels overwhelming. Important conversation. High emotion. Multiple elements. Where do you even start?
Step 1: Ask AI for a tiny starting point
Try this prompt:
“I need to write a scene where a mother tells her teenage daughter they’re moving across the country. This is a huge, emotional conversation. I’m overwhelmed. What’s one small, concrete detail I could start with?”
AI suggests: Start with the mother rehearsing different opening lines in her head while making dinner.
Step 2: Write that small piece
You write two paragraphs. The mother’s internal dialogue while chopping vegetables. Trying different ways to break the news.
Step 3: Ask AI what comes next
Try this prompt:
“I wrote the mother rehearsing what to say. Now what? Does the daughter enter the kitchen? Does the mother speak first? What’s a small next step?”
AI suggests: The daughter enters, senses tension, asks, “What’s wrong?”
Step 4: Write that exchange
You write the daughter’s entrance and simple question. Maybe three sentences of dialogue.
Step 5: Keep building
Each AI suggestion gives you the next small piece. Mother’s hesitation. Daughter’s growing concern. The actual announcement. The daughter’s initial reaction.
Furthermore, none of these pieces felt overwhelming individually. Nevertheless, together they create a complete, emotionally resonant scene.
You built momentum from nothing to finished scene.
When Small Steps Feel Too Slow
Sometimes writers resist the AI Momentum Builder technique. It feels too slow. They want to write faster.
However, consider this: writing nothing is infinitely slower than writing small pieces. Or writing a scene quickly that has to be rewritten doesn’t help get the job done.
Momentum accelerates naturally. Your first small step might take ten minutes. However, by the fifth step, you’re writing faster. The scene has heat now. Energy. Forward motion.
In addition, “slow” building often produces better writing than forcing yourself to write big chunks quickly. The gradual approach allows you to feel your way through the scene. The emotional truth emerges more naturally.
Think of it like this: Would you rather spend two hours staring at a blank page, then give up? Or spend two hours building a scene piece by piece, resulting in a good draft?
The AI Momentum Builder chooses the second option every time.
Combining With Other Techniques
The AI Momentum Builder works beautifully alone. However, it also combines well with other AI techniques.
Use it with the Block Analyzer when you’re not sure why a scene feels overwhelming. AI can help identify which specific element is causing paralysis. Then you use the Momentum Builder to tackle that element in small steps.
Use it with the Scene Shifter when you’ve started building but realize the approach isn’t working. AI can suggest a different angle. Then you rebuild momentum using the new approach.
Furthermore, the Momentum Builder teaches you to write in a way that prevents future blocks. Once you’ve experienced building from small details, you naturally think in smaller, more manageable pieces.
Your Next Steps
Choose one scene you’ve been avoiding because it feels too big or important. Don’t start writing yet. Instead, open a conversation with AI.
Ask AI to suggest one small, concrete detail you could start with. Pick the suggestion that sparks something in you. Then write just that small piece.
Once you have those first sentences, ask AI what to add next. Write that piece. Then ask again.
Keep building this way until you have a complete draft. The draft won’t be perfect. However, it will exist. Moreover, you can revise what exists.
Remember: Perfect is the enemy of done. Small progress is better than no progress. Momentum matters more than immediate brilliance.
Want to explore more AI techniques for breaking through creative blocks?
Check out these guides:
- 7 Types of Writer’s Block and How AI Can Fix Each One – Identify your specific block type
- Creating Unforgettable Characters -The Contradiction Method
Ready to master breaking through writer’s block?
My book Get Unstuck: Writing Fiction with the Help of AI teaches you the Momentum Builder technique plus other proven methods for overcoming creative paralysis. Learn how to transform overwhelming scenes into manageable steps and keep your stories moving forward. Also available on Amazon.