Here's another good tip, which is related to the word:idea ratio. It's something you want to do called "double justification." This sounds like but is not a gameshow.
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(This doesn't look like but is a gameshow)
What "double justification" really is: Your scenes should justify themselves and also be justified by the broader story.
So think:
1. Is this scene/chapter great? Is it well-written and well-done? If so, it justifies itself.
2. Next, does this scene/chapter speak to the main story? Is something getting accomplished that develops the main arc or character arcs? If so, it is justified by the broader story.
If either of these is a "no," consider changing the scene or removing it. Between double justification and the word:idea ratio, this probably why my stories end up relatively short. I really try not to waste any time. Give it a try! Try to make sure every passage has both a real purpose and is beautiful.
If everything is great and important, you have the best of both worlds.
Common traps:
1. Backstory: This stuff is important but it rarely makes a great scene in itself, so be creative when including any backstory. Same goes for flashbacks. This stuff should be fun to read, too, and be great on its own merit. It shouldn't be there simply to communicate the plot.
2. Asides: Sometimes you write a scene or chapter that is purely funny, or purely steamy, or purely dark—something that is meant to develop the mood or give the readers something juicy to bite into. But be careful! These scenes can bog down your story. They can grow into extraneous and filler material/
A Great Test
Copy and paste the passage in question, or isolate it in your thoughts. Now, ask yourself two questions:
Are you proud of this scene all on its own? Would you show it to somebody as an example of your work? If not, consider enhancing it.
Second, if this scene were deleted, how much would it affect your story? If not very much or none at all, consider summarizing the scene in a few sentences instead of using the full passage, or remove it altogether.
So, make sure you're moving everything forward—that you're not just adding something because you think your audience needs X or Y. If you think they do, you should probably tinker with your story some more at the root level. If you feel you need to digress, something has probably been left out or left behind.
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