A Goodreads user asked Michael J. Sullivan:

I am trying to write short stories, starting w aspects of my own life to practice. Each days start is tedious. I want to convey the sense of monotony and create a mood, set a tone, without having them stop reading or jump off a cliff. If i write it all out (matt did x, matt did y) it seems too blunt, but "matt monotonously did a long set of tedious tasks, the same as he did every day." too short. How to convey tedium?

Michael J. Sullivan Hey Matthew, there are many aspects regarding writing that have to be balanced in equal measure: inner dialog, description, narration, plot, mood, characterization, tone. Each scene is an opportunity to do several things at once, and balance is the key, and it takes a lot of writing to find that balance. Don't be discouraged if early attempts are lacking some (or all) of these components. It takes time.

What's most important is to keep the reader engaged. That comes from giving them the opportunity to participate, to put pieces together. Don't be blunt. Let them experience the tedium in the same way that the protagonist experiences it. They're smart people and will see what you're up to, and feel proud of themselves for doing so.

Think of examples from other things you've read or seen to help. In Groundhog Day it always started with the same inane comments from the radio personalities. Maybe your protagonist wakes to the insidious ticking of an old-fashioned clock or the blowing of a furnace fan. Don't be afraid to be detailed. Sometimes the biggest ideas can be conveyed by hyper-focus on a small detail. Do they make the same breakfast each day? Do they have a ritual when putting on their slippers? (Jack Nicholson does in the movie "As Good as it Gets" and it's when he breaks with such ingrained behavior that we start to realize the growth he has gone through.

But all the above is a reflection on how I process ideas and write because that is all I can address with any amount of expertise. At the end of the day, you'll have to find your own voice and your own style. That's where the real magic comes from. So while it's fine to ask others what they may do, it'll rarely work "for you" because it comes from the outside rather than within.

Practice helps...a lot. Don't be afraid to try different approaches and to polish, polish, and polish some more. Then start sharing your work with others. Present several different approaches and ask readers (or fellow writers) what they like and why. Seeking outside opinions was something I didn't do enough of early in my writing career. Doing so early will make the learning process go more quickly.

I hope some of this helps.

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