This is a series of posts for aspiring writers, established authors, and anyone inbetween. To take a look at what goes into a novel before, during and after it is written. Please feel free to comment if you have helpful advice that will contribute to making this post more beneficial to everyone out there. Or, post a question and I’ll try to find an answer!
If the title of this post seems a little general, that’s because it is. What about scenes? Yeah, they’re what make up a book, so what?
Well, last time I posted on characters, focusing primarily on POV and getting to know the people leading our story. How we write our characters helps establish the effectiveness of a book.
The same goes with scenes. Every scene in our book is important and how we write them will ultimately establish the effectiveness of our book.
Scenes are what drive our novel. They progress the plot.
Here are a few tidbits I’ve picked up along the way about writing scenes that I’ve found helpful.
1) Make sure every scene in your book has a point. If the scene is not progressing the plot then it’s probably not necessary.
2) Try to introduce something new about the character(s) in each scene. This will help develop your MC and keep the reader interested.
3) Insert some conflict. Conflict is what drives a novel. A little tension in each scene will make interest endure.
4) Find a good balance. Character thoughts vs. description vs. dialogue. I find when there is a lot of description or there isn’t action propelling a scene, I start to skim. I look for “white space”. I want dialogue or movement.
5) Less is more! If you only need two or three paragraphs to explain something, don’t use a whole page. Use the rest of that page to develop character, to add some action.
6) Write in a way that compliments the particular scene. If your character is running for their life, don’t stop to describe the size of the cobblestones she’s running on and approximately how many feet she has to run to get to the other side of the street. We’re in the middle of the action here. Short sentences, to the point! Make us feel that rush of adrenaline. If the character is having a flashback or lingering in a memory, it’s okay to be a little more verbose. Describe what something looked like or felt like.
A bit of each of these in each scene or most scenes of a book will also help keep the entire book balanced so that it doesn’t start off quick and interesting, then falter a bit in the middle before it gets interesting again at the end.
I know all of you writers out there have other tricks you use to make a well balanced and interesting scene, so please leave your comments!
I totally agree with everything you've said! Another thing I try to do with each scene is start it with a hook and then end it with a ROP (read on prompt). I got that tip from James Scott Bell's Plot and Structure book.
ReplyDeleteI try to follow this great advice and then I print out my manuscript and divide it up by scenes -- lay it out on the living room floor and go through each scene and each scene bridge to check for flow.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Jody, that's a good suggestion. Another way to ensure that the content of the scene is essential to the story.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cool idea, Tess. Sometimes it helps to break apart each scene if you physically separate them to look them over.
) Try to introduce something new about the character(s) in each scene. This will help develop your MC and keep the reader interested.
ReplyDeleteI like this suggestion. I need to go back now and see if I've done that!
Oooo - I really liked number 2! I never really thought about that before. It's definitely something to keep in mind - something to strive for. I have really learned the importance of making every scene count. If it doesn't further my plot - I always cut it. Nice post Cindy!
ReplyDeleteWow! Great advice! I have a novel waiting for edits now and I am paralyzed, not knowing where to start. Ugh! It's a good story...
ReplyDeleteIt's helped me, too, Terri because I always want my reader wanting more.
ReplyDeleteKatie, it's all a learning process, isn't it? In the beginning I used to think that if I needed something to up my word count, I could just toss in a random scene for fun. But now I realize there has to be a reason for what I do.
Litgirl, thanks! I bet once you get going on your novel, it will get easier. Good luck!
Thank you those are all great points! I'll try and include them when writing my scenes.
ReplyDeletei second jody's comment...the hook and read on prompt are really important for me when i'm actually reading a book...so i translate that over into writing one. if i don't get a good enough ROP when i'm reading at 11:30 at night...i won't burn the midnight oil. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED number 6. It's a pet hate of mine to see actions scenes weighed down by description.
ReplyDeleteThe only author I've read that has managed to get away with it was Craig Thomas in Firefox. That said, he was describing the action in the cockpit at the time.
Less is definitely more.
Wonderful post. I think this is all great advice.
ReplyDeleteI also think each scene should flow with the next. Not really time-wise, but so it's not episodic.
Your ideas make sense to me and I like them.
ReplyDeleteI took a workshop with Meagan Chance, who is an award winning author. She taught on writing scenes and sequels. The basic idea is that your scene is about plan A. But of course obstacles get in the way of the character's goal. So, there is a sequel, which basically amounts to the character coming up with another plan and acting on it.
I found it interesting to go back and read chapter one and see how the main character in that chapter had to make a plan b in order to achieve his goal. We may write scenes and sequels without even realizing we are using the strategy.
Great advice!
ReplyDeleteOne more thing to add: avoid too much introspection during a scene. It really slows the pace. Some internal thoughts are necessary, of course, but don't overdo it.
To fix this, add an interlude after the scene for the character to process the information learned or experienced in the previous scene.
Thanks for the tips!
Along the less is more point, I'd narrow in on backstory here, too. Keep it as minimal as possible and only provide it at the needed time in the scene in as small of snippets as possible. That's one that took me ages to figure out, and I'm still trying to apply it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Those are good comments Jill and Eileen. It's taken practice for me to figure this out, too, and I'm still working on it. If I am not sure, I try to be the reader and see how much backstory I could handle before I'd get bored.
ReplyDelete"He pointed his sword at me. It was a sharp sword with a dragon emblazoned on the blade. The hilt held a dozen emeralds, each the size of a hen's eye. I wished I'd studied my father's book on weaponry. Was this blade forged from steel, iron or something...other? Who could tell just by looking? Sure the grey color might give..."
ReplyDeleteHooray for stalled action! ;)
Great post! I did a post on chapter progression awhile ago (the one with the waves and how chapters are like the progression of a wave).
ReplyDeleteI am still trying to learn how to make my scenes effective. Many times I rely on my beta readers to tell me if one isn't working or progressing.
You have some awesome pointers here, so thank you!
I think the most important thing I try to remember is that each scene should have an arc, like a mini wave, and contribute to the whole "wave" arc of the novel and each character's progression.
Great post! And so true!
ReplyDeleteI was having trouble with a chapter and had to put some info (that I was saving for another chapter) in it to give it more of a point. :)
Lol, Justus. Thanks for the example. Sounds like something I would have written way back at the beginning of it all.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Lady Glamis. I remember that post. It was good.
Jennifer, thanks for stopping by. Yes, sometimes it's necessary to rework our stories that way. For some reason, though, I always hate taking away from one chapter to fix another :)
Great post! When I first started writing I didn't really understand the less is more bit. I over described everything, had scenes that did absolutely nothing for my plot but slow it down (though I loved every word), and it took me a while to finally grasp the concept. I don't outline when I write, so first draft is usually just getting the story down. But once editing mode kicks in, what is going on in my scenes is one of the elements I pay the most attention to :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Michelle. I do a bit of outlining, but mostly my first draft is also just to get the story down. It's so much easier for me to pay attention to all the "rules" on the second time through than on the first.
ReplyDeleteWell said and something that starts to come more naturally the more you write. I also think it's easier the more you write to be willing to cut unnecessary scenes. I remember when I first started I would think, "Oh, but I love that scene. It's my favorite." Now I just start hacking. It's so liberating. :)
ReplyDeleteKasie, I like that you said that. Liberating. You're right. Because as writer's we need to be able to let go of something we like just because it sounds pretty or it was fun to write. Ultimately, if it doesn't work for the novel, it's going to need to go.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and all really great stuff to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd like Jody said, I also like to focus on how a scene begins and ends. It doesn't necessarily need to end with a cliffhanger all the time, but sometimes with just a moment or thought that will stick and is meaningful.
Hi Cindy -
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great advice. I love short nuggets. They remind me of those lists in magazines on 49 ways to save money, etc.
Sometimes craft books give me "indigestion," but a bite-size tip goes down smooth as my favorite chocolate.
Blessings,
Susan :)