There are two main kinds of goals for each scene and either or both will help propel a book toward an effective climax and resolution. They will also help keep your reader interested.
Character Goals
These are the kinds of goals you have for your characters in each scene. The kind that help you realize where the character is heading and why. What is urging them toward growth or keeping them from it. In each scene, having goals for your characters is a good idea.
You can accomplish this by asking yourself these questions:
What do you want your character to experience in this scene?
How do you want your character to grow or change in this scene?
What do you want your character to realize in this scene?
What decision does your character make in this scene?
Essentially you want your character to start off in one place at the beginning of the scene and end up somewhere else. Either emotionally or physically. When you know your character’s overall motivations or goals, breaking them down scene by scene to get there will help move the story along and progress it logically for the reader.
Plot Goals
These are goals you can set for individual scenes that help advance the plot. Basically, it comes down to events. Your entire story is made up of a series of events that get you from chapter to chapter or scene to scene until the books end. So, ask yourself:
What do I want to accomplish during this scene?
What event happens during this scene that causes external or internal conflict?
What should or could occur to help the story arrive at an effective or explosive climax?
Making a plot goal for each scene is an excellent way to progress the story and hold your reader's attention.
Do you set goals for each scene? Character goals or plot goals or both?
I tend to just write things and see where they go. Random, but it works for me.
ReplyDeleteAfter I've finished I go through each chapter or scene and decide if it does anything for the story or the character. If not, out it goes. If too much goes out, then I don;t carry on with the story.
Nice post. I outline my entire book, thinking about the plot and the character arcs. Before I write each chapter, I make a loose list of things I want to happen. It helps me as I move from scene to scene.
ReplyDeleteYou are point on here. This is so true, and probably why my scenes tend on the longer side (not that other writers don't accomplish this in shorter sections, but I can't seem to do that well).
ReplyDeleteYou could write a book with all your helpful posts. You do an exceptional job with explaining the art of writing.
Martin, it sounds like that method works well for you. And sometimes, it takes reading a section back through after you're finished with the entire story to see whether or not it advances the story and assists it or it's not worth keeping in.
ReplyDeleteDawn, knowing key plot points for each scene or some of your scenes is a great way to make sure the book is on track and moving forward.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, thank you for the compliment. I enjoy writing longer scenes, too. Sometimes there's so much to develop for each character or event that it takes more time to establish what you're going for.
ReplyDeleteCindy, you explain every thing so dang well. I love this post and I ask you if I can copy and paste to print out for future reference. I know I will need this.
ReplyDeleteThe longer scenes is the way I write too. Though I when I did rewrites of SEVENTY TWO HOURS I shortened them, because I thought I had too. No more! I will leave them long. Thanks for the much needed help my sweet friend. =)
Great post! I think goals are incredibly important in stories. It's the driving force, what makes for a page-turner. So, yes, I do set goals for each scene--and those goals are all connected to my MC's main goal.
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