It looks as if Blogger is back up, but it pulled this post from Thursday and all the comments with it. Sheesh! Guess I’ll just keep this one up a while.
Here’s what I’ve learned about building a scene.
Each scene must have
- a goal
- conflict
- disaster
I think of all the scenes in the book as stair steps to the end of the story where everything is resolved.
Here’s an example of an early scene in Princess of Las Pulgas when Carlie has just had a scary encounter. In the following scene, she tries to tell her mom what happened without alarming her more than she usually is about Carlie’s safety. In the end I bring the scene back to the even scarier move from her home to Las Pulgas.
WestSide Books, 2009
- a place
- a time frame
- a change (I used the word DISASTER.)
In John August’s post about writing scenes for screenwriters he includes great advice for novelists as well. Two of my favorites are:
- start the scene as late into it as possible
- brainstorm all the possible ways it could start
Beverly Stowe McClure says
This is great. I'm saving it to remind me. 🙂
The Words Crafter says
Wow, this is really good information, thanks!
Leslie Rose says
This is great. I'm calling it my new G-C-D filter. Love the use of the word disaster. It's a good nudge to keep the stakes high.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for taking the time to repost, Kelly. Appreciate that and glad the information is helpful.
As to what's going on at Blogger, I think they were tinkering in the back room to do some kind of upgrade and it blew up the system. Up grade=more work than necessary!
Catherine Stine says
I like your line "-as of she's constructing interior dams to hold back a flash flood…" Very nice.
Yes, what did happen to blogger? For a few days it looked as if I had lost all of the bloglist I follow. And then it magically reappeared. Did everyone experience this?
khashway says
Since I reposted my comment on Tabitha's it's only fair that I repost here too. I love that you shared your own example for this. It really helps see how to build scenes. And I love the "goal, conflict, disaster" format. Thanks for sharing.