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How to Write a
Scene that Keeps Readers Turning the Page
You have two
options when writing a scene: outlining and free writing. With
outlining, you decide ahead of time the purpose of the scene. Do you
want the scene to move the story forward, introduce conflict, and /
or focus on character development? Without a strong idea on where
the scene should go, you'll end up with a unusable material.
That isn't to say
that you can't simply put pen to paper and see where your characters
take you. Sometimes not knowing a direction allows for your
imagination to flow.
Either method,
outlining or free writing, has its role in creative writing. And the
good news is that you don't have to choose between the two. There
are times when you may bounce back and forth between the two.
Tips for Writing a
Scene
 Once
you decide on its purpose, choose a POV character. Whose
thoughts and actions are the focal point of the scene?
A
scene can be comprised of dialogue, narrative, or a combination of
the two. When you are having difficulty deciding which approach is
best, consider writing the scene in question twice - once with a
dialogue focus and the other scene description heavy. This will help
you decide on what is the better scene.
The
foundation of a perfect scene has a lot in common with plot writing
because just as the plot, the structure of a scene needs a
beginning, middle, and end.
Though all aspects
of writing a scene are important, the ending is critical because the
words on the page is what makes readers continue reading the
following scenes.
Sometimes
it's difficult to get out of our own way when it comes to writing.
If you are experiencing writer's block when you are working on a
scene, step away from your novel and practice writing scenes that
aren't related to your book. For example, sit in a public place,
describe the setting and choose a couple that is interacting. Make
up a conflict between the two.
Use
colorful language when writing dialogue in a scene. For example,
instead of the old cliché "your biting off your nose to
spite your face, write "your cutting your own throat."
When
you finish writing the scene, determine whether its vital to the
story or if you can scrap it. Just because you wrote a scene doesn't
mean you have to keep it, especially when the scene doesn't work.
Invest
in scene writing books to learn about a perfectly structured
scene and the craft of writing. One of my favorite books on the
topic is The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer.
The book has almost a five star rating on Amazon. Check out the
reviewer's comments to determine if the book suits your specific
needs.
Learn from a pro.
Read one of your favorite published books. Choose a scene and study
it. Ask the following questions:
Why does this scene
work?
Could the writer have chosen a different direction?
What is the balance between dialogue and description?
What's the scene's pattern, sequence, and structure?
What happened at the end of the scene? Did the ending make me want
to continue reading?
How many characters were in the scene?
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