25. Scenes

Welcome back to YOUR Novel!

Let’s talk a bit about scenes. You can’t write a novel without scenes. Scenes are the molecular structure of story and thus of a book.

I like literary agent Rachelle Gardner’s take on scenes. “A scene has three necessary elements: a location in time and space; action; and dialogue. Make sure the end of each scene drives the reader into the next scene.” (Check out Rachelle’s blog at http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/ )

What I really like about this definition is that it’s a great way to check our writing for flaws. You’ve written a page and you notice that there’s no action, there’s no dialogue,  and location has only been given a brief nod. What have you written? Maybe a monologue or maybe an essay or maybe a blog post, but not a scene. No scene, no story. No story, no readers.

The second check point in that paragraph is that the scene should drive the reader into the next scene. Leave a little mystery, a little incentive. Make me (as the reader) ask “Okay what happens next!” (Note the exclamation point. It’s important.) If you as the writer suddenly launch into the telling mode, you’re probably going to write an essay. Now be honest. How many essays have you read in your life – that weren’t class assignments? As a 21st century reader, I’m spoiled to death by television and movies. I want a story. I’m not cast in the mold of our  patriot forefathers and foremothers who would sit down and read  a Jonathan Edwards sermon.  I love history and non-fiction and memoirs, but only if the writer weaves me into the information with stories. As a novelist you can’t think to risk your readership by NOT telling stories, by NOT writing scenes.

Some writers and editors suggest that each chapter should be made up of about 3 scenes. I’m not one to suggest that. Some chapters are so emotionally strong that one scene is enough. Some chapters need more than three, especially if the scenes are short. No matter which choice you make for the chapter you are writing, it’s still all about scenes!

Your Assignment for the Week: As you continue YOUR Novel, be aware of the 3 sides of scene-writing.  Pull your reader into your story. Let your characters live through effective scene writing.

Q4U: How many scenes do you usually include in your chapters?

Blessings! Sue