When I write, I ask myself one question:
How do I want my next scene to look?
I have even played each character's part as if I'm a movie star. Of course, I do this in the privacy of my own home and when my family is out. On occasion, I will hold up my hands in the shape of a square and view the action the way I want my readers to view it.
My favorite compliment from reviewers are when they say to me: "Reading your chapter (or book) was like watching it play out on a movie scene." Success!
Why is it smart to do this?
Well, I think if you can't imagine your book on a movie screen, it's a bit dull, innit? The TV show THE OFFICE has something called "Talking Heads". It's where a character sits in front of the camera and talks to it. That's kinda what a character does when it's relating backstory or talks about themselves for paragraphs at a time. It can be really boring unless you have great writers like those who write for THE OFFICE. And if you are up to that quality of writing, please, put in lots of "talking head" bits. If not, imagine how it looks in your scene. Do you have lots of "talking head" scenes?
Next time you write a scene with thirty characters, act out the scene. Be all the characters. Remember all the lines. Move around. You'll be surprised how quickly you cut out the unnecessary characters - especially if the scene involves dancing or running a marathon.
Blah.
Blah.
Blah.
The point is... write your book as you would like to see it filmed. If you could stand to watch your novel fourteen times while paying $40.00 for popcorn and a soda, you've got a winner!
If not, go back to the story board.
Clarissa - I really like your idea of thinking of one's story as a set of scenes. To me, that's a terrific way to focus on the important action in the novel, rather than get caught up in the minor details that can slow a story down. It's also a great way to put together those parts of the story in a logical way, so that you don't forget the important details. I'm going to have to think about my WIP that way...
ReplyDeleteI use it in my mystery novels and I'm working out ways to use this approach in my other novels as well.
ReplyDeleteCD
I often 'prepare' a chapter by writing the scene for it; ie where does it take place, what does it look like? What does it smell like? Is it hot/cold? What do my characters need to do? And if I paint the scene properly, it reads sooo much better. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right and even though we might see the scene, it's very important not to forget the senses.
ReplyDeleteCD
Oh I can so see my scenes easily!! Most definitely - all the time! It's capturing each one in written words is where I stumble - big big time! LOL!!! Now all I need to do is get it to the standard you've set where a reader will say how what I wrote acted out like in the movies for them!!! Sigh. That will be the day for me!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
I put the bar high but then again, so does the Academy Awards. Just remember, few win an award on the first try. Most have to work years to get somewhere. That's what I'm doing. I keep plugging along. Working my craft.
ReplyDeleteCD
I've always loved this way of viewing a novel. I write in scenes as well, and then I connect them together. I love your connection of talking heads to exposition. Plus, I love The Office.
ReplyDeleteI usually think in scenes, too. People don't tend to think things in chapters, so it wouldn't work in writing, either.
ReplyDeletePreston and Child write their books in scenes and it's easy to visualize a real movie as one reads.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't even divide my book into chapters until after final revisions.
Jennifer, I'm glad you liked the reference.
ReplyDeleteAlex, that's a great idea.
GE, you're right, it wouldn't!
CD
Great post. I often see my story points in scenes, and when I write an outline, they are actually just scenes I want to make happen somehow in the story. Usually the hard part for me is getting to point a then following to point be without one boring my reader, and two skipping something that might be important.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes do the role playing thing with my characters. I feel a bit silly but it so helps to "see" the scene. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. It might make writing easier, too. Things are broken up into chunks that way.
ReplyDeleteClarissa, great post. This NaNo I've been writing in scenes instead of chapters, because in a first draft who knows where a chapter ends/begins? It is one of the first things to be rearranged in a revision.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't know exactly how it happened but I've been sitting there writing scenes - SCENE - POV - PLACE - TIME etc like a movie script with END OF SCENE. This also helps when I don't have a great outline for my story - I know I want a scene about this or that, so I'll be able to put them together when I want.
I like your movie talk. A director doesn't shoot scenes in order - he/she just knows the scenes he/she wants - so do I. However, I missed the vital part - acting out. Hmm, I can see that's a great idea, when no one's around! Thankfully I don't have many people in a scene so far..:)
Looking at your previous post. What a great idea to protect your blog!
I'm quit famous for the advice I always give to the new writers who ask me for it - WRITE YOUR BOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MAKING A MOVIE. And it always works.
ReplyDeleteI wrote my last book this way. All in scenes. I think it's pretty powerful. It gets to the meat without all the blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteI love this technique. I always think of my books as movies or TV shows... It's good in that I do think it keeps things interesting, but it's bad b/c I have a tendency to "underwrite." arrgh. But you can always go back and beef up~ :o)
ReplyDeletegreat post, C~
I use this concept a lot! It really helps when I'm mapping out what needs to be revealed at certain points in the story. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm stuck on that image of Colin Firth...
ReplyDeleteAs for acting out the roles, I think that's a great idea. I do that as I write now, since my wip is a multiple point of view suspense novel. If I "be" the character while I'm in his POV, it's easier to make his behavior and speech different from that of other characters.
I write in scenes myself. I've gotten stuck sometime on parts, and instead of letting it bog to story, I move on to the "next scene" and start writing it. I know where the story is going - yes, I see it as a movie in my head - and it is only the exact, specific details that need filled in.
ReplyDeleteOr rather, the perfect wording. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that strange.
........dhole
Gratuitous picture of Colin Firth in breeches. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm another scene based writer. It just happened that way...but I suspect TV and movies do have a part to play in the fact so many writers instinctively move toward this mode of story telling.
Great post.
I love THIS and will try it.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea!
ReplyDeleteNice post. It feels natural to think in terms of scenes when writing. Not sure if I will adopt your method of playing the characters. Might be fun though, and some of the scenes would be even more fun to play if I had some additional actors to help me >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I always think through the scene - working out where everyone is and what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the famous Twilight scene in the woodland glade I could not visualise the hands being physically able to do the things described. Not from from the positions it says the characters were in. Twice I got dragged out of the novel while I had to re-think, over and over again, until I could see how it could happen. ;)
Current WIP: 1 MC, 2 support MC's, girl's dad, 2 Love Interests and 2 teachers. Thought it was too little, but more and more it seems just fine.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why I resist this so much. I mean, i think I WRITE in scenes--but consciously doing it... I do sort of see stuff in my head, but much less polished. I hear you on those party scenes though--it is work to focus the attention, and can be tricky to later justify what someone else did or did not see (with mystery, as I'm sure you know--this can be very important!)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I write in scenes, too. It's always been my way of breaking up a chapter.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I come to your blog Clarissa, I always have to read all the blogs I've missed. I like to shut my eyes and put myself in the world I've created. I look all around and do a panoramic view to get a feel for it. I ask myself about the smells and taste and lastly I try to see it through the characters eyes. Then I get into the deeper parts of the scene, the action and reaction and the dialogue.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author