\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12108-Shaping-Your-Scenes-Effectively.html
Drama: August 16, 2023 Issue [#12108]




 This week: Shaping Your Scenes Effectively
  Edited by: Joy Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

“The success of every novel — if it’s a novel of action — depends on the high spots. The thing to do is to say to yourself, “What are my big scenes?” and then get every drop of juice out of them. ”
P.G. Wodehouse

“You don’t write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid’s burnt socks lying in the road.”
Richard Price

“What monster sleeps in the deep of your story? You need a monster. Without a monster there is no story.”
Billy Marshall

“Good novels are not written by orthodoxy-sniffers, nor by people who are conscience-stricken about their own orthodoxy. Good novels are written by people who are not frightened.”
George Orwell

“For maximum effectiveness, you should start your story at the time of the change that threatens your major character’s self-concept.”
Jack M. Bickham, Elements of Fiction Writing - Scene & Structure

------------

Hello, I am Joy Author Icon, this week's drama editor. This issue is about considering to write deeper and more effective scenes.

Thank you for reading our newsletters and for supplying the editors with feedback and encouragement.


.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Free clipart from webweaver


Welcome to the Drama newsletter


         A well-written scene can transport the readers to a new world and leave a lasting impact long after the story ends. Yet, what do you think makes a well-written scene? Just maybe, a combination of literary techniques, creative flair, and a deep understanding of human emotions. Easy to say, difficult to do.

         Difficult because a scene contains in itself all the basics of fiction writing. That is, setting and atmosphere, character depth and emotions, engaging descriptions, conflict and tension, pacing, dialogue, and showing without telling. To narrow all this down, the job of any scene has to be: to move the story forward, establish cause and effect, and to reveal the consequences of the action in the scene.

         What feels to be the most difficult to me when I write fiction is the structure of a scene; in other words, knowing what to include and what to leave out. It is said that you could remedy this by paying attention to these five questions: where, when, who, what, why.

         It is also recommended to organize scene ideas visually by using index cards or by mapping them in smaller circles in and around a circle that represents the main idea of the scene.

         In addition, once you have the scene structure loosely established in your mind or, hopefully, you have noted the basics of it down, how would use start and end a scene?

         There are a few ways to start a scene. These are:
         *Bullet* With action
         *Bullet* With a strong setting
         *Bullet* With some bold dialogue
         *Bullet* With a summary of the background that may have an effect on the entire story.
         *Bullet* By revealing a character’s thoughts and feelings

         There are also a few ways to end a scene. These are:
         *Bullet* By ending in mid-action, which is cliffhangers
         *Bullet* With a character’s epiphany
         *Bullet* With a major obstacle uncovered
         *Bullet* With emotional turmoil
         *Bullet* With the promise of more revelation

         You can best study scene structure and scene writing by reading the great authors. Since it was said that Charles Dickens was the front runner in the scene-writing ability, I made it my business to read all his books two years ago while doing a yearly reading project. Dickens’s writing is still read all over the world and it continues to gain many movie and TV adaptations.

         Here is an excerpt from the Great Expectations. Although the beginning scene is much longer, I feel this small excerpt illustrates what I mean about the scene openings. In this scene, the main character runs into a criminal in a graveyard.

          “Oh! Don’t cut my throat, sir,” I pleaded in terror. “Pray don’t do it, sir.”

         “Tell us your name!” said the man. “Quick!”

         “Pip, sir.”

         “Once more,” said the man, staring at me. “Give it mouth!”

         “Pip. Pip, sir.”

         “Show us where you live,” said the man. “Point out the place!”

         I pointed to where our village lay, on the flat in-shore among the alder-trees and pollards, a mile or more from the church.

         The man, after looking at me for a moment, turned me upside down, and emptied my pockets. There was nothing in them but a piece of bread. When the church came to itself,—for he was so sudden and strong that he made it go head over heels before me, and I saw the steeple under my feet,—when the church came to itself, I say, I was seated on a high tombstone, trembling while he ate the bread ravenously.


         When we look at this scene, especially for its emotional power, we see all the sensory descriptions, symbolisms, shifts in character dynamics--that is, the way these two characters interact--, and we can pry into the depths of both characters, and their internal and external conflicts, and the dialogue really contains an emotional subtext. It also hints at what may or may not happen next without saying anything about it.

         In showing emotion in a scene, in addition to what I mentioned in the above paragraph, you can also introduce secondary themes, which have a way of perking up dull scenes, especially if you can use metaphors and symbolism to show emotion indirectly.

         May all your scenes come alive on the page and may they contain emotionally charged moments to leave a lasting impact on your readers.

          Until next time! *Smile*



Editor's Picks

         *Gold*   Enjoy!   *Gold*

*Reading* *Boat**Castle**Shield9* *Music1**Music1**Music1**Clock2**Shield9**Reading**Shield9* *Clock2* *Shield9**Reading**Shield9* *Clock2* *Shield9**Reading**Shield9* *Clock2**Music1**Music1**Music1* *Shield9**Castle**Boat* *Reading*



Angel Open in new Window. (18+)
‘I need my angel,’ she had cried to the sky. And that night her angel came.
#2297967 by deemac Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
BOOK
Enga mellom fjella Open in new Window. (13+)
Enga mellom fjella: where from across the meadow, poems sing from mountains and molehills.
#1317094 by Kåre เลียม Enga Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
STATIC
Detectives Open in new Window. (ASR)
It takes skill, patience and hard work to solve a deep mystery. 2nd Place, Journey Genres
#2293483 by THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2292707 by Not Available.

 
Image Protector
STATIC
Dreamer Open in new Window. (13+)
A classic romance has an unexpected ending. Winner of Quotation Inspiration, June 2023.
#2298508 by Beholden Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
STATIC
One Night's Bride Open in new Window. (E)
Perspective on the rising of the moon after a storm threatened and a rainbow appeared.
#2289436 by tucknits Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
STATIC
A Quiet Little Man Open in new Window. (13+)
People are suspicious of a retired engineer's interest in mortuary science.
#2296073 by Damon Nomad Author IconMail Icon

"Inn of the Blood LiliesOpen in new Window. in
 Fantasy & Science Fiction Short Stories Open in new Window. (18+)
A Collection of short stories
#2284170 by Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
STATIC
Crash Course Open in new Window. (E)
Contest Entry for Quotation Inspiration February 2023
#2289999 by Madelyn Gobble Gobble Stone Author IconMail Icon



.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: 1542722411
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Ask & Answer

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Bullet* This Issue's Tip: To create emotion in a scene, do not overload the reader with melodrama; instead, use foreshadowing symbolism, setting, atmosphere, possibilities of other actions and options, and put your characters in danger with or without them being aware of it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Feedback for "Suspense Through Character BehaviorOpen in new Window.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

NaNoNette Author Icon
I had to laugh at Nick's final words in your Gone Girl quote. And then I wanted to commit a crime against him. We should rename the book Gone Boy.

Yep, he got my attention, too, that way. But I thought what he said could be funny, also. Thanks for the input. *Smile*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B01MQP5740
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12108-Shaping-Your-Scenes-Effectively.html