So much of writing is viewed this way. Beginning, middle, end. Action, reaction, result. Problem, conflict, resolution. Goal, obstacle, outcome. Mission, evil overlord, right makes might. And very occasionally, we have a story ending on a note more like the one enacted in my kitchen last night: fruitfly, a tiny spider about three times larger, small lump incorporated into the web. All of these are ways of saying something changed. Three part structure isn’t something the average reader thinks about. It’s a strategy writers use to make sure they don’t come to a fruit fly’s end, and we all have, as beginning writer’s, found ourselves battling the sticky tendrils of story that simply won’t be woven into place. I taught myself how to use this strategy by writing scenes. Just single scenes inspired by a moment in the day. I don’t think it’s coincidental that editors tend to comment gratefully that a lot of my stories are delivered in scenes, placing the reader right in the midst of the action, as opposed to descriptions of what happened, which is more like listening to a friend tell us about a bad date. We get it, but it isn’t quite the same as being there. There are necessary parts to a scene: 1) action, as in gesture and mannerism, some activity that ranges from making tea (we’re always warned against that) to jumping through a plate glass window like Bruce Willis (now see, I would thought that was what to avoid). 2) in most scenes, there’s dialogue, 3) there will be observations made and imparted to us, perhaps as thoughts that a character keeps to himself, and 4) there will be descriptions of the action, exposition. I like to think of that as dipping the teabag. Include setting details as needed. Do as little description as possible, but don’t leave it out. Perhaps you don’t yet know what your scene will mean, you don’t know what point it will make. That’s okay. Actually it’s great if your starting point is one of those “what I should have said” humiliations, you’re full of energy. Just write the dialogue, fill in whatever else seems to arrive as a detail. Write fast. Ignore nothing, throw nothing away. Scribble it all down. Then go back and add whatever parts you feel you skipped over in the rush of writing quickly. Audrey Couloumbis is busily writing at this very moment, can’t come to the phone. Check out her website, audreycouloumbisbooks.com or look for her on youtube, being interviewed by the lovely Olivia.
And of course, you can find her here once a month, writing for you. Leave a message and she’ll get back to you.
12 Comments
Mary McClellan
1/7/2015 12:26:06 am
You had me with the dog :-) I'll have to try writing single scenes. What great practice...and one you've had pay off! Thanks for this idea.
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1/7/2015 01:07:20 am
This was perfect for me today. I struggle with plotting. Writing in scenes makes so much sense. Thank you.
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audrey couloumbis
1/7/2015 10:56:26 pm
can i make a recommendation? watch movies for the most info on scenes. i was watching, for the umpteenth time, love actually, and i'm just knocked out by the way a big ensemble cast is held together by the way the scenes segue, using similar, or dissimilar but related, scenarios, or a piece of music that ties the emotional content together, even pattern on the wall in one bedroom echoing the one before. of crs, we know richard curtis is a genius, but still... really impressive.
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1/7/2015 01:57:34 am
Great advice - when I write novels writing in scenes does help to know when chapters start and end. Picture books on the other hand sometimes feel like a whole scene in one book but the spreads can be the "acts". Helps a lot with plotting.
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audrey couloumbis
1/7/2015 10:58:21 pm
i'm getting to picture books. in fact, i'm working on a book about picture books, but i'll make my next post about scene in picture books. starting to think now. . . . . . .
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1/7/2015 02:56:39 am
Great tips - especially for ways to look at picture books. Thank you.
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audrey couloumbis
1/7/2015 10:59:44 pm
i really don't mean to ignore pb, it's just that we have so many pb authors talking here. i think novelists can benefit from pb info tho, so next post, scene in pb.
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Maria Oka
1/7/2015 03:44:30 am
This was just what I needed for a manuscript I'm working on today. Thank you thank you!!
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audrey couloumbis
1/7/2015 11:01:19 pm
nice when i hit it just right : )
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1/12/2015 11:49:06 pm
Hi Audrey, I finally read this and it's a great reminder for me. I'm going to try writing single scenes!
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Mira Reisberg
1/20/2015 11:59:10 pm
Love your posts Audrey. Thank you.
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