scenes
Scene Quiz: Harvard Bar Scene
This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Build a Stronger PlotScene Quiz: From a Harvard Bar to Your Scenes
Yesterday, we talked about what you’d find if you dissected a good scene. Today, we’ll apply this information by studying a scene from the classic movie, Good Will Hunting. (Warning: Adult language) Then, you [...]
Plot, Plot Layers, Subplot
This entry is part 5 of 8 in the series Build a Stronger PlotOK, you’ve narrowed down your story to a plot template and you know what characters, events, settings are implied by the story you are thinking about and the plot template. You know some of the pitfalls of plots. Now what?
It think this [...]
Compress Novel
4 Ways to Slim Down Your Novel
After reading over the first section of the novel that I’ve just revised, I realize that I want to cut some of it. It’s not bad the way it is, but cutting 10-20% will help.
Outline scenes
This outline of a scene often helps me plan what to write for the day.
How to Use Scenes to Plot
Criteria for choosing scenes to include in your novel:
A Washington Voice Retreat
Western Washington SCBWI Retreat: Voice
The retreat was great. There were about 40-45 people there and they were split into two groups. Group A came to me, while Group B went to Patti Gauch, then we swapped for the same presentation again. I sorta knew how Patti would approach voice (and I might have done many [...]
3 NaNoWriMo Tips to Make Revision Easier
NaNoWriMo is in full swing! That means over 50,000 writers are slugging out 50,000 words, working on the first draft of a novel, in the 30 days of November. But I’m thinking ahead to December when that first rough draft needs revision. Here are 3 things to keep in mind as you’re writing [...]
Events NOT Worthy of a Full Scene?
In writing or revising a novel, it’s always a balancing act, deciding which scenes to fully develop and which to skip, to skim, or to forget.
Events NOT worthy of a full scene?
Backstory:
Take, for instance, the story of the three little pigs. You could begin with the courtship of Mr. and Mrs. Pig, the birth [...]
Buy Macmillan Books at Chinaberry, B&N, or Indie Bound
BUY Macmillan Books at INDIE BOUND
Popular Series of Posts
- 30 Days to Stronger Characters
- 43 Book Trailer Sites
- 30 Days to a Stronger Novel
- Novel Diagnosis Series
- 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book
- Psychology of Revision
Must Reads for Novelists
Must Reads for Picture Book Writers
The Writing Life
All Categories
- 30 Days to Stronger Characters
- 43 Book Trailer Sites
- 30 Days to a Stronger Novel
- Novel Diagnosis Series
- 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book
- Psychology of Revision