#writing scenes

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

How to Write Pretty Prose in Your Novel

Introduction

When you read a book, do you ever find yourself getting lost in the language? Do you admire the way the author paints a picture with words, evoking emotions and imagery that transport you to another world? If so, you're not alone. Many readers appreciate beautiful prose, and as a writer, it's something you should strive to achieve. But how do you write pretty prose? In this post, I'll help you explore some tips and techniques for crafting language that is both lovely and effective.

Before we dive in, it's important to note that pretty prose isn't just about flowery language or using big words. It's about finding the right words to express your ideas in a way that is both pleasing to the ear and easy to understand. It's about creating a mood, conveying meaning, and engaging your readers. With that said, let's get started.

Section 1: Choose Your Words Carefully

The first step in writing pretty prose is to choose your words carefully. This means paying close attention to not only the denotation (dictionary definition) of a word, but also its connotation (the emotions and associations it carries). For example, consider the following two sentences:

1. The sun was shining.

2. The sun was beaming.

Both sentences convey the same basic idea, but the second one is more evocative. "Beaming" suggests warmth, happiness, and a certain radiance that "shining" does not. By choosing specific words that carry emotional weight, you can create a more immersive reading experience.

Additionally, consider the rhythm and sound of your words. Reading your work aloud can help you identify spots where the language may feel clunky or awkward. Varying sentence length and structure can help keep the prose interesting, and using alliteration or other sound devices can add a pleasing musicality.

To summarize:

Choose words that:

Have emotional weight

Sound pleasing when read aloud

Are specific and evocative

Section 2: Use Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes are powerful tools in a writer's arsenal. They allow you to create comparisons that can help readers understand complex ideas or emotions. For example:

1. Her heart was a stone.

2. The clouds were a herd of sheep, grazing lazily across the sky.

Both of these sentences use metaphors to help the reader visualize and understand something abstract (a feeling, a sky full of clouds). When using metaphors and similes, it's important to choose comparisons that are both accurate and original. Avoid cliches ("he was as tall as a tree") and instead try to come up with comparisons that are unexpected and fresh.

To summarize:

Use metaphors and similes to:

Help readers understand abstract concepts

Create original comparisons

Avoid cliches

Section 3: Show, Don't Tell

One of the most fundamental rules of writing is "show, don't tell." Essentially, this means that instead of telling readers how a character feels or what they're thinking, you should show it through actions, body language, and dialogue. For example:

Telling: John was angry.

Showing: John slammed his fist on the table and clenched his jaw.

By showing the reader what John is doing, rather than simply telling them he's angry, you create a more immersive experience. You allow the reader to draw their own conclusions and engage with the story on a deeper level.

Showing instead of telling can also help with pacing. Instead of bogging down the narrative with exposition, you can move the plot forward through action and dialogue. This keeps the reader engaged and invested in the story.

To summarize:

Show, don't tell to:

Create a more immersive experience

Allow readers to draw their own conclusions

Improve pacing

Conclusion

Writing pretty prose isn't about being flowery or pretentious. It's about crafting language that is both effective and pleasing to the reader. By choosing your words carefully, using metaphors and similes, and showing instead of telling, you can create a reading experience that is both engaging and memorable. So the next time you sit down to write, remember to focus on the beauty of your language, and your readers will thank you for it.

Copyright © 2023 by Ren T.

TheWriteAdviceForWriters 2023

[luna-azzurra]

Tips for Fight scenes #2

When characters are in a fight, their adrenaline levels skyrocket, which can affect their perception of pain and time.

If a character gets punched in the stomach, they might momentarily lose their breath, making it difficult for them to retaliate immediately.

Sweaty palms can make it harder to maintain a grip on weapons or objects during a fight, adding an element of unpredictability.

Injuries such as cuts or bruises can throb with pain long after the initial impact, distracting characters and potentially affecting their performance in the fight.

Characters might experience tunnel vision during intense combat, focusing solely on their immediate surroundings and losing awareness of peripheral threats.

Loud noises, such as gunshots or explosions, can temporarily deafen characters or leave their ears ringing, impairing their ability to communicate or hear approaching danger.

Characters might experience a surge of aggression or fear-induced paralysis when faced with a life-threatening situation, impacting their decision-making and fighting effectiveness.

Painful injuries can trigger involuntary reactions, such as flinching or crying out, which can inadvertently give away a character's position or intentions to their opponent.

Adrenaline-fueled fights can leave characters feeling exhausted and shaky afterward, making it difficult for them to think clearly or coordinate their movements.

In the heat of battle, characters might not notice injuries or pain until after the fight is over, when the adrenaline wears off and their body's natural defenses kick in.

[spaceczarina]

The Mamet Test

Time to share a little writing advice I got from my first advanced writing workshop. This particular workshop, while the professor obviously had his favorite genres, was quite helpful in shaping some of my ideas for how to write something engaging. He had us memorize something he called the Mamet Method based on the playwright David Mamet. 

Every scene we read through, we had to put under the Mamet Test with these questions:

Who wants what?

What happens if they don’t get it?

How can this fail?

Why now?

These four simple questions are helpful in understanding character motivations and the essential points of your story. They can help you cut down on exposition as well because you don’t need to make a scene just answering questions, just answer them in your current scene or the next one. By answering these four questions well, you can help each scene stand on its own while they each continue to advance the plot. That’s what makes something engaging. Keep driving your story forward.

[folklorist-word-florist]

Scenes in a story...

Should:

Move the story forward;

Establish cause and effect;

Reveal consequence from character's decision in the last scene;

Divide humongous narrative into digestible bits

[nanowrimo]

5 Essential Tips for Mastering Scene Writing in Your Novel

There's many parts involved when writing a scene. Knowing how these different pieces work together may help you move forward in your novel. NaNo Participant Amy de la Force offers some tips on brushing up your scene writing knowledge. Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, the stages where characters spring to life, conflicts brew and emotions run high. Mastering the art of scene writing is crucial for any aspiring writer, especially in the lead-up to NaNoWriMo. But what is a scene, and how do you effectively craft one? 

What is a Scene? 

A scene is a short period of time — in a set place — that moves the story forward with dramatic conflict that reveals character, generally through dialogue or action. Think of writing a scene as a mini-story with a beginning, middle and end, all contributing to the narrative. 

Why Scene Writing is Your Secret Weapon in Storytelling

Well-crafted scenes enhance your story to develop characters, advance the plot, and engage readers through tension and emotion. Whether you're writing a novel, short story or even non-fiction, scenes weave the threads of your story together.

Tip #1: Scenes vs. Sequels

According to university lecturer Dwight Swain in Techniques of the Selling Writer, narrative time can be broken down into not just scenes, but sequels. 

Scene

The 3 parts of a scene are:

Goal: The protagonist or point-of-view (POV) character’s objective at the start of the scene.

Conflict: For dramatic conflict, this is an equally strong combination of the character’s ‘want + obstacle’ to their goal. 

Disaster: When the obstacle wins, it forces the character’s hand to act, ratcheting up tension. 

Sequel 

Similarly, Swain’s sequels have 3 parts:

Reaction: This is the POV character’s emotional follow-up to the previous scene’s disaster. 

Dilemma: If the dramatic conflict is strong enough, each possible next step seems worse than anything the character has faced.  

Decision: The scene’s goal may still apply, but the choice of action to meet it will be difficult. 

Tip #2: Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing a Scene

In Story Genius, story coach and ex–literary agent Lisa Cron lists 4 questions to guide you in scene writing:

What does my POV character go into the scene believing?

Why do they believe it?

What is my character’s goal in the scene?

What does my character expect will happen in this scene?

Tip #3: Writing Opening and Closing Scenes

Now that we know more about scene structure and character considerations, it’s time to open with a bang, or more to the point, a hook. Forget warming up and write a scene in the middle of the action or a conversation. Don’t forget to set the place and time with a vivid description or a little world-building. To end the scene, go for something that resolves the current tension, or a cliffhanger to make your scene or chapter ‘unputdownable’. 

Tip #4: Mastering Tension and Pacing 

A benefit to Swain’s scenes and sequels is that introspective sequels tend to balance the pace by slowing it, building tension. This pacing variation, which you can help by alternating dialogue with action or sentence lengths, offers readers the mental quiet space to rest and digest any action-packed scenes. 

Tip #5: Scene Writing for Emotional Impact

For writing a scene, the top tips from master editor Sol Stein in Stein on Writing are:

Fiction evokes emotion, so make a list of the emotion(s) you want readers to feel in your scenes and work to that list.

For editing, cut scenes that don’t serve a purpose (ideally, several purposes), or make you feel bored. If you are, your reader is too. 

Conclusion

From understanding the anatomy of a scene to writing your own, these tips will help elevate your scenes from good to unforgettable, so you can resonate with readers.

Amy de la Force is a YA and adult speculative fiction writer, alumna of Curtis Brown Creative's selective novel-writing program and Society of Authors member. The novel she’s querying longlisted for Voyage YA’s Spring First Chapters Contest in 2021. An Aussie expat, Amy lives in London. Check her out on Twitter, Bluesky, and on her website! Her books can be found on Amazon. Photo by cottonbro studio

[wordwarriors]

World Building

I'm a little late with the summary, but here it is. Thanks to everyone who attended and see you all again next month!

Where does your story take place?

Real-world v created world: You can use the world that we live in as it is. You can use the world that we live in with some tweaks. You can use alternate timelines/universes or create an entirely fictional world.

Alternate timelines Ex: modern day real world but WW I never happened.

High v low fantasy:

High fantasy refers to epic fantasy which is set in an alternate world. It typically includes lots of magical elements, fantastical creatures, and unusual technology. Whereas low fantasy is when magical creatures and elements intrude upon the regular world.

Things to consider/include:

Magic system

Geography

Political systems

Religion

Culture

Is there a class system? What does that look like?

Being grounded in the real world doesn’t save you from having to world-build.

What continent, country, city? Urban or rural? Mountains? Beach? A country can be set in the real world but it’s a fictional country. A city can be fictional. It can be based on NYC for example but still be fictional. Change the name and whatever else you need to.

You can blend real and imagined. Ex: Used the name of a real restaurant but placed it in a different town, etc.

Example: I used real roads but fake places. Anyone local will recognize the intersection but I put a fictional forest where a horse pasture actually sits.

You can create fictional shops, buildings, etc in NYC. NYC is real but the places aren’t.

Example: I had to create a building with a helipad in a story once b/c there are no helipads in that area, but I needed one for my story to work so I made it up. Could have used an actual one but my characters would have had to get past the FBI barricade, so it was easier to make up a building that was inside the perimeter.

Note:

If using magic, one must first establish how it normally works before showing it malfunctioning. Same if the character is supposed to be super strong or smart or something, establish that first so the reader understands what is normal in this world before the thing goes wrong.

Establishing Scenes: tell us all of the above. But do it in a way that shows not tells.

Also, make sure it matters. You need rich world-building but the reader doesn’t care what your character's first car was unless that information tells us something important about the character that we need to know, like he worked three summers in a row to earn the money because his parents were poor. Or because they were rich but stingy. Or because they were rich but wanted him to learn to earn things rather than have things handed to him. (if this is important to set a tone for his character or personality, ie, learned the value of hard work or this is why he resents his parents or this is why he is so driven to succeed in his career so he never goes hungry again!

Fabulous establishing world-building scene courtesy of @karahalloway:

The horse responds with a sour-faced snort, stepping quickly past the moss-covered waypost — a brazen reminder of this land's heathen roots. Because despite the House of Rys' conversion to Christianity almost a millennia ago, in the far-flung reaches of the kingdom — where the roads ran out, and the name of the King is just that... a name — the tenet of the old ways is more than just a memory. It is a living, breathing ethos. Suffused into the very heart of this harsh, rugged, yet beautiful land. Where portents, spells, and otherworldly creatures exist in the same breath as Christ, the Eucharist, and Judgement Day, and the very air crackles with mysticism and superstition. Which is partly what drew me here — to the edge of the proverbial map, where the laws of Cordonia fray into irrelevance in the face of the jagged peaks of the snow-capped mountains, and your fortune is what you craft it to be.

This sets the stage with so many rich details: geography, history, socio-political, religious background, his place in this world,etc.

Please, if I've missed anything, feel free to mention it in the comments and I'll add it!

Also, check out these articles:

World Building

February Event:

Live Discussion on character building on Friday, February 23rd, 2024 12:00 p.m. CST

Word Warriors:

@karahalloway @aussiegurl1234 @harleybeaumont @alj4890 @peonierose @petiteboheme @twinkleallnight @lizzybeth1986 @noesapphic @thedistantshoresproject

@ryns-ramblings @tate-lin @nestledonthaveone

@aallotarenunelma @kristinamae093 @coffeeheartaddict2 @memorias-depresivas

@jerzwriter

[writerpolls]

How many times have you on average read through a scene you are writing before it is published?

0

1

2-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30+

*Apply whatever definition of publishing applies to you, whether that’s traditional, indie, or posting things to read for free on Wattpad or AO3.

[charliewashere666]

I swear, there’s nothing harder than trying to make the first chapter. There’s so many possibilities to kickstart the story, which one do I choose?

[justwhumptypethings]

less whump more scenario, but im enraptured so im gonna post it anyways. no tws

I am obsessed with long lost friends.

okay, lemme set the stage. character A and character C are close friends. they’ve known each other for a couple years, and C thinks that they know a good bit about A. They aren’t ride or die, but they trust each other.

and then character B comes back. and A and B have known each other they’re entire lives, and they *are* ride or die. A and B have a huge reunion scene, as soon as they see each other they run and hug and collapse into a pile on the ground because it’s been so long. and C witnesses.

but C has no idea who this person was. A has never mentioned them, and they’ve never met B before. maybe something happened to drive them away from each other, or they were forced apart. there’s some reason A doesn’t talk about B.

maybe A and B have a fight, some sort of awful pent up burst of emotions that C witnesses and gets no context to. C tries to follow what they’re saying, but they can’t, because A and B grew up together, and they know their families, and they went to school together, and they have unique names for things. But after they end the fighting they break down together, hugging each other and holding each other while C just watches. After that, they’re better than ever, best friends.

and A acts completely different around B than they ever did around C. They talk, sharing stories and reminiscing and telling inside jokes and B knows thinks about A that C was never told. B calls A a nickname that C has never heard before, and they have to explain it to C. they’ve been calling A that since they were both small kids and A is so much softer.

C has always known A as aloof and grumpy, and while they still throw around meaningless insults and scoff at B, they’re constantly shoulder to shoulder or touching each other and holding each other, and A is so softer with B than they’ve ever been with C. C had always thought A disliked physical touch, but they’re practically clinging on to B. It’s obvious that they know each other inside and out, have shown the most vulnerable parts of each other.

something makes A upset. and C doesn’t understand, but B instantly does, taking A in their arms and reassuring them quietly based on context, and C doesn’t understand that either. B actually witnessed what happened to A to make them react that way. B understands instantly based on the triggers, without ever having to ask. and when C asks about it, B frowns thoughtfully and says something like ‘they never told you’? and when C says no B says ‘oh. well when they’re ready to tell you they will. they just get like this sometimes, they’ll be fine.’ because B has years of past experience, despite, for all C knows, having not seen a for at least how long C has known them.

[cepheusgalaxy]

Surprisingly, writing a chapter like it's a teather script helps a lot.

Like, first you describe the scenario:

A dense forest with big trees. It's afternoon. It's a cloudy day. Character A is wandering in the forest, very lost.

Then, you put what the characters do, their interations and their lines.

Character A: *walks a little more*

A house appears. There is a someone standing in front of it, doing some shit.

Character A: *coughs to get their attention* Excuse me?

I can even add a mood to the scene, and if I'm feeling like it, maybe even a sound track!

Room. It looks like a library, with bookshelves everywhere. There is a window close to a coach. It's sunrise, Character A is siting on the couch, looking through it. It has a dark academia mood. It looks like they've been in that coach for a while. Character A is well dressed. In a dark academia style.

Like, I can fuck around and be not at all subtle. It's so pratical! Then I can translate it to actual writing, after setting and building the scene, and then translate the moods and aesthetics i noted down with word choices and sentence lenght and use all my tricks. It works so well to a first draft.

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

Hello! Thank you so much for your time and content you bring into this confusing world.

I’m currently on the starting road to creating a canon-divergent fanfiction but noticed I have trouble with pacing and sentence structure. I don’t have a clear grasp on when to slow down and sit within the scene(s) the characters are in or when to go on and move on to the next scene of the story.

As well as chapter structuring and to keep it consistent at a comfortable pace yet keeping the story going.

I am at the very beginning of my write journey and as fun and exciting it entails, it’s also scary, intimidating, and feels like I’m doing everything wrong despite just pushing through. Any advice or suggestions is so so SO much appreciated, thank you once again for your time <3

-/ Yours Truly, D.F

Crafting Captivating Scenes and Chapter Structure: A Writer's Guide

I'd absolutely love to help you on your journey, congratulations and I wish you the best on your writer journey to create the book of your dreams. If you ever need anymore help just contact me in my inbox!

(If you'd like me to create a scene template for you to use and fill-out. Please let me know. I'd gladly create one for you.)

Today, I want to dive into the art of structuring scenes and chapters in a novel. As we all know, a well-structured story keeps readers hooked from start to finish. So, let's unravel the secrets behind creating compelling scenes and crafting an engaging chapter structure.

Scene Structure:

When it comes to structuring scenes, it's all about capturing the reader's attention and propelling the story forward. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master this crucial aspect of storytelling:

Establish the Purpose: Every scene should have a clear purpose, such as advancing the plot, revealing character traits, or building tension. Determine what you want to achieve before diving in.

Set the Stage: Transport your readers into the scene by painting vivid descriptions. Engage their senses and create a strong atmosphere to make them feel like they're right there with your characters.

Introduce Conflict: Conflict is the fuel that drives any story. Whether it's an internal struggle or external obstacles, inject tension to keep the readers on their toes. Conflict adds depth and makes scenes memorable.

Build Momentum: Keep the pacing in mind. Start with a strong hook and gradually intensify the scene's stakes. Balance action, dialogue, and introspection to maintain a dynamic flow.

Climax and Resolution: Every scene should have a satisfying resolution that leaves the reader eager to turn the page. It could be a revelation, a new dilemma, or a cliffhanger. End with impact!

Chapter Structure:

Now, let's focus on the structure of your chapters. Chapters act as mini-arcs within your novel, creating a rhythm that keeps readers engrossed. Here are some tips to help you craft an effective chapter structure:

Determine Chapter Length: There's no strict rule, but shorter chapters often create a sense of urgency, while longer chapters allow for deeper exploration. Find a balance that suits your story's pacing and style.

Establish a Theme or Goal: Each chapter should contribute to the overall story arc. Decide on a specific theme, goal, or event that drives the chapter's purpose and ties it to the larger narrative.

Vary Intensity and Tone: Just like scenes, chapters should have their own rise and fall of tension. Alternate between intense action, quieter moments for reflection, or even comic relief to maintain interest.

End with a Hook: Leave your readers wanting more by ending each chapter with a compelling hook. It could be a revelation, a question, or a surprising twist that propels them into the next chapter.

Transition Smoothly: Ensure that your chapters flow seamlessly. Use transitional elements like time jumps, shifts in perspective, or recurring motifs to link chapters together cohesively.

Congratulations! By mastering the art of structuring scenes and chapters, you're well on your way to crafting a captivating novel. Remember, scene structure drives the microcosm of your story, while chapter structure shapes the macrocosm. Experiment, find your style, and above all, let your creativity soar!

Happy writing, and may your scenes be compelling and your chapters unputdownable!

-Rin T.

[luna-azzurra]

Tips for Fight scenes #1

Consider how each character's personality, background, and motivations would influence their fighting style and tactics. A character who is impulsive might rush into a fight without thinking, while a more strategic character might carefully plan their moves. Use the fight scene as an opportunity to reveal hidden depths or conflicts within the characters.

Take advantage of the surroundings to add dynamism to the fight. Characters can use objects in the environment as weapons or shields, or they might use the terrain to gain tactical advantages. Think about how the setting could influence the flow of the fight and make it more engaging for the reader.

Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of the fight to immerse the reader in the action. Instead of just focusing on the physical movements of the characters, bring the scene to life by painting a vivid picture of the entire sensory experience. For example, describe the metallic tang of blood in the air or the adrenaline-fueled pounding of the characters' hearts.

Ensure that the fight scene serves a purpose beyond just showcasing action. It should advance the characters' emotional journeys or the overall plot of the story. Consider how the outcome of the fight will impact the characters and their relationships, and use it as a catalyst for further developments in the narrative.

Don't limit yourself to traditional weapons or fighting styles. Research different martial arts, historical combat techniques, and improvised weapons to add variety and authenticity to your fight scenes. Think about how each character's unique skills and resources would shape their approach to combat.

Use pacing, suspense, and foreshadowing to build tension leading up to the fight. Hint at the conflict to come, then gradually escalate the stakes as the scene unfolds. Consider incorporating moments of uncertainty or doubt to keep the reader guessing about the outcome.

Every character should have strengths and weaknesses that come into play during the fight. These vulnerabilities could be physical, emotional, or psychological, and they should add depth and complexity to the conflict. Think about how each character's flaws or insecurities might be exposed under pressure.

Show the aftermath of the fight and the impact it has on the characters and the world around them. This could include physical injuries, emotional trauma, or changes in the balance of power between characters or factions. Use the fallout from the fight to drive further conflicts and developments in the story.

[the-ellia-west]

Top 5 Character quotes

1: "So you are stupid" - Assassin

2: "You know what he did last time we left him home alone" - Main Protagonist

3: "I swear I will beat you with a stick no matter how sick you are!" - Main protagonist

4: "I'm not here for small talk. Give me my money you freak" - Assassin

5: "Your hair, to put it kindly, needs... help" - Healer

[stickersoftenstick]

"we lost a lot of great women and men and them."

"‘And them’?" Teki questioned, tilting his head

"Yeah our Tokyo branch had a lot of non binaries." [•••••] explained.

[wordwarriors]

Pacing and Scene Transitions

Thanks to everyone who attended today. It was another great discussion. There was a lot of things covered today, I hope this hits the highlights.

Scene: The basic building block of a story. A story is comprised of many scenes strung together.

Chapter and story length: A very common question in writer’s groups is how long should my book be?

How long should a chapter be? The truth is that no one can answer that for you. Each book, short story, chapter and scene should be as long as it needs to be to accomplish what you need it to accomplish.

Chapter and scene length should vary. Chapters do not need to be uniform, nor should they be. Sometimes a short chapter can be an excellent set up for what comes next.

Pacing: every word should push your plot forward.

Slowing the pace can be used to give readers a break, to give your character and readers time to process previous events. This is the place to explore character motivations, backstory, etc.

Create slower pacing with detailed descriptions, longer phrases/sentences, and paragraphs.

Use heightened detail when you want to slow things down. Think of a slow-motion movie shot. This kind of shot amps up the focus on each visual aspect, allowing the viewer to experience a single moment in exquisite detail. You can utilize a similar technique and achieve a similar effect in your writing. (See example under the cut)

Create faster pacing with sharp, short sentences. Shorter paragraphs. Show don’t tell. (He wasn't nervous...his heart pounded). Limited amount of exposition. Action words. Keep the action going.

Use shorter words. Ex: Try not endeavor. Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. Ex: The sharp sword pierced his delicate skin. VS The sword pierced his skin.

If you were looking for slow, say his perception slowed down at that moment. Then: The world stood still as the gleaming blade sliced toward him, the sharpness biting into his soft, delicate flesh as a blossom of red appeared across his chest.

So the fast one if mid-scene, but if you now want to slow the narrative and transition scenes the slow would be better.

When you want fast pacing, that is not the time to give the character backstory or explain why she has a fear of heights.

Some genres lend to faster or slower pacing overall, but your story should have both slow and fast-paced scenes generally.

Scene Shifting: When to scene shift and how; Scenes shift when there’s a change in place, time, or POV. Can also show a change in heart or frame of mind.

Ending a chapter, adding a break (the little stars in the middle or an extra blank line)

A cliffhanger is when a chapter ends in the middle of a scene, at a crucial moment.

The last line of the previous scene should set up the first line of the next.

Don’t teleport, don’t time hop, don’t have characters suddenly appear. Rather, show these things. It could be with a header.

At the Royal Palace Cordonian Royal Hospital Six months ago…

I use scene headers when jumping between multiple locations/POV in one chapter, but generally, you would use the narrative to show shifts.

Examples:

In the days and months that followed, Clarissa and Sarah became closer as they bonded over their shared enthusiasm for horses. One morning in late April, Clarissa stepped out into the cool morning air to find Sarah was missing.

Thirty minutes later, they were in the car speeding toward the beach. The next day, they met in front of the fountain.

The posh hotel she found herself in…. As she stepped out of the limo….. Three days later…

That night,

We will talk about setting scenes/establishing scenes next month, but for now, remember to make it clear who is in the room when you set the scene or have a character enter later, but be sure to include it so the reader isn’t surprised when someone speaks when the narrative never showed that they were present.

Example of Slow vs. Fast Pacing:

A great example of using heightened detail to slow pacing courtesy of @karahalloway. This slows the action down and gets inside the character’s head, exposing backstory, personality, and motivation, immersing you in the sensory feel of the scene.

Arriving at the side of the pool, I peel my sweat-soaked clothes off, leaving only my boxers on for the sake of modesty in case someone happens to walk in.

Taking a breath, I step out over the edge and plunge straight in.

The sting of salt hits my nose — not the same flavour as the Med, but then no pool's ever gonna compete with that — as the water envelopes me and I let myself sink below the surface.

I hit the bottom and the echoey silence settles like a blanket around me, soothing my senses, taming my pulse.

Feeling my lungs start to itch from the lack of oxygen, I reluctantly open my eyes and kick back up to the surface.

But I don't feel like returning to dry land just yet.

So, drawing a quick breath, I stretch myself out and dip into an easy freestyle. Half-a-dozen strokes and I reach the edge of the pool. Diving down, I flip myself around to kick off the wall, resurfacing into a backstroke.

I repeat the pattern for about ten laps, enjoying the rare sense of peace that came with gliding weightlessly through the water, strokes moving effortlessly in time with my breath.

Eventually, though, I'm forced to call it quits as my body finally runs out of steam and my rhythm starts to falter.

Grabbing onto the edge of the pool, I pause to catch my breath, arms and shoulders tingling from the exertion..

Now contrast this to a fast-paced scene where we strip away all those details. You don’t need to know what the halls look like or what he’s feeling in this moment, the focus is on the action:

Men scrambled to their feet, grabbing weapons and scurrying down the hallway. The second the last man was through the door, Drake hauled ass across the room and swiped the keycard.

He sprinted up the stairs, making the first floor as he heard guards giving chase behind him. Footsteps pounded behind him and orders to halt rang through the hallways. He stayed far enough ahead of them that no one could get a clear shot off. Barely.

He knew where he was going and they didn’t.

He flew down the corridors and skidded around corners, weaving and twisting his way through the familiar halls until he found the door he was looking for.

He ignored the shouting as he hurtled around one last corner and dove into a small unused office, slamming the door shut behind him. He locked it and slid the desk in front of it.

By the time the guards got through the door, the room was empty.

“Where the fuck did he go?”

Drake was running through the secret passageways, on his way to freedom.

Please, if I've missed anything, feel free to mention it in the comments and I'll add it!

Also, check out these articles on Pacing and Scene Writing:

Pacing

Writing Scenes

November Event:

Live Discussion on World Building and Establishing Scenes on Friday, November 17th, 2023 12:00 p.m. CST

Please note November and December discussions will be on the third Friday of the month instead of the fourth

Word Warriors:

@karahalloway @aussiegurl1234 @harleybeaumont @alj4890 @peonierose @petiteboheme @twinkleallnight @lizzybeth1986 @noesapphic @thedistantshoresproject

@ryns-ramblings @tate-lin @nestledonthaveone

@aallotarenunelma @kristinamae093 @coffeeheartaddict2 @memorias-depresivas

@jerzwriter

[phantom-arsonist-racoon]

Writing Scenarios:

Character a: *gets hit by something and is about to pass out*

Character b, frantically: stay with me, a, just stay awake!

Character a, slurring their words: you're not the fuckin boss o' me bITCH- *passes out*