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Focusing the Scene
8 questions to focus the scene and stay on plot
I was thinking about a particular scene and although I enjoyed writing it, I wondered if it was really relevant to the plot, so here are 8 questions I ask myself when writing and editing, to stay on track and to bring a wandering plot back into focus:
1. What is the main purpose of this scene in terms of story and what else can it do in setting up themes, conflicts, characters, relationships....?
2. Which characters do I need, which are possible P.O.V characters, and who don't I need?
3. Why does the scene begin when it does? (This relates both to the timeline of the plot and the emotional background of the characters).
4. Where can I locate this scene to add drama to the narrative and underpin the themes of the story?
5. How can I succinctly establish where and when this scene is happening?
6. What events are vital to this scene and how can I use this scene to trail future actions or events by building suspense or setting up subsequent scenes?
7. How do I capture the reader's attention in the opening of the scene and create a hook to keep the reader wanting to know what happens next ?
8. Is this scene in the right place in the story? Should we have this information earlier or later in the overall narrative? (That is a task for editing. I will write the scene anyway and then ask these questions again when I edit...)
1. What is the main purpose of this scene in terms of story and what else can it do in setting up themes, conflicts, characters, relationships....?
2. Which characters do I need, which are possible P.O.V characters, and who don't I need?
3. Why does the scene begin when it does? (This relates both to the timeline of the plot and the emotional background of the characters).
4. Where can I locate this scene to add drama to the narrative and underpin the themes of the story?
5. How can I succinctly establish where and when this scene is happening?
6. What events are vital to this scene and how can I use this scene to trail future actions or events by building suspense or setting up subsequent scenes?
7. How do I capture the reader's attention in the opening of the scene and create a hook to keep the reader wanting to know what happens next ?
8. Is this scene in the right place in the story? Should we have this information earlier or later in the overall narrative? (That is a task for editing. I will write the scene anyway and then ask these questions again when I edit...)
