Sometimes, when you’re writing a novel, you need to get information to the readers, but you can’t get that information to fit naturally in one of your long, complicated scenes. There’s nothing wrong with creating a brief scene, or as I like to call them, hall scenes. Hall scenes are short scenes that connect longer scenes, like a hall running between rooms in your house. Here are tips on how to write short, high-impact scenes in a novel.
Use a hall scene to telescope time.
In my first novel, A Shadow on the Snow, I needed to tell the readers that a week has passed from the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I decided to use a hall scene before diving into a longer scene that has major revelation in the stalker case my amateur sleuth Rae Riley is trying to solve. Here’s the scene:
*****
When Uncle Hank dropped me off at work Thursday morning, he said, “Now if that stalker corners you in the library, just grab the biggest book you can find and read it to him. Should put him to sleep in a couple pages. Always did me when I was in school.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.” I grinned as I retied the scrunchy holding my braid. “But nothing’s happened in a week. Since I’m living at the farm, maybe he’s given up.”
“Unless he’s as mad as a rabid dog, he should give up. The Big Guy’ll pound him into the ground if he catches him.”
I waved as Uncle Hank pulled away, then I headed inside …
*****
I let readers know time has passed, and I also have fun letting them get to know a minor character better.
Have fun with short scenes.
If it makes sense for the kind of story you’re telling, work humor into a short scene. All scenes need tension, and humor is one way to keep readers turning the page after finishing a short scene. This short scene is from my second novel, A Storm of Doubts. It was important to the plot to let readers know who lived next door to a suspect in a missing person case. I decided to have fun with it.
*****
“Oh-oh, I can’t believe it.” Leandra stared at her phone just after opening the library the next morning.
“What?” I placed the last item on the hold shelf behind our desk from the inter-library loan delivery.
“My mother-in-law says Chief Simcox is searching Jason Carlisle’s house.” Her normal bubbly voice grew more effervescent.
“How does she know? Does she live in Jason’s neighborhood?”
Leandra thumbed her keyboard. “No. I’ll ask.”
While she texted her mother-in-law, a symphony of pings chirped from Leandra’s phone. I must not have had friends who gossiped because my phone didn’t make a peep.
“Dottie says her sister called her after her sister-in-law texted her after her friend Debbie Schuster, who lives next door to Jason, texted her.” Leandra’s plump face shone with her ever-present smile.
“Debbie Schuster?” My fingers hung suspended over a keyboard. “Is she related to Senator Schuster?”
“Yes. She’s his mother. The Schusters have lived next door to the Carlisles for years.” Her smile tilted. “I wonder why the Chief is searching Jason’s house.”
*****
Not only do I convey who lives next door to Jason Carlisle, but I get to reinforce that this is a rural county where everyone knows everyone else.
End a chapter with a short scene for high impact.
For almost forty pages near the beginning of my third novel, A Riddle in the Lonesome October, I detail how Rae and her family react to the terrible riding accident that has left her beloved uncle fighting for his life. Since her dad Mal isn’t as visibly emotional as her uncle’s wife and daughters, I needed a way to show how the accident was affecting Mal, who had grown up with his brother-in-law.
After a lengthy scene in the hospital cafeteria, I ended the chapter this way, to give the chapter an emotional punch:
*****
Releasing a long sigh, Dad said, “Rae, let’s transfer all their stuff into their vehicle and head home.”
Our conversation was restricted to essentials until I had the Beast back on the state highway. A light rain pattered on the windshield.
Dad said in a somber voice, “Do not mention Em to anyone today.”
I took a quick breath as a car swished by me. “I—I forgot we were going to the cemetery today.”
“We aren’t now. We’ll honor Em when … when things are better.” His last word was hoarse, and he cleared his throat. “She’d understand.”
The rain streaked our side windows, and I cranked my wipers to a higher speed. I had a glimmer of why Dad loathed October.
Hands on his knees, Dad stared down. “You know, there’s never been a time I didn’t know Hank.”
I moved my hand from the knob for the wipers and squeezed his fingers.
*****
Add variety to your writing style.
Short scenes change the rhythm of your novel-writing by allowing you to add settings and characters that might not work in a longer scene. And variety is almost always welcome when writing a novel.
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