Tag: How to write a scene

What Genre Would You Place This Scene In?

What genre would you place this scene in

What genre would you place this scene in? The young woman in the black coat looks afraid, and the backpack on the ground makes me think of a clandestine exchange taking place, so thriller or crime drama is the genre that leaps to my mind. But I’m encouraging you to think outside the box.

When I take a closer look, the man is carrying a backpack that looks feminine. The one on the ground looks more like one a man would carry. And during this confrontation, the woman in the white coat decides to light up. I think there’s possibilities for comedy here.

Let me know what genre you would place this scene in?

Here are more photo prompts for writing scenes.

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How to End a Scene and Keep Readers Turning Pages

Writing scenes for novels

Knowing when and how to end a scene takes a lot of practice for writers. Even though I’m working on my fifth book, sometimes, I forget to end a scene in the first draft and just keep writing and writing. When I review my work, I realize I need to make transitions. Even when I realize a scene needs an ending, it sometimes difficult to write it. Like I’m composing a tune and the last note sounds off. Here are tips on how to end a scene and keep readers turning pages.

Put tension in the last line of a scene.

This end to a scene is pretty obvious, ending with some kind of cliffhanger. Here’s a scene from Chapter 2 in my third novel A Riddle in the Lonesome October. My protagonist, Rae Riley, who’s twenty, is eating a late supper with her dad. They’re chatting at the dinner table in the family farmhouse. The landline rings, and Rae’s grandmother answers it.

*****

“That was Jeanine.” Gram placed the landline in its base, concern creasing her normal expression of quiet assurance. “Something’s wrong. Coral’s horse came back to their house without her.” 

*****

But you can’t, and shouldn’t, end each scene with the promise of dire circumstances.

Give readers something to think about.

Because I write mysteries, ending a scene with the thought process of my amateur sleuth Rae not only shows readers how Rae is considering the evidence, it gives them time to think about it too.

In A Shadow on the Snow, my first novel, Rae is trying to figure out on her own who is leaving increasingly threatening notes. In this scene, she’s organized the information she’s gathered so far.

*****

The stalker was someone who could have been out in the woods late on Wednesday morning and had an opportunity to leave the note between 8:30 a.m. Friday when I left for work and about 1:30 this morning. 

After jotting those conclusions in my notebook, I searched social media for any nasty comments about Mal or me. Then I reviewed my previous research. It wasn’t until dawn lit the sky that I finally collapsed on my couch. 

*****

The first paragraph gives readers something to think about. The second shows how committed Rae is to her investigation. And the toll it’s taking.

Asking questions in the mind of the protagonist is a great way to get people to think. The end of this scene is from A Storm of Doubts, and Rae is pondering the latest development in a missing persons case.

*****

Once out of the neighborhood, I hurried into a jog. Why had the Chief conducted the search? And did finding nothing make The Mystery of the Missing Ex-wife clearer or murkier? 

*****

Hint at what’s to come in the novel.

This kind of end to a scene makes a promise to readers and gives them something to look forward to as they read on. At the end of Chapter 4 in A Storm of Doubts, Rae’s father Mal is explaining to her younger half-brothers that while the family is attending a Memorial Day picnic, they have to stay with an adult because Mal just learned his con man uncle, who hates him, is in town.

*****

Stroking his cheek with one finger, Micah said, “What about if I have to go to the bathroom?” 

“Get Hank,” Dad called over his shoulder. 

“What if I can’t find him?” 

“Ma can stand outside the door.” 

“What if Uncle Troy comes into the bathroom?” 

“Ma!” Dad sent out an SOS. 

Gram put her arm around Micah. “We’ll be able to find Hank if we need him.” She took hold of his hand. “The fire department’s picnic is at the school, so let’s—” 

She looked up to the hill, and we all followed her gaze. 

Uncle Troy and China watched us a moment, then turned and disappeared among the evergreen bushes and headstones. 

*****

Here are more tips on writing scenes for novels.

Of the three examples for how to end a scene, which one do think is best at keeping readers turning pages?

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How to Write Short, High-Impact Scenes in a Novel

Advice on writing novel scenes

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.

Here is more advice on writing scenes for novels.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Fast-Paced Action Scenes in Your Novel

How to write action scenes in a novel

This year, all my posts for JPC Allen Writes have been concerned with how to write a novel. I realized last month I should do a deeper dive into scenes–the building blocks of a novel. The first kind of scene I’ll cover is action scenes. I find writing action scenes one of the most difficult and rewarding scenes to write. They’re difficult because all the elements of a story–character, setting, and plot–have to be in correct balance so readers can be carried away with the action, living the scene with the POV character. It ruins the scene if the reader is racing through this exciting passage and trips over something that doesn’t work. So here is a repost of a step-by-step guide to writing fast-paced action scenes in your novel.

Analysis of an Action Scene

When I write an action scene, I want to plant my readers firmly in the head of my protagonist, Rae Riley. Here’s how I wrote the beginning of an action scene from my first YA mystery A Shadow on the Snow:

At the sidewalk, I glanced up the hill. And dropped the bags.

  • Rae commits an action that immediately tells readers something surprising or shocking has occurred.

A figure, backlit by the streetlamp, stood at the corner.  

  • Readers learn what has shocked Rae. Explanation is short because action scenes should read fast to build excitement. 

Spinning, I fell to my knees. I snagged the bags and, stumbling across the lot, reached the guardrail at the opposite side. 

  • I use specific verbs and nouns so readers can imagine what Rae is doing and where she is. 

I scrambled over it and fell five feet down the retaining wall into the little yard behind an empty building. Panting, I raised myself into hunched stance and ran, scrambling over snow-encrusted chunks of crumbling asphalt.More specific verbs and nouns to make scene vivid.

  • More specific verbs and nouns to make scene vivid.

Please, Father. It can’t end like this.

  • Now readers are inside Rae’s head to know exactly how she is feeling and thinking.  

Behind the deli, I slipped, and the urn rolled out of its bag. I squinted against the flakes. No silhouette. Nobody.  

  • Scene description to orient readers in the setting. Also show what Rae is doing–looking for her pursuer.

I needed to get out on Main Street and head for Mal’s office. I slapped piles of snow until my palm smacked the urn. I shoved it into a bag and ran into the alley beside the deli. A streetlight illuminated the end that came out on Main Street, welcoming me like a lighthouse.

  • The first sentence is a thought. Then action and description to keep the scene moving and readers grounded in it.

Bent under the weight of my backpack, I struggled toward Main Street, gripping and regripping the sagging bags. 

  • “Bent”, “struggled”, and “regripping” convey Rae’s perception of scene. 

A figure ran across the entrance to the alley. 

  • Report of what Rae sees, which orients readers to where MC and pursuer are in the setting.

My throat closed as my feet froze to the icy pavement.  

  • Reaction that reveals Rae’s feelings.

What … what do I do? 

  • Rae’s thought, so readers are living the scene with Rae. 

Wheeling, I fell against the deli’s rough brick wall and glanced back.  

  • More action, keeping it short and to the point.

Here are more tips on writing scenes for novels.

What are the best actions scenes you’ve read? What advice do you have for writing action scenes?

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How to Build Scene Tension in Any Novel

How to write scenes in a novel

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the only thing that keeps readers turning page after page of a novel is tension. Tension must be relieved eventually, and the only ways readers can relieve it is to keep reading or close the book. As important as tension is, it’s difficult to teach to new writers. So below are some tips on how to build scene tension in any novel.

Develop characters who add tension.

Creating characters who have conflicting qualities or personalities that don’t mesh is the easiest way to inject tension in a scene. Analyze your cast of characters. Is everyone of them kind, thoughtful, and unselfish? Are they all introverts or extroverts? Are they all neat or slobs? Are they same age or come from the same socio-economic, racial, or ethnic backgrounds? Differences automatically create tension.

If you find that too many of your characters act and talk the same, dig into how to make them different from each other. The mellow mom and her uptight daughter would conflict in certain situations. The outgoing brother and his reserve brother. The friend who’s a rule-follower and the friend who sees rules as suggestions. These characters with opposite qualities are the raw material from which to mine tension.

Develop internal conflict within your protagonists.

Let’s say I’m writing a teen novel. My main character is a seventeen-year-old girl in her senior year of high school. She dreams of going to college, but she takes care of her home and younger siblings since her mom was disabled in a car accident. She doesn’t want to ditch her family, but she doesn’t want to ditch college either.

When a protagonist has two desires that appear mutually exclusive, you have gold for adding tension to your novel.

Develop conflict with the setting.

Any setting or situation that is outside the comfort zone of the protagonist holds a lot of potential for creating tension in a scene. I write about using uncomfortable settings here.

Remember that not all tension is the same.

There’s a major difference in tension between a middle-aged woman losing patience with her elderly mother who keeps chatting with people on a shopping trip, and a cop who is furious at his rule-following superior because he believes the superior is allowing a criminal to escape justice.

Use a variety of tensions to keep readers hooked. I find this easy to do when I write mysteries. Some suspects my amateur sleuth talks to will be happy to share information. Other will be secretive–but is it because they are guilty or is something else going on in their lives? Some suspects will be plain hostile. Those differences in characters create different levels of tension, keeping the storytelling interesting.

Here are more tips on writing with tension.

What are some of the best tense scenes you’ve read?

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