Questions tagged [scene]
This tag should be used for questions about a scene in a written work, such as a [novel] or a [screenplay].
102
questions
1
vote
1answer
80 views
How to write scenes of negotiation? [closed]
I'm looking for general tips on writing a negotiation scene, and would be interested in some example novels/short stories in which there are scenes of negotiation (preferably light-hearted but any ...
-2
votes
2answers
93 views
What are the possible driving factors of betrayal scenes?
I've been having a hard time thinking about a good way to create a betrayal scene without forcing it.
Even if I somehow wrote the scene, I just can't feel the emotions behind the betrayal; the sadness,...
1
vote
4answers
184 views
How to come up with scene ideas?
I'm currently outlining my novel, and I'm having trouble coming up with scenes/situations to put my characters in. I've tried scene prompts but they don't work for me. Sometimes I will think of a ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
How to write an audible arguing scene?
I don't know if my question is clear enough to understand, but here is what I mean:
I have a blind character who hears his parents arguing with each other. With him being blind, I think there would be ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
How do you write a script for a music clip?
How do you write a script for a music clip? I am wondering because you need to sync the lyrics with the descriptions of the scenes, so I am wondering how it's done by the industry. Is there any ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
How do you write pause in a dialogue without making it look flat?
At times in conversations, there are pauses for various reasons; in videos, the contexts of these pauses are clear because of the characters facial expression. But while writing, at first you can use ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
How to write a hospital death scene without sentimentalism?
The cliché scene where a man dies on the hospital bed and ECG goes "beep beep beep" is seen by everyone in movies. The problem is that someone told me that I go too sentimental in scenes ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
In YA fiction, how many words should each chapter be? How consistent does chapter length need to be?
I'm writing a YA sci-fi/post apocalyptic type novel with two view point characters. The book is all written in third person and so far every time I switch between view point characters use a chapter ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
How to make a change in place and time more naturally?
Often when I write, I fast forward to a different time and place. When I do this, it sounds very unnatural and the pacing of the story feels too rushed.
For example(by the way, this was not actually a ...
-1
votes
2answers
63 views
How can I write this scene? [closed]
Entering the park, a slight breeze rustles the leaves making them fall to the ground one by one. It was a small park with a jungly gym, a couple of tables and a few benches for people to sit in every ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
How do I make an action scene based on a musical choreography work in a novel?
I'd like to make one of the action scenes in my planned novel to involve a choreography to a medley of various real world songs, similar to the Ocean's Twelve Laser Dance scene(video below), obviously ...
0
votes
1answer
130 views
How can I find a good idea for a dragon-battle scene? [closed]
First of all, hello!
I really, really, really do want to have an answer for my question. I’ve been writing a novel about dragons, but I can’t finish it. I’m just at loss of words (and ideas).
To ...
0
votes
4answers
191 views
Ways to write a person crying without using words like "sniff", "boohoo" etc
There is a specific kind of scene that I want to write, where the protagonist has just killed his brother and he starts to cry. But I don't want to explicitly state that he's crying, either by stating ...
1
vote
2answers
119 views
How do I write someone in pain?
I am going over my writing and found that all of my scenes where my main character is in physical pain are dull. There is one scene in particular, when she drinks a power-awakening potion. It's ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
How to clearly distinguish the settings of different scenes from each other, and make them "feel" different?
Background
I've been working on doing nitty-gritty editor revisions of my detective novel in preparation for publishing, going over sentences and picking through details. In the course of the story, ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
How do I write someone in an enchantment?
I'm having trouble writing a scene in my book where the main character is about to be pulled into an enchantment before her friend saves her.
A bit of backstory- the item that is about to enchant her ...
8
votes
7answers
3k views
How can I indicate time passing?
There is a scene in which my main character is hiding from the villain while they are both in the same room. I want this to be a suspenseful and agonizing stretch of time, but I’m not sure how to show ...
2
votes
2answers
107 views
How to write the same event with a different POV?
I am aiming to change POV in the middle of my book, based on my previous question and I have yet to decide where to start the second POV. The first POV and the second meet during one event - a ...
1
vote
2answers
165 views
When someone sees something frightening, how can I make it obvious without sounding cliche?
I write a lot of horror, and I notice that my characters use "Oh my God!" when they're frightened in my scenes by a demon, ghost or murderer. How can I make them seem terrified without being so cliche ...
2
votes
3answers
194 views
How to write a "functioning" addict protagonist and it not get repetitive?
A sub-plot of my story, is that the protagonist is struggling with addiction to alcohol due to past events (which happen in the book). I'm worried that all the scenes will come off the same because he ...
3
votes
2answers
463 views
Can I have scenes that aren't directly related to the main plot but strengthen the relationship between two characters (which is a subplot)?
I have some scenes in my novel that have nothing to do with the main plot, it's just to show the character development and the development of the relationship between two characters. Is this okay ...
1
vote
2answers
197 views
Should a scene break always be put in place when there is change in location, times, and dates?
I have read many books where the character is in one place at a certain time and, without a scene break being utilised, they are all of a sudden in a different place at a different time, but it works ...
1
vote
3answers
289 views
Examples of dialog beats and bookism
I was wondering if there is a list of ideas on how to add beats to dialog. For example:
"Listen to me!", John said excitedly. "We can sell all these coins now
and get rich today." He got closer ...
2
votes
3answers
552 views
How to write intercut scenes in a novel?
I wish to write an intercut scene for a novel, where two very contrasting things are happening at the same time. The technique works really well on the screen, but I think we can use the same ...
2
votes
2answers
171 views
How much uncertainity will the 'general (Non-YA) fantasy reader' tolerate?
In my current project my goal is to go for the following narrative style within scenes:
Show only what the POV-Char can see, hear,... sense.
Show their emotional reaction (through body-feelings, ...
23
votes
11answers
6k views
Don't look at what I did there
This question is about hiding from the reader the fact that I am skipping some steps. Worse, perhaps, I don't want to show them, and I may have no clue or intention of figuring out how these steps ...
18
votes
5answers
2k views
Spicing up a moment of peace
In the ever swinging tone of a novel, one may wish to show a moment of peace amidst all the chaos. In my novel it happens a few times, most notably when characters are travelling across vast natural ...
10
votes
5answers
417 views
My scenes seem too fast
I’m having issues because while I’m in the process of writing I think my style has enough length to it, but when I go back and read my work it feels extremely fast. A scene I expected to take me ...
20
votes
5answers
3k views
How to not confuse readers with simultaneous events?
In an omniscient third person, I have 8 (practically unrelated) events going simultaneously in different parts of a large mansion. I want to present these events as they happen, but I feel jumping ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
What's the most humane form of ritual sacrifice? [closed]
Not sure if this is off-topic, sorry.
I'm writing a cult ritual to summon a powerful entity.
The ritual must include:
1. A willing sacrifice
2. Them being stabbed in the heart
3. Their death taking ...
-2
votes
1answer
57 views
Good recess scene screenplay [closed]
I'm wondering if anyone could tell me how to write some very short recess scene at a school? I'm out of ideas. P.S. this would be acted.
11
votes
7answers
2k views
Is it advisable to add a location heads-up when a scene changes in a novel?
In my novel, I have a scene at home which changes to scene at the office which is completely different. I have written it in a way that in a line or two the reader will understand the scene is changed ...
3
votes
5answers
362 views
How do I indicate that the next scene actually happens at the same time as the previous scene
I'm currently working on a script for a college project and there's one part of the script that sorta goes like this:
A character heard a scream from outside of the room they're in and decided to ...
17
votes
8answers
3k views
I wrote a scene that the majority of my readers loved. How do I get back to that place while writing my new book?
I wrote a scene that I put my heart and soul into. It was received well by most of my readers, but I'm struggling with crafting a new scene for a book I'm currently writing. Here's some comments from ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
The concept of description and the structure of Mckee's view of story design
Consider the following text:
Tania is in her living room, in the summer.
She looks to the window and the street in front of her house, then she realized how dry and parched they are, this makes ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
How many blank lines before scene headings (and secondary scene headings) using Amazon Storywriter
Question : How many blank lines should be before scene headings and secondary scene headings in a screenplay? Note that I am using Amazon Storywriter.
Detail : I am writing a screenplay with Amazon ...
3
votes
3answers
128 views
Which techniques maintain reader interest when the POV is a spectator? (Sports story as sidequest?)
In my case, my character is literally a spectator. They're at a sporting event. There will be a major event which ramps up their plotline that occurs at this event, but I'm finding the event itself (...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
How to script two scenes happening simultaneously?
I am writing a movie where a character has an interview with a news reporter. The scenes segues into a character profile of the interviewee that features a voice over from the interviewer. How would I ...
4
votes
2answers
122 views
If the narrator of the story is a pet, can I still add some philosophical stuff into its narration?
So, the story is about the heroine of the book, but the whole thing is narrated by her pet. Initially the plot is light and easy, but later into the story, it gets a little serious. There's stuff ...
8
votes
3answers
274 views
Pre-modern battle - command it, or fight in it?
If I were to describe Waterloo from Napoleon's point of view, it would be very different from that same battle from the point of view of a soldier, or even a cavalry lieutenant in the front ranks. ...
asked Mar 23 '19 at 12:20
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2
votes
1answer
130 views
How to describe a row of two different types of trees?
This may seem like a silly question (it definitely feels like it has one of those answers that I already know, but just can't dig up). And maybe this isn't the right place for it, but I am asking for ...
20
votes
6answers
1k views
Identifying and managing weak scenes during planning
I structured my plot, designed the path to the climax, listed my characters and even outlined some scenes. Then halfway through I got stuck: one minor transition scene just did not make sense. The ...
4
votes
2answers
267 views
How to fill novel if you have just some moments prepared?
I read some of my old novels and realized that I often filled them with unnecessary info and pseudojokes so I could quickly rejoin my favourite moments in the planned plot. I found those moments more ...
0
votes
2answers
86 views
How to show a short, sequential passing of time, without changing the scene [closed]
I was working on a story for practice; I have been putting it off for some time. I am extremely new to writing and honestly need to read more. I personally tend to think more like a movie camera, so I ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the average word count for a scene in a chapter?
Does the average scene-word-count lessen for a YA/children's novel and increase for, say, an adult thriller?
7
votes
6answers
8k views
Writing a crying scene
Writing a crying scene makes me accidentally do repetitions like "the tears which were on her face broke down into a slithering stream..." and then putting the word tears again and again.
What ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
A handful of gems
So I'm facing an issue after many years of writing, and several unsuccessful novels. In my own estimation, all my books contain a "handful of gems" --wonderful scenes that really come to life. But ...
asked Dec 13 '18 at 12:50
Chris Sunami supports Monica
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2
votes
4answers
266 views
Having Trouble Writing An Opening Scene With A Shy Character
I'm having a bit of trouble coming up with the opening scene for a fantasy story I'm writing, about a mousy but passionate girl from a family of entertainers who inherits the entertainer's blood. She ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
How do I make a repetitive element in a play interesting?
I am writing a playscript these days which includes various characters that are frequently related throughout the story. They all hold special orbs/keys that help the main protagonist progress further ...
13
votes
4answers
2k views
Static Scenes that still Move the Story Forward
I've just read a tutorial about scenic techniques in novel-writing that recommends that a story should have a rhythm of static scenes and dramatic scenes. Here's an excerpt:
Dramatic scenes are ...
