scene transitions

proxy · Apr 18, 2010

I've been writing for over four months and feel I've come to a decent understanding of dialogue, pacing, three act structure, tension, conflict, and so on.

but one thing that gives me nightmares is shifting to the next scene

basically, when I'm writing, a scene will seem good, both in my head and writing it. but when I move on to the next scene, and start writing it, I often get this weird feeling like how I've started the scene is bad or something. like alarms are going off in my subconscious saying 'bew bew bew! bad writing alert! delete!'

does anyone know what I'm talking about, and have any advice? or am I crazy?

Mr Flibble · Apr 18, 2010

Hehe yes I know what you mean.

Write the scene out anyway - then see if you need that beginning bit. If you don't, you can cut it. If you do, you can re-write it so the alarms don't go off.

SPMiller · Apr 18, 2010

Or just don't write the beginning (or ending) of any scene at all. Show up late and leave early.

Dr.Gonzo · Apr 18, 2010

SPMiller said:
Or just don't write the beginning (or ending) of any scene at all. Show up late and leave early.

Yeh, I completely agree. I used to be so bogged down with paying the check, putting the keys in the door, going to sleep, and waking up. Sod all of that. Now I turn up with my meal waiting but still hot, with no worries about how much I'm going to drink because I don't have to drive home, and I never have to pay. It's so much easier.

I leave out of my stories what I'd leave out of my life.

Maxinquaye · Apr 18, 2010

Well, you have two kinds of scenes, really, which are named horribly wrong. They're called 'scenes' and 'sequels'. I think of them as Action and Reflection, I guess.

So, you have Action - Reflection - Action - Reflection - Action - Reflection and so on until the end of the book.

Action scenes have your character doing stuff, and reflection scenes are where the characters are thinking about what they just did, and why it failed, in order to set new goals and get into the next action scene.

SPMiller · Apr 18, 2010

Dr.Gonzo said:
Yeh, I completely agree. I used to be so bogged down with paying the check, putting the keys in the door, going to sleep, and waking up. Sod all of that. Now I turn up with my meal waiting but still hot, with no worries about how much I'm going to drink because I don't have to drive home, and I never have to pay. It's so much easier.

I leave out of my stories what I'd leave out of my life.

Your sarcasm does nothing to counter my suggestion. Just FYI.

Madeleine · Apr 18, 2010

I have precisely the same problem. In addition, I'm always wondering if I'm skipping too often or if there should be more chapters, etc.

I think that worrying too much about scene transitions will just make you frantic. I think that SPMiller's advice is golden:

SPMiller said:
Or just don't write the beginning (or ending) of any scene at all. Show up late and leave early.

Try it.

Kelsey · Apr 18, 2010

I have found that leaving a scene early has been *key* to my current WiP, where I have a character-driven plot and multiple MCs. In my first couple of chapters, I was seriously overwriting the scene endings, but I've started cutting it off just when I start to hint at something bigger. I think the result is that there is more incentive to turn the page to the next chapter.

proxy · Apr 18, 2010

SPMiller said:
Your sarcasm does nothing to counter my suggestion. Just FYI.

Can you elaborate then?

proxy · Apr 18, 2010

Kelsey said:
I have found that leaving a scene early has been *key* to my current WiP, where I have a character-driven plot and multiple MCs. In my first couple of chapters, I was seriously overwriting the scene endings, but I've started cutting it off just when I start to hint at something bigger. I think the result is that there is more incentive to turn the page to the next chapter.

That's interesting, I'll try that.

In most published novels I never notice the scene change, unless I'm actively analyzing the book. but in my writing I still tend to overwrite the transition ;.;

Kelsey · Apr 18, 2010

proxy said:
In most published novels I never notice the scene change, unless I'm actively analyzing the book. but in my writing I still tend to overwrite the transition ;.;

I always notice a really good ending if I'm reading at midnight, and the chapter ending makes me stay up those few minutes longer to find out what happens.

Dr.Gonzo · Apr 19, 2010

SPMiller said:
Your sarcasm does nothing to counter my suggestion. Just FYI.

It wasn't sarcasm. I was agreeing with you.

scene transitions

proxy

AW's avatars suck.

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

Dr.Gonzo

Wonderfully Irreverent

Maxinquaye

That cheeky buggerer

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

Madeleine

Professional Procrastinator

Kelsey

Book Slut

proxy

AW's avatars suck.

proxy

AW's avatars suck.

Kelsey

Book Slut

Dr.Gonzo

Wonderfully Irreverent