Okay to talk about earlier scenes in desciption.

nganok · Dec 8, 2005

For example: in this case Eli stomped Chris in the face 15 scenes ago. Can Imention that to help the reader remember an obscure. I mean, Eli is the only kid that stutters but i wanted more emphasis on what he did to one of my protagonists.

Jay and his group erupt in laughter. Chris focuses on one laugh in particular. The stuttering giggles of Eli, the one that stomped him in the face.

dpaterso · Dec 9, 2005

I can't see anything wrong with a little reminder that helps the reader along, in fact it's probably a good idea, but I'd try to keep it short and sweet, "Chris focuses on a stuttering giggle. Eli, who stomped his face." so it slips by easily and unobtrusively. Not that I'm saying yours is wrong, I'm just saying the way I'd probably write it.

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scripter1 · Dec 9, 2005

If the earlier

scene is memorable and creates a major turning point in the story we will remember it. We'll go "Hey! That stuttering guy is the one that stomped on the kid's face!"

If you have to remind us of what happened before then maybe the scene or action isn't powerful enough.

You may write something like that in script to remind the READER of what happened BUT how is the AUDIENCE going to be reminded of it without the script to prompt them?
So, you have to write the scenes with visual clues.
Like I said, the face stomping scene should be something that we CAN'T forget.
And then maybe, if you need to, add in a little clue that reminds us of that. Something the protag saw during the attack, or a repeative word (slang, curse, or accent, etc) that connectes the stomper and the stompee.

nganok · Dec 9, 2005

scripter1 said:
scene is memorable and creates a major turning point in the story we will remember it. We'll go "Hey! That stuttering guy is the one that stomped on the kid's face!"

If you have to remind us of what happened before then maybe the scene or action isn't powerful enough.

You may write something like that in script to remind the READER of what happened BUT how is the AUDIENCE going to be reminded of it without the script to prompt them?
So, you have to write the scenes with visual clues.
Like I said, the face stomping scene should be something that we CAN'T forget.
And then maybe, if you need to, add in a little clue that reminds us of that. Something the protag saw during the attack, or a repeative word (slang, curse, or accent, etc) that connectes the stomper and the stompee.

Nice suggestion, I think You and Dpat are both right. I think that the stuttering will be enough to remind the reader of the past powerful scene and that there are instances where a small reminder can help the reader. Thanks for clearing that up guys.

Okay to talk about earlier scenes in desciption.

nganok

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