Two Scenes

[Anitraka]

What is the best way or to read and understand when there are two scenes going on at the same time.

write one scene in one chapter than the other the chapter after
or
go back and forth?


Thanks, I hope that made sense

[Vuligora]

Hmmmmm, I think it really depends on the scene and what exactly you are trying to get across. Sometimes it works este way amd sometimes it works ese way. Maybe it's just a preferance thing and you should right the scenes the way you feel is right or whichever way the flow takes you. But it might depend. Need more info I think. Usually I go back and forth with those sorts of scenes, but then again, those scenes aren't exactly , of the exact second of the other scene I am righting. It doesn't have to be. It be thought of as "at the same tim4" or two seconds after". Maybe your's is more percise. Need mucho info.

[Danger Jane]

I'd say it depends on the pacing. A fast paced scene could work well when paired with another fast paced scene or even a slow one, for contrast. But two slow paced scenes might not need to be described simultaneously. It depends on what the scenes are and, in the end, the skill of the writer.

[Anitraka]

Hmmmmm, I think it really depends on the scene and what exactly you are trying to get across. Sometimes it works este way amd sometimes it works ese way. Maybe it's just a preferance thing and you should right the scenes the way you feel is right or whichever way the flow takes you. But it might depend. Need more info I think. Usually I go back and forth with those sorts of scenes, but then again, those scenes aren't exactly , of the exact second of the other scene I am righting. It doesn't have to be. It be thought of as "at the same tim4" or two seconds after". Maybe your's is more percise. Need mucho info.


my book is a horror story. the two scene's are happening exactally at the same time. right now i'm writing it and i'm just letting it flow and its taking me to going back and forth.

[maestrowork]

It's about pacing and suspense -- you can do it either way. If you want more suspense and faster pace, you can "cross-cut" the two scenes. If you want a slower pace, you could do two alternating chapters (short or long -- again, it's about pacing). Think of a movie you like, and thing how they cut the scenes together (some scenes happen at the same time).

[LightShadow]

I had a situation in my latest WIP that isn't exactly what you're asking, but sort of, and what I did was put them in two, different, consecutive chapters. The first chapter with the scene was from the escapees point of view, and the other from the chasers. In the chaser's I picked up on pieces of info that was left behind in the prior chapter. Dropped cell phone in one, picked up in the other, etc., in order to link them and let the reader know that it is in fact the same scene from a different point of view.

[PastMidnight]

I think that it would depend on how closely the scenes are related. Scenes that are happening around the same time but do not have an effect on each other can probably be put in seperate chapters, but scenes that are very dramatic and closely related (like one where the murderer is on the run and another scene where the police are getting close to finding him) do well with the back and forth style, in my opinion.

[aadams73]

I just finished a book where the author wrote one scene(questioning a witness) while her partner was out in the hall interacting with someone else.

The author wrote the questioning scene first then went to the second with something like: while X was questioning Y, Z hovered around outside. She then filled in with what Z was doing at the same time as the first scene.

It worked seamlessly.

[debraji]

Don't be afraid to experiment--write it both ways, fiddle around with it, see which works best. If you only write it one way you'll never know if your other idea was better.

[Vuligora]

In that case....I think I would go back and forth but, and this is extremeally important, IN LARGE CHUNKS. I don't think it's good to go back and forth, a few sentences here, then here, or even in a few paragraphs, in chunks. Make it clear they are simultaneos. If you do do it chapter here and then chapter ther, make it clear to the audience that they happened at the same time. Brains tend to follow chapters as if they are chronological unless specifically informed that they are not chronological. Then again....I could be wrong. Suspense, all that other stuff is also important. It depends. Only the author (you) will be able to discover the actual way to do it. Try reading it as if you have never read it before, from the readers PoV, not as a critic or a writer. Then sit back and say, "that was a good story" or " that sucked" or "WTF was going on?"

[Anitraka]

In that case....I think I would go back and forth but, and this is extremeally important, IN LARGE CHUNKS. I don't think it's good to go back and forth, a few sentences here, then here, or even in a few paragraphs, in chunks. Make it clear they are simultaneos. If you do do it chapter here and then chapter ther, make it clear to the audience that they happened at the same time. Brains tend to follow chapters as if they are chronological unless specifically informed that they are not chronological. Then again....I could be wrong. Suspense, all that other stuff is also important. It depends. Only the author (you) will be able to discover the actual way to do it. Try reading it as if you have never read it before, from the readers PoV, not as a critic or a writer. Then sit back and say, "that was a good story" or " that sucked" or "WTF was going on?"

Thanks... I started writing it going back and forth. Everything just fell into place like that.

[Philip64]

Actual chronological faithfulness (ie putting scenes in their exact chronological order) is not necessary in fiction, especially not in novels. You should tell the story in the order which is most effective, and if chronological signposting is needed to avoid confusing the reader, then use it.

On the other hand contempraneous action can be useful. If you're concerned with suspense (which you must surely be in this genre) then you can cut between the two scenes in such a way as to produce mini cliff-hangers. This creates the sensation of events in motion, and adds to pace.

The suspenseful intercut is a pretty much indispensable tool for writers of mysteries, thrillers etc in all media; so it's worth working with it. I've used it a lot, especially in thriller climaxes, and I wouldn't want to be without it...! (If there isn't any potential for suspense in these simultaneous scenes then you might ask why they are there at all...)

Hope that's of some use!

[maestrowork]

The suspenseful intercut is a pretty much indispensable tool for writers of mysteries, thrillers etc in all media; so it's worth working with it.

Yeah, except when you overuse it. Dan Brown has been ripped to no end for his cliffhangers every 3 pages. Patterson has that habbit as well. But then again, they both sell millions of books.