Distractions during a major scene

Are you kidding? This happens as a matter of course with me.

As we write, we're constantly seeing the big picture. Our minds invent as we go along, and it's very difficult not to let that straying venture take over.

Same goes for supporting characters. I've often had a supporting character become more interesting than my protag. Now what do I do? Yikes!

Situations and characterizations evolve in our minds as we write. It takes hard discipline to look at a fantastic scene and just delete it because it distracts. The fact that you recognize this as it happens (or afterward) is good. You need to follow through with the next step, as we all must, and deal with it appropriately.

Having the brother walk into the kitchen during a fight, can add tension. The mother and daughter could glare at each other until he leaves, then pick up the arguement, making it more heated because the thoughts lingered in their minds as they waited for him to leave. The innocent young man had no idea they were fighting but could tell there was something going on so he would leave in a hurry, giving them privacy which would say a lot of the character. I think it would move the story along by having that distraction.

As for the other scene you mentioned, I was a little confused by what you meant. Was someone else in the room making a fool of himself as the teacher and student argued? If that is the case, you could have one of the characters yell at the person being a jackass to show how angry he or she is, again giving more tension in the scene. To me it sounds more believable doing it that way because not all fights can be done in a private setting, things happen and people have to deal with it, good or bad.

Hope this helps.
Amber

I think it depends. How's that for a straight answer! In the confrontation between your character and the teacher, would either of them actually notice the student who is goofing off or would they be focused on each other? If they're really into it I don't think they would. In the second instance with the character having an argument with her mother and the brother coming in so mom distracts herself by cooing over him, I think it works. That's exactly what a mother would do either to try and lower the heat or to remind the child she's having the argument with that their brother is such a great guy why can't they be like him or as a show of favoritism or whatever, depending on the mother.
Linnea

Distractions are fine, if there is an in-story reason for them.

"Sara watched in relief as the teacher turned to another who student, who had just made a jump shot at the trash can. Thank God. I didn't know the answer.

Here the distraction shows us something about the character.

I think Amber put it perfectly. In my opinion a dramatic scene can be enhanced by all the little details about other stuff happening that actually shed light over the feelings of the main characters and make their interaction even more tense. Because that's how it is in life - you don't get a perfect setting for anything; so broadening the focus of the scene can really add to its atmosphere, especially if it helps mount the silent tension between the chars. On the other hand, if the distractions don't build that tension and don't develop characters, the scene is probably better off without them; it depends on the way you handle emotion imo, and on whether the details you give provide insight into the characters' feelings and personalities or not. I think Amber and Ishtar'sgate gave nice examples of how that would work (I can only talk in generalizations, I'm sorry )

It depends -- on what kind of distraction it is and what you are trying to do in the scene. Done badly, distractions can definitely detract from a scene.

On the other hand, distraction can ramp up the tension by preventing the MC from accomplishing his/her goal. (Frex, the MC is trying to get important information from another char, but never gets anywhere because they keep being interrupted.)

Also, a distraction can be a useful way to end a scene if you don't want to resolve the tension yet, but leave it to simmer until later. (Imagine being in the middle of a nasty argument, when you get an important phone call you can't ignore.)

Hmm, it might seem annoying...!