Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Scene Plotting

This is topic Scene Plotting in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

Same reason for asking.

When you write a scene, do you sit down and plan it out in advance? Some? Always? Never? Why are you even asking?

If you do put some forethought into it, what kind and how much?

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

(same reason as what?)

I plan scenes, yeah. There isn't always time during the flash challenges but I still try.

I try to identify the major beats of the scene - this happens then this happens and that causes this thing and then something else and the scene ends.

I try to identify the character's goals, actions, obstacles, and their emotions and how the emotions shift.

I also like to spend some time brainstorming the description before I start. I try to get 5 items for each sense (except sight, sight's too easy). I certainly don't use all the things I come up with but it's a good exercise.

It's maybe 10 minutes, usually. Often I do it right before the scene and it's sort of a warm-up. Sometimes I'm typing notes for planning and just sort of slip into writing the rest of the scene and I never do finish planning. Sometimes the scene changes while I'm typing and that's fine; I always go with it.

I used to try to do all this scene-level planning for a full outline for novels but it was too much. So now for long pieces I just identify the scenes, and then plan the details of the scenes right before I write them.

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

Absolutely. By the time I put BIC, I know essentially what's going to happen, and a few of the choicer bits of wording.

Posted by Inkwell (Member # 1944) on :

It depends on what kind of scene I'm writing. If I were writing, say, a battle scene (which my aggressive personality and curious interest just love to dive right into) I would definitely plan it out...in detail. I decided after reading Eric Flint and David Drake's Belisarius series that I wanted to be as logical as possible about small and large unit tactics. Realism is what I strive for.

First, I usually think about the basics. Terrain. Units on both sides (or all sides, if more than two entities are involved). How large are they? What kind of troops are being deployed? How's the weather? All of this is written down before I even begin to fashion a battle plan. These elements are fundamental (for me) to the process of building a believable battle scene. Though sometimes I just wing it. What can I say? I'm occasionally an impatient person...and my writing suffers for it.

Other scenes, like conversational or observational for example, are written more by the seat of the pants. I do plan dialogue out as well as I can, trying to make sure that it is both realistic and appropriate for that particular scene.

One thing that I do for all my scenes is, before even stabbing fingers at the keyboard, close my eyes...I picture the scene in my mind from my MC's point of view. Or whoever happens to be narrating the thing. I run forward and backward, as if along a timeline, trying out different combinations of material I'd already worked out for the scene, or simply ad-libbing. I guess it really depends upon the context of the story and how I want the scene to 'sound' to the reader.

Inkwell
-----------------
"The difference between a writer and someone who says they want to write is merely the width of a postage stamp."
-Anonymous

Posted by JmariC (Member # 2698) on :

First I draw up a vague outline, so that I know 'why' I end up at my end goal. Then I figure out the general 'what' is going to happen in each scene before writing. After that, I try to wing it.
The use of the word try is because more often then not, I can't get the start button running on my mental SS-HD-DVD (Scene Shot High Def DVD). At least this has been an issue for me lately. It wasn't so much an issue when I was only creating character history stories for D&D players (including myself). That's probably because somewhere in the back of my head I got set on writing a novel and the weight of the words is pressing down, intimidating me. I am in the process of convincing (reminding) myself that there is no spoon.

Posted by Miriel (Member # 2719) on :

When writing a first draft, I never plan scenes, never outline. I'm one of those people who spends a lot of time revising. Once I have a draft in front of me, however, I'll look for things that are missing and deliberately plan scenes (or cut present ones) to fill the holes. I'll make an outline that lists each scene, the characters in it, the setting, and what things need to be accomplished by the end of that scene.

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

I've been writing scene outlines, but they generally consist of "this is where the action starts, this is what happens next, next, next, etc. until finally we reach the end here". I haven't had any luck writing a full outline for any large WIP, so I've been experimenting with breaking it down into scenes (I pretty much ignore chapters until I've finished most of the rough draft whether or not I use an outline).

Anyway, that's what I do.

Edited to add that, like Beth, I ask myself what the character's goal is in that particular scene. I'm learning it helps keep my characters from becoming one-dimensional.

[This message has been edited by Keeley (edited July 14, 2005).]

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I don't plan in a formal way using outlines and such, but I always try to know what my goal is before I start writing. My scenes always have a point to them, such as: What does the character need to learn? Who does he need to talk with? Is this setting up a future scene? Is this revealing something relevant to the plot? The times I find myself floundering are often because my goal hasn't been clearly defined in my mind.

Posted by pixydust (Member # 2311) on :

When I'm starting a scene I make sure that I have the purpose of the scene outlined in my head. I usually make a few notes. I don't start writing unless I know where it's taking the characters and the story. I would rather fidget with a scene then rewrite it completely, so I try to make sure going into it that I have a fairly good idea of where I'm headed.

Oh, the other thing is, I think of each scene as a step to the next. It has it's own pivotal point or goal. Like little pieces of a puzzle.

Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :

For the main events of my story: I know pretty much what's going to happen, but I let the scenes play out as I write them.

For the minor events: I just throw people together and see what happens

Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :

I take a 'what do I want to do and how am I going to do it' approach.

Sometimes a small scene doesn't need much more than a vague idea to begin with. Other times a big or critical scene (like a carnival scene I am working on right now for instance) requires a good outline and a map.

Regardless, I draw up a web of who is doing what and when from scene to scene. I have caught myself with characters who have never been around at a crucial moment spouting dialogue as though they had been in the thick of it.

So whatever is the appropriate level of preparation for the size and importance of the scene in order to achieve 'what I want to do and how I want to do it.'

This may seem obvious, but I don't generate scenes consistently the same way. I have an 'ideas' folder, I have mentioned before. I take clippings and pictures, quotes, sprigs off a bush, leaves, perfume samples they hand out in department stores (wrapped in ziplok), even examples of handwriting. I put things into different envelopes until I like the feel of it, sometimes these turn into scenes.

Who does the 'pick two words at random from dictionary and make a story about why they should fit together' game? This can create some cool stories and add richness to a slow night at ome. Some of my favourite combinations have been: hex-venom, slow-kirk and one from my son: freeze-frog.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Yeah, I try to plan all my scenes. I don't put anything on paper, but it's all plotted ahead of time.

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

I like the envelope idea.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Pith-helmet, stomach ache

Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :

quote:
Regardless, I draw up a web of who is doing what and when from scene to scene. I have caught myself with characters who have never been around at a crucial moment spouting dialogue as though they had been in the thick of it.

This sounds like the Mind Mapping technique. There's some more about that over at Liberty Hall, and some links. I use it at work as well as in writing.