So, I say to Rachel, hey, we’re going to talk about Stakes this week on MBT, and she says, Nummy, I like mine rare! Ha ha, very funny. No, I’m not talking about a T-bone, or Sirloin. Stakes are those things that make us see what we could lose. It helps us stand at the precipice and say, is it worth it to step over into the unknown? (Reminds me a lot of that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy has to step out in FAITH. What a great scene!) Stakes are those things that drive the story, that make the reader say, hey, I care about this story, I want to know what happens. They might not even be as big as we know starting […]
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The power of metaphor in a scene
I first discovered the power of metaphor during my premarital counseling. We were using what (I think it was in a Gary Smalley book) was called, “Word Pictures.” The idea of taking an object or an event and using it as a symbol for something else. Okay, we as writers aren’t dumb. We get the whole metaphor idea. But sometimes we forget its power in a scene. And, I’m not talking about a direct metaphor where the main character in the scene spells it out for the others. I’m talking about the subtle metaphors that betray emotions, or revelation in the scene in the background. It’s similiar to subtexting, only in description. For example, in my newest book, I put the opening scene on a beach, the sky darkening as […]
Read the RestDare to Dance
This week we’ve bene talking about scenes – the difference between scenes and sequels, what action to put in a scene, and yesterday, what pov to focus on in a scene. Today, we’re going to get our dancing shoes out and talk about rhythm. Rhythm. A good scene has an unspoken rhythm or beat to them that sets the tone for the scene. It’s the beat of dialogue, narrative, and action, setting the tempo that whisks a reader through a scene, helping them to feel the music of the words and the character’s emotional journey. What makes up the rhythm of the story? 1. The hook sentence. Yes, I know I’m at it again, but the first sentence of the scene should hook the reader, raise their interest as they […]
Read the RestChoosing the Point of View Character
I hope everyone is enjoying this weeks discussion on Scenes and Sequels. Part of a great scene is seeing the action, and hearing the dialog through the point of view character. When you’re getting ready to write a scene, it’s important to consider from whose eyes and ears are we looking and listening. Of course, if you’re writing in first person with a single character view, the decision is made for you. But, if your story has multiple points of view, pause to consider which character will tell the scene best. Choose the character that has the most to lose. Here’s an example. In Love Starts With Elle, the book I just finished for Thomas Nelson, I’d written a scene from Elle’s point of view because from the beginning of […]
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