Write: Writing Your Story Scene by Scene #ReadySetWrite

Hopefully by now, you’ve written a few possible opening scenes and you’re ready to move on with writing your story.

Are You SCENE What I’m SCENE?
When you sit down to work on your story, don’t think about “writing the story,” think about “writing a scene.” If you don’t think about what you’re doing in terms of small chunks, then it’s going to be overwhelming and is the quickest path to writer’s block.

However, if you schedule your writing time in order to write a scene or two, you’re more likely to not feel overwhelmed and actually meet your daily writing goals.

Now, rather than try to repeat what I’ve written about scenes before, here’s the whole series:

SCENE IT!

NEW SERIES! Scene It–Introduction
SCENE IT! How Long Should Scenes Be?
SCENE IT: 1-2-3 Blast Off! Crafting Out-of-this-World Scene Launches
SCENE IT! Is there a bit of tension in here?
SCENE IT! Complicate Your Characters’ Lives
SCENE IT! Hooking Your Reader with Scene Endings
SCENE IT! Consequences and Rewards (a.k.a., Scene and Sequel)
SCENE IT! Is it a keeper?
SCENE IT! Types of Scenes
SCENE IT! Working with Multiple Viewpoint Characters

To try to summarize, though . . .

• Make sure each scene has a beginning, middle, and end.
• End each scene with a hook/question—not only do you want to end a scene leaving your reader wanting more, you want to end a scene where you want to know what happens next—and then walk away. That way, you’re more anxious to get back to writing.
• Try to mix up the ways in which you open and close your scenes.
• Make sure your characters have an intention/desire/goal in each scene.
• Make sure each scene moves the plot of your story forward.