How to Write a Short Story: Scene Development

Scene development is important in your short story, but new writers find it hard to write a convincing scene. Here are tips on writing a scene.

By Lanee' Blunt

New writers find writing short story scenes difficult. The problem is that they don’t stay in the character’s point of view and shift in and out of view points.  Another problem might be that you don’t describe enough of the setting to have a vivid story, or you describe too much.

Your scene in your mind is sometimes different than what you’ve intended to write.  You may never be able to put down on paper exactly what you want to say. Scene development is done correctly when the reader’s imagination lets them picture the scene you’ve written. According to John Gardner, in his book, The Art of Fiction, “He makes the scene vivid in the reader’s mind; that is, he encourages the reader to “dream” the event with enormous clarity, by presenting as many concrete details as possible.”

The Setting in the Scene is Important

When you write your scene think about a play, and how the stage director sets up each important scene, bringing in what is needed, props, sound and setting.  What is the weather like? Is the story taken place in the morning or night?  Is she at home? What room is she in?  Sounds are a good point in scene development, the bus roars down the main street.  

The Point of View in Your Scene is Crucial

Are you writing in first person point of view? First person makes it impossible for the writer to enter into other character’s mind in the short story.  Don’t switch from view point to view point through out your short story.

The Scene as a Camera

Think of your scene as a camera and what do you see when you are looking into the lens of that camera.  Only that one view.  Don’t think about the next scene describe the scene you are working on completely before moving on to the next scene.

Describe the Opening of Your Scene

The beginning of the scene should not start so far back where the scene will be slow.  Describe the opening where the action takes place and then begin your scene.  The opening of the scene can begin with dialogue, or setting it is up to you.

The Climax of Your Scene is Important

What is going to be the most exciting point of your scene? You should plan it before you write the scene or at least think about it?  Once you get the scene going then build toward the climax and don’t hold back; if it’s a fight scene then describe it blow by blow, or if it’s a romance describe that first kiss with detail.

The more you write the better you will get at scene development.

Reference:

John Gardner; The Art of Fiction; Vintage Books

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How to Write a Short Story: Developing the Plot

New writers often get confused and frustrated when plotting their short story.  A short story is not difficult to plot if you understand a few tips.

By Lanee' Blunt

The plot is very important in a short story. You cannot luck up on it and suddenly things will fall into place, if that’s the case that may happen only a few times.  Plot has to be thought out carefully and planned.  Most new writers don’t know how to plot their short stories, and believe it’s a series of surprises.  It is not. According to Robert J. Ray, in his book, The Weekend Novelist, “A plot is a plan, a design, an outline.”

When plot is done correctly it leaves your reader fulfilled. It has no breaks and everything falls in place perfectly. 

When you have an idea that is all you have, because an idea must be developed into plot.  Your idea may have sparked your interest and made you want to write the story, but an idea is not plotting.

Plotting is done By Asking the Right Questions

The question “what if” helps you plot out that idea.  Take your idea and ask what if she was betrayed by a friend.  What if he was set up? What if he had to lie to get the job? Coming up with the right answers, not just the first answer that comes to your mind, but the right answer for that situation will help you plot a great story.

What Questions Do You Need to Ask

The first questions that help you plot the story are who, what, when, where, and how.  When you ask these questions write them in essay form. New writers want to jump right into writing the story and often want to skip the preliminary writing in the first stages, this is fine, but you might have to go back to this step when writing the story.

The Outline of Your Short Story

Your plot outline is not the type that Mrs. Green, your old English teacher made you write, but a series of obstacles and how your characters will overcome them.  This will let you know where you are headed.

The End of the Story Has to Be Planned

Your ending of your story should be planned.  It helps you plot the story if you know what the end is going to be because it builds toward suspense.  By the time you get to the end you should have brought all the plates down and have left nothing undone in the plot.  This is where the plot outline will help you, because it helps get the story in your mind and take a step back to rethink all of the pieces.

Writing your short story plot will get easier the more stories you write.

Reference:

Robert J. Ray; The Weekend Novelist; Dell

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