Yes, I delete scenes. Earlier when I was writing one of
my fantastic scenes and when I read it over it added nothing to the story. I
knew I couldn’t leave it in, but it was so great. I put it in a folder so I
could use it later or even in another book. I never did reuse it.
I still delete scenes. These days it’s usually part of a
scene., usually part of a scene. I find myself writing into a corner and I may
not find my way out, so I cut it and start over. I hit writer’s block and when
I go over the scene, I try to write I find I’m trying to make my characters do
something that goes against their personality and beliefs. So, I cut the scene
and go back to where the character wants me to go. When I cut them now, they get
tossed. I’ve learned if they get cut they probably aren’t that good.
When I’m writing a scene there are some
things a good scene needs. The setting needs to be clear to the reader at the
beginning. The scene needs to share important information to the reader about the
characters and/or the story. There needs
to be a clear goal about what the scene needs to accomplish. Conflict and
action are important and should result in an emotional change and end the scene
with an ending that keeps the readers turning one more page.
I’m looking forward to reading about other writers have
to say about their scenes.
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2n4
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com
It’s painful to delete a scene. I appreciate the fact you can delete with no regrets!
ReplyDeleteOnce it's gone, it's gone.
DeleteI'm still unwilling to throw them out completely. I may never use them, but I still keep them. LOL Call me an electronic pack rat, if you will. LOL
ReplyDeleteIf you need to keep them that works. I found I never went back and looked at anything I had kept.
DeleteMe too. They don't eat much on the hard disk. :)
DeleteYou've are so right about when you've written yourself into a corner, it's time to listen to your characters and Maine that means dumping the scene that got you into the corner.
ReplyDeleteThat was the one thing I noticed that most of us commented on - writing into a corner meant you needed to delete and rewrite the scene.
DeleteI'm with you, Beverly. When I cut a scene, I just delete it. If it won't work in the context that I wrote it into, it probably won't work anywhere else either. Besides, I can always write it again--and maybe even better!
ReplyDeleteI like your attitude. You're right, we can probably write it better.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you thought about the reader and their reaction to your wording.
ReplyDeleteHi Beverley, Congrats on being able to dump. I can let go short ones, but once it's up to 2/3 paras, I'm stuck with it in out-takes. Anne
ReplyDeleteOh Beverley, I have a trick for avoiding having your people act out of character. Instead of me observing them and recording what I see, I listen to them and write what they tell me to. :)
ReplyDeleteHi bevereley, I love your summing up of the things a scene needs to do. It's sometimes hard to see that a scene has gone nowhere until you've written yourself into a corner. I've enjoyed this month's Round Robin. Thanks for sharing your process
ReplyDelete