TECH: Meet "The Beat" (Moldie oldie!) (580 words)

[mbarker]

Original Posting 5/31/2019

 

Writer's Digest, May 1993, pages 30-34 and 50, have an article by Renni Browne and Dave King with the title Meet "The Beat." But, what kind of a beat do they mean? They actually start with a chunk of dialogue, that they tighten up by removing some mechanics. What they call beats. "Beats are the little bits of action interspersed through a scene, such as a character walking to a window or removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes – the literary equivalent of what is known in the theater as stage business." Physical gestures, or sometimes internal monologue. "Beats enable your readers to picture the action in a scene, allow you to vary the rhythm of the dialogue, and help reveal your character's personalities."

 

They're useful, but it's easy to get carried away. Too many beats can damage the flow, which is what they are showing us with their first example. Even interesting and well-written beats can be irritating.

 

Sometimes authors overuse beats because they're not sure that the dialogue really carries the story. As usual, don't go too far. Give your readers some hints, but allow them to fill in blanks. To put enough beats in to anchor the dialogue. You need to balance dialogue and beats.

 

So, how do you figure out when to include a beat. Give your readers enough detail so they can picture the action, but leave them free to imagine some parts of it. Also, use beats to vary the rhythm. High tension, keep the beats minimal. Relaxing a bit, and in some beats. Sometimes a continued action in steps actually helps support the dialogue. Try reading it aloud, and see if the pauses need a little beat.

 

Also, beats defined characters. See if you can use a beat to help do that.

 

Do be careful about pointless, distracting, clichéd, and repetitive beats. Try to make your beats fresh and unique.

 

How do you find beats? Keep your eyes open. Seriously, watch people. What do they do? Watch movies and TV? Of course, you might dig them out as your reading. Both good ones and bad ones!

 

So, you might use beats to turn up the tension, or to provide breathing space in a tense scene. Sometimes they do both.

 

So, think about your beats. Try not to have too many or too few, but just the right ones!

 

For me, at least, thinking about it as stage business seems like the easiest approach. Your characters are busy talking on the stage in your mind. Now, are they doing things at the same time? Are they things that you want the reader to know about, or are they just the ordinary stuff that the reader is going to imagine anyway? Sure, big Jim just pulled a knife out of his pocket and started cleaning his fingernails as he says, "Are you sure you want to do that?" You don't have to mention it, but… It does add a little bit to the menace of the scene.

 

Go ahead, get with the beat. Or maybe it's "the beat goes on..."?

 

There's a checklist on page 33 that you might want to use:

1. How many beats do you have? How often does it interrupt?

2. What are your beats describing? Everyday actions?

3. How often do you repeat a beat?

4. Do your beats illuminate your characters? Are they individual?

5. Do your beats fit the rhythm of your dialogue? Read it aloud to check!

 

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