The Place For My Writers Notes

Original posting 15 June 2008

Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld

It's that time again? Okay, core elements so far include setting, senses, and people. But of course you want the people to do something, right? In the trade that's called plot. And indeed, Rosenfeld next talks about plot.

He starts by pointing out that random events unfolding over time just isn't terribly interesting to most people. We want significance, a meaningful series of events that reveals insights and gives spirits and emotions a jolt. That's the plot. He also points out the plot is not a story! The story can be a sequence of events, a string of information about a cast of characters in a given time and place. The plot adds meaning or method to that story, bringing in tension, energy, momentum. "Plot is the related string of consequences that follow from the significant situation... in your narrative, which darn well better get addressed, complicated, and resolved through engaging, well-crafted scenes by the end." So what makes a plot go? Information.

If you consider the plot as the puzzle that the reader is trying to solve, then each scene adds some pieces for the reader to fit in. Crucial bits of information, teasingly revealed to the reader in small bites so that they are hungry for more.

Probably one of the most important points is that every scene in your narrative must pertain to your plot. Even the most lyrical philosophical or wonderingly beautiful depiction of scenery needs to be related to the plot. Scenes are there to make events real for the reader. And every scene has to deliver at least one new piece of information answering one of these well-known questions: who? What? Where? When? Why? How? And the information should really do three things:

1. Fill in another piece of the puzzle
2. Change the course of the main character's thoughts, feelings, or actions
3. Lead to new consequences, actions, or behaviors that move the plot forward

Who? Not just general character information, but character-related plot information. Identity, the past, secrets, changes of heart. Let your characters surprise each other, revealing new information about each other, about things hidden or covered up, about things denied or protected. As much is possible, reveal things through speech for dialogue or action -- avoid the internal monologues.

What? What next, what do the characters need to learn, what does everyone want to know?

Where? Usually not too crucial, although the setting and background are always important. But they are mostly backdrop. If there are crucial details, make sure they are revealed in the scene and play into the plot, that they affect the character, and that they generate actions that lead to other plot related consequences.

When? Historical, or just the season or time of day. Do make sure that time sequences are feasible. This can be startling, contradictory, or unexpected -- especially when someone puts together when something must have happened with where they were and realizes that something isn't quite right.

Why? Motivation. "Don't fall into the habit of explaining why in narrative summary." Work through the actions dialogue, and flashback scenes that show motivation. It's harder, but it also makes the story richer for readers.

How? We all love seeing McGyver whipping out his trusty Swiss pocket knife and combining this and that with a knowledge of arcane details to make something work. Method is one of those things that mystery writers love to work on, but almost any scene and story can use a healthy dash of how. You as the writer need to know how things were done ahead of time, and then reveal this to the reader through dialogue or other methods. The missing clue that explains just how somebody did something -- readers wait for those revelations.

Doling out the answers -- Rosenfeld suggests that we all get in a hurry to give away the answers, but we need to think about small carefully-orchestrated revelations that keep the reader going. Certainly some scenes may reveal several bits of information, but others will have one very important jewel to display. Don't get too rushed. Rosenthal doesn't suggest it, but it might be worthwhile to consider just how you have laid out the information in your story -- if it's all up at the front, then readers don't have anything to look forward to. If it's all at the end, they'll starve before they get there. You need to have small snacks of information scattered throughout the story, kind of like breadcrumbs guiding your readers to the feast at the end.

Rosenfeld does suggest considering the narrative in three parts. Scenes in the first part need to lay the foundation with just enough information to ground the reader, get the reader involved in the action of the significant situation so that the reader knows what the plot is all about, and create mystery or suspense by withholding information. In the middle part, scenes need to raise the ante new and surprising information, force characters to change or redirect their actions due to conflict in danger, and introduce red herrings and false leads. Notice that we're not giving away secrets or crucial plot information that actually resolves the plot. And the third and final part, we tie up all the threads that got going. Answer the questions, reveal truths, conclude the drama, let characters settle into the changes, and make sure that the readers feel a sense of conclusion.

Whenever you're writing a new scene, take a look at the last scene, and think about what the next step for the reader really needs to be. Up the ante, keep the action moving, tie into the initial significant situation, and be full of consequences growing more complicated and then being addressed and resolved, and don't forget the antagonist helping the conflict. Or as Rosenfeld says, pick the next byte of plot information that:

1. Involves your main character
2. Is related to the significant situation or one of the consequences
3. Gives readers the impression of having more knowledge or clues, or revealing new information
4. Adds complications and resolves an earlier complication

Simple, right? And keep all the other dishes spinning on their little sticks at the same time :-)

A bit shy on time today, so let's make the assignment a DIY one. As usual, take the tools from this episode and try exercising them.

In other words, write :-)

When we write, the plot's the thing wherein we'll capture the dreams of a king!