Novel Writing Tip: SCENE Writing

NaNoWriMo is under way and your fingers are all over the key board pounding away. Then at some point, if you’re like me, you get stuck and no matter what you do, you feel that you just can’t move forward because this piece is so crucial.

I want to share with you a quick tip on writing your novel that will help you move forward, without that piece done. This way you don’t get stuck, get discouraged, and give up.

SCENE WRITING:

Ok, so I know that not everyone works like this, but if you’re like me when it comes to writing then you see your whole story as a movie, in your mind.

Sometimes when I’m excited about my current WIP, and I’m telling a friend about it, I will actually say “And then in the movie” and I’ll get a funny look from them, “So did you write this or watch it?” They say. “Oh I’m writing and I hope you have the option to read and watch it in the future.” I reply

Here’s what I do.

1. I’ve written down the bones of the story. The basic, skimpy outline.

2. Then I create a fold with each main character Titled “ Max’s Bones”, “Sharon’s Bones” “Kyle’s Bones”

3. In each other those folders I’ll have two more folders. (1) Character sketch (2) SCENES

4. Then I get writing. I read over my outline and as I’m reading a specific SCENE will hit me. Something that I know is going to happen in the book at some point some where.

5. I open the proper SCENE FOLDER and create a document called “What ever the scene is”

EXAMPLE FROM MY CURRENT WIP

As I was at work today sitting at my desk drinking some coffee, I turned around and faced my big dry erase board, and for some reason a tiny scene from my book played in my head. It was a scene where I could see a character frantically writing on the white board, trying to explain a theory about all the craziness happening in a way his love interest would be able to understand.

I quickly opened my IPad, took out my wireless key board, open up my novel writing app  ‘Storiest’, I found the WIP Novel, then the Bones Folder, Then the proper Character’s Bone Folder, then the SCENEs folder and titled a new document THEORY OF SWITCH EXPLAINED.

I started with these words exactly:

SCENE:

And I started describing the movie clip I watched play out in my head.

Remember, that you can always go back later and change things, clean things up, but for now…you need to write.

One of the big reasons that I love SCENE writing is because as I write more and more scene’s more answer come out to help with all the areas I got stuck on earlier.

Another awesome things about SCENE writing, is that so of the best twists come out as you write random scenes.

So if you are stuck, trying to start, or just needing something different to do to refresh everything, give SCENE WRITING a try.

You know, one of my favorite movie series is the Bourne series. I often thought, ‘how in the world did he write that? What a freakin genius.’ And then I watched an interview where the writer said, that all he started with in my mind was one scene, it was the scene in the first Bourne movie when Jason is in the café with the girl, and he starts telling her that he has no clue why he knows every how many cars are in the parking lot and each of their plate numbers, and who has a gun, and all this info.

He had one great scene in his head that he wrote out, and it morphed into an amazing a super successful series.

If you have any idea of any single part of your story, start there, and write it like you see it in the theater of your mind.

Hope this is helpful.

Now I’m off to writing some scenes that I’m excited to get on paper.

SamTheWriter

Signing off.

NaNoWriMo Writing Tips

Ok, so I normally spend more time on my blogs, but since this month I am cranking out 50,000 words with thousands of other NaNoWriters all over the world this month, I am going to make my blogs posts short, but sweet.

The tips I will be throwing out this month are not all for everyday writing. These tips are most geared towards those of you completing a 50,000 word novels.

If you are not familiar with NaNoWriMo (Nation Novel Writer’s Month), I will write more later, but for express info go to www.NaNoWriMo.com.

Ok let’s get into it.

Short and Sweet.

Tip 1 – You have a story in you that needs to be told. Just start writing.

One of the things that really help me here, is writing SCENES. If I’m not sure where to start my story, since I see my stories like a feature movie in my mind. I think about the movie and scenes from it and then grab my paper, computer, IPad (this year) and write – SCENE: And I’m off, creating a scene. It doesn’t matter where in the Novel this scene, or short story, fits. What is important it that a piece of your story is written.

Tip 2 – Don’t let anything stop you…Keep on Moving!

There are a several things that will come up that will cause you to want to stop writing.

The Characters names do not matter right now. If you are stuck on your character’s name, then write down one of the first names that come to mind just to keep yourself moving. YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK WHEN YOU REACH THE FINISH LINE.

Dialog Does Work. Don’t let your character’s dialog do you in. Today I was writing with a fellow author and she got really frustrated and said that she didn’t feel like her dialog felt ‘genuine’ . I reminded her that we have 30 days to produce 50,000 words. Go ahead and skip it for now and move on. Make a note that reminds you what you want the dialog to be about. Then move on and come back later when you are ready.

Writing Yourself Into That Dreaded Corner. This happens a lot. Solution. PRESS ENTER TWICE AND MOVE ON. You may not know where that scene is going, but you do know where another scene going, so step out of the corner and start somewhere else.

Tip 3 – Your Story Has The Answer. I have found that many times as you push on with your story, the story itself will answer your question, or work out the problems that you had to skip. Trust your story.

Remember, KEEP MOVING FORWARD, don’t stop for anything. Write what you do know, skip what you don’t.

HAVE FUN

SamTheWriter,
signing off

The Writer’s Month NaNoWriMo? What’s Your Story?

THE PROBLEM:

There are planets inside of that head of yours trying as hard as they can to get out. You, are the artist, the creator, the only one that has the ability and power to bring those worlds to life.

The characters that live in your mind have no other way to fulfill their purpose, of living out their destinies, in the realm of two-dimensional pages, unless you put them there.

And here you sit; pen in hand, paper laying ready, ink desperately longing to kiss and make contact with that irresistible white page, and yet, you sit.

A TOOL TO BE USED:

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writers Month). I want to encourage you to take advantage of November. To be able to join writer all over the nation: all ages, all genres, all faiths, all cultures, in the spirit of literary creativity to find that encouragement to push yourself forward in your novel writing endeavors.

Sometimes the help that we need, as writers, is nothing more than the knowledge that we are not alone, and that stories are being written, books are being sold, and readers are being born every single moment.

Men and women will continue to write and be published. The biggest reason that writer’s don’t get published, or books get written is simply because they are not being written. It’s stupidly simple, but painfully true.

NaNoWriMo is a month devoted to help you dive back into that pool of creativity, rediscover your dreams, and find the courage to pick up that pen and write.

You Have A Story to Tell

I was at a #140 Conference today in Hutchinson, Kansas, listening to many amazing people share how they use Twitter and other social medias in their daily lives, (I was there for ideas for another blog I am writing and about to launch, which is super exciting…and I’ll share later) and, Andrea Springer, Springer Coaching and Consulting, said, “Everyone has a story to tell.”

That little statement is so true, and it’s a truth that has filled books, entertained readers, and inspired people to make history since time began.

There are so many that have made a living telling their story or someone else’s story. Why not be one of those people? What really is stopping you?

Here’s the Challenge

One month

50,000 words

Anything you want to write about.

 

Check out the official NaNoWriMo web site and get involved.

This post was not at all crazy informative, with all the How-To tips on accomplishing your writing dreams- it wasn’t supposed to. I want to just encourage you, as a writer to a writer; an artist to an artist: Don’t give up, don’t stop. Don’t listen to that silly little voice that says that no one wants to hear or read your story.

Jump in, because you’re a writer. That’s what you are, that’s what you do, you write, you create, you make amazing art; people, places, creatures, planets, and no one, NO ONE, can bring to life the story, with the magic that you can, because it’s yours.

So come on, join me, and many many others on this November Adventure. Go to NaNoWriMo, sign in (you can find me in there too and we can be buddies sweet!) and write, write, write.

…you never know what may happen.

SamTheWriter,

Signing off.

 

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