I was working on my new WIP and noticed that the scene I had just finished was dragging. It occurred to me that writers are suppose to get into a scene late and get out early. I remember reading somewhere that the writers chant is, "In late, out early."
A writer should come into the conflict as late as possible and leave as early as you can often before the conflict is over. That is good reading. I wish I could remember where I heard it because it's great advice. If you think of each scene that way you shouldn't have any scenes that drag.
I decided to take out the extra baggage from the beginning, middle and end. It worked! I saw that I had too much extra 'stuff' in. When I took that out the scene worked. I did add a sentence in the beginning and a little in the middle. In other words, I had empty words in the scene. Once I dumped them, I was in business.
How do you fix those dreary scenes and add luster to them so that they aren't ugh.
I highlight the 'action sentences' in red. I highlight the 'explanatory sentences' in blue. If I have too much blue, it's time to cut. Very similiar to your method. I do something similiar to my gerunds, adverbs and adjectives and passive verbs. If there is too much of one color-I see it right away.
ReplyDeleteKristi, very good way to help you SEE what needs changing. If I don't do things like this I can't notice these things no matter how many times I read my MS. :)
ReplyDeleteUgh scenes! Too funny.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I remove an entire scene. Other times I think about what else is going on around the characters to add some external conflict.
Yep, you're totally right. I know when I find scenes that are dragging, it's because I don't have enough conflict.
ReplyDeletePJ, That's how those types of scenes make me feel--UGH! :) That's a great way... to think about what's going on around the characters which helps in adding the conflict. :)
ReplyDeleteBJ, you're right after PJ. :) Anywhooo, CONFLICT is the name of the game. And every page MUST have it in some way. Hope the editing is going!! :0)
ReplyDeleteRobyn, I'm like you. I cut and cut and cut. Anything that feels extraneous or even slightly redundant is removed. Then, when I have the remaining stuff, I ask if it feels unique. If it isn't, if it's too generic in any way, I cut that too. I wish I could say that my writing choices required a lot of creativity, but right now I feel like it's a matter of selectivity.
ReplyDeleteDavin, what I wish I could say, is that when I write I write so tight that I don't need to cut much. I want to get to that point, SOMEDAY! :)
ReplyDeleteRobyn, I just deleted three Ugh scenes! It felt great to get rid of the baggage. I love Kristi's suggestion to highlight different aspects of the scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me a lot to think about.
Tamika, Doesn't it empower you to write tighter and stronger so that you won't have to delete? It does me. I am trying to see just how tight I can write. It's HARD! :)
ReplyDeleteI've deleted so many ugh scenes. It feels really good!
ReplyDeleteSusan, YEAH! Feels good!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Susan, I just realized I need to hop over to your blog. Lazy Writer is now gone, replaced by your name. You must have made a decision. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of highlighting different parts of a scene - so nice and visual! I tend to write off the top of my head, and then cut and cut when I'm revising. Getting into the conflict late and coming out early is great advice.
ReplyDeleteBelle, thanks and conflict on every page. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it cool when WIP work and brain power work collaboratively? :)
ReplyDelete