Saying it doesn’t make it—”
“C’mon Rachael, we’ve been over—”
Pablo never listened, always doing it his way. She turned away, hiding her tears. The padlock scraped shut for the last time. His hands were on her shoulders.
“It’ll be alright sis.”
“But, it was—” She turned and buried her face in his chest. “—all he had.”
I was in my favorite used book store and found The Scene Book – A Primer For The Fiction Writer by Sandra Scofield. I’m working through her exercises. The second chapter, Event and Meaning, was an eye opener. I will explain more of what I learned at the end.
1. Reading for event – In scenes, identify the occasion (why the characters are together), the event of the scene (the sum of everything that happened), and the emotion built into the scene (what the characters feel).
To answer this question, I went to the library, and pulled several books at random from the shelves.
A. Waiting by Ha Jin
The occasion – Geng Yang and Lin Kong are in an army hospital.
The event – While Lin and Geng Yang convalesce in a hospital, Lin reveals that he has failed in his attempt to divorce his wife to marry Manna, and Geng Yang promises to help him get his divorce. Continue reading
I was in my favorite used book store and found The Scene Book – A Primer For The Fiction Writer by Sandra Scofield. I’m working through her exercises. The first chapter, The Basics, was just that. I responded to each Scofield’s exercise, posted below.
1. Reflect on something you have seen that made you curious about what you did not see. What might have happened before? What might have happened after?
What did I see?
Driving home, I came around a curve and saw flashing lights. Getting closer, I saw an ambulance and three police cars. Someone’s car had run off the road, crossed someone’s yard, and crashed into a tree. Attendants were wheeling someone to their ambulance.
So, what happened? (Working backward from their accident)
Writer’s use scenes to tell their tales. I subscribe to Jack Bickham’s approach to scene construction. I used his ideas when I wrote my WIP’s first draft. But I never felt as if I really got it.
I was in my favorite used book store and found The Scene Book – A Primer For The Fiction Writer by Sandra Scofield. It’s an older book, and not nearly as entertaining as Bickham or Bell.
Still, I decided I would work through her exercises, and post my answers, just as I have with other books. I’ve decided I won’t begin revising my WIP until I have better command of scenes.
“Of course people are looking,” Janet glared at Gregor
“But..it’s so public.”
“Really?” Janet stroked Taffy. Her golden eyes were so cute. “Three miles from our chimney flue? Nothing closer?”
“How did I know Enchanted Lane wasn’t Enchanted Drive?”
Please accept my story for the Weekly Writing Challenge, Pie.
“But, why can’t I?” Amy asked. “Ella doesn’t know how.”
“Amy, be nice to your cousin.” Mom frowned. “Ella wants to help—”
“But, she isn’t my real cousin.” Amy stamped her foot. “ And Grandma isn’t—”
“Enough, Missy. You aren’t too old to spank.” Mom picked up the other girl. Tears streamed down Ella’s cheeks, glistening in the kitchen lights. “Say you’re sorry Amy.”
“I’m…sorry.” Amy looked away. She wasn’t sorry at all. Mom had promised Amy could bake pies for Grandma. Why did Ella always horn in. “Can we bake it now, Mom, please?”
‘
Relief.
Restless shuffling.
Endless wells of energy.
AND DAYLIGHT WASTING TIME!
One month and a day after I finished the first draft of Scepter’s Sacrifice, I’m still trying to be normal again. I still think about my story, but it’s beginning to fade. I found myself trying to recall all my important characters, and had to look at notes to find two of them. So, I suppose it’s starting to fade.
