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| Jill Kemerer |
Hey everyone, Annette here. Do you prefer writing or rewriting? When I'm working on my own projects, I refer writing—that gush of words pouring onto the screen. When it comes time to edit, here's some great advice from author Jill Kemerer for deciding what scenes to keep:
Is this Scene Necessary?
by
Jill Kemerer
In
spite of my best intentions when revising, I often get lost in the story and
forget to ask key questions about a scene. Even if the scene is fun to read, I
can usually give it more impact by stepping back and asking myself a series of
questions. It takes more time to revise this way, but it’s worth it.
To determine if the scene is necessary, I
analyze it based on the following:
1. Scene
question: Is there a yes or no question being asked early in the scene?
(Example: will Susie convince John to help his sister?)
2. Is
there a clear progression that provides tension, keeping the reader turning the
page? This can be done in several ways.
A. GMC
(goal, motivation, conflict): Sometimes the character will have a scene
goal. Show his motivation for obtaining it. Then present conflicts to prevent
the character from getting it. As soon as the character either achieves or
fails to achieve his goal, end the scene.
B.
ARD (action, reaction, decision):
Another option is to have something happen (action) that the character
naturally reacts to. After this reaction, the character decides to do something
about it. End the scene as soon as the character makes the decision.
C.
Sequel. A sequel is a transition
between action scenes. This is where the character experiences emotional
fallout from the previous scene, reflects on what just happened, and makes a
goal-oriented decision forward.
If
you can’t find a clear scene question in the first three paragraphs, look for a
scene goal. If you can’t find a scene goal, try to find an action, reaction, or decision. If these aren’t obvious either, the scene isn’t furthering the plot.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to cut the scene. Brainstorm ways to add
a story question, GMC, or ARD.
By
taking extra time and asking these questions, you’ll make sure every scene in
your novel is not only necessary, but vital.
What
is your best revising tip?
Thanks so much for hosting me today!
Great having you, Jill!
~~~~~
Jill Kemerer writes inspirational
romance novels with love, humor, and faith. A full time writer and homemaker,
she relies on coffee and chocolate to keep up with her kids’ busy schedules.
Besides spoiling her
mini-dachshund, Jill adores magazines, M&MS, fluffy animals, and long nature
walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please
visit her website www.jillkemerer.com
and find her on Facebook
and Twitter.
~~~~~
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| Small-Town Bachelor |
Small-Town
Bachelor
A Place to Call Home
When Reed Hamilton arrives in Lake Endwell for a family
wedding, he expects to do his part as best man then head back to the big city.
But when a tornado postpones the wedding, the town is in shambles and Reed is
injured. Thankfully maid of honor Claire Sheffield offers him one of her
cottages to recuperate in.
Dedicated to her family and her dream job at the zoo, Claire
is all about roots. She's this city slicker's opposite, yet as they help the
town rebuild, Reed is captivated by her stunning looks and caring ways. He
can't ask Claire to leave the life she loves for him, but he also can't imagine
ever leaving her behind…
Interested
in buying Small-Town Bachelor? Click on http://jillkemerer.com/books/small-town-bachelor/ for links to
purchase!
