Comments on: The Art and Science of Writing Scenes http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Mon, 21 May 2012 04:17:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: James Thayer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17840 James Thayer Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:12:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17840 This is a terrific post regarding scenes. Let me add: one of the best definitions of a scene I've come across is from Jack Bickham: a scene is "a segment of story action, written moment-by-moment, without summary, presented onstage in the story ‘now.’ It is not something that goes on inside a character’s head; it is physical. It could be put on the theater stage and acted out." In a handout for a course on novel writing he used to teach at the University of Victoria, Jack Hodgins defines a scene as "a unit of continuous prose narrative, taking place in one location, in which we see and hear characters close-up, in order to move the story ahead by showing what is accomplished when one or more characters (or one character and a significant object) come together in a way that someone (perhaps everyone) pursues a goal and either succeeds, fails, or partially succeeds or fails, or lays the groundwork for succeeding (or failing) later." This is a terrific post regarding scenes. Let me add: one of the best definitions of a scene I’ve come across is from Jack Bickham: a scene is “a segment of story action, written moment-by-moment, without summary, presented onstage in the story ‘now.’ It is not something that goes on inside a character’s head; it is physical. It could be put on the theater stage and acted out.” In a handout for a course on novel writing he used to teach at the University of Victoria, Jack Hodgins defines a scene as “a unit of continuous prose narrative, taking place in one location, in which we see and hear characters close-up, in order to move the story ahead by showing what is accomplished when one or more characters (or one character and a significant object) come together in a way that someone (perhaps everyone) pursues a goal and either succeeds, fails, or partially succeeds or fails, or lays the groundwork for succeeding (or failing) later.”

]]> By: Friday Free for All for March 25th, 2011 | T.N. Tobias http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17841 Friday Free for All for March 25th, 2011 | T.N. Tobias Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:39:45 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17841 [...] The art of writing scenes. @ Advanced Fiction Writing Blog [...] […] The art of writing scenes. @ Advanced Fiction Writing Blog […]

]]> By: Cori Fedyna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17842 Cori Fedyna Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:29:16 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17842 Here's a plug for Writing Fiction for Dummies. I borrowed a copy from the library, but then realized that I just HAD to have my own copy. Btw, my copy features yellow highlighted sections, notes in the margin and a couple of post-it flags. From beginning to end it holds tips that will really shorten the novel writing learning curve. Over the years, I have read many "How To.." books on fiction writing. If I were asked to pick only one novel writing reference as my resource, Randy's book is without a doubt my first choice. I love the structure of the book--so left brained and practical! The conversational tone, just as in Randy's blogs and ezine, makes the writing concepts easier to grasp. Thumbs up! Randy sez: Thanks for the plug, Cori! Writing the book was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We had a short time schedule and we wanted it to be a comprehensive introduction to fiction writing. It almost killed us all, but we got it done on time. Here’s a plug for Writing Fiction for Dummies. I borrowed a copy from the library, but then realized that I just HAD to have my own copy. Btw, my copy features yellow highlighted sections, notes in the margin and a couple of post-it flags.

From beginning to end it holds tips that will really shorten the novel writing learning curve. Over the years, I have read many “How To..” books on fiction writing. If I were asked to pick only one novel writing reference as my resource, Randy’s book is without a doubt my first choice. I love the structure of the book–so left brained and practical! The conversational tone, just as in Randy’s blogs and ezine, makes the writing concepts easier to grasp. Thumbs up!

Randy sez: Thanks for the plug, Cori! Writing the book was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. We had a short time schedule and we wanted it to be a comprehensive introduction to fiction writing. It almost killed us all, but we got it done on time.

]]> By: Carol Moncado http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17858 Carol Moncado Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:10:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17858 Great post! I have the free ebook from a couple months ago but noticed it was 9.99 right now so ordered the hard copy. Where does one get the rebate info? Great post!

I have the free ebook from a couple months ago but noticed it was 9.99 right now so ordered the hard copy. Where does one get the rebate info?

]]> By: Carol Moncado http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17859 Carol Moncado Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:10:39 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/03/24/the-art-and-science-of-writing-scenes/#comment-17859 Never mind ;). Found it lurking on the Amazon site =D. Never mind ;).

Found it lurking on the Amazon site =D.

]]>