In this throwback post from last year’s NaNoWriMo, you’ll learn how to write scenes that make your reader crave more—and will get you excited about writing more!
Last week I shared my tips for Speed-Writing Your First Draft. Yesterday I talked about the five building blocks of a story. Today I’m giving you three elements of scene. In the weeks to follow, I’ll give you some benchmarks and plot ideas to keep you from getting stuck.
Every scene needs a goal (the beginning), conflict (the middle), and sequel (the end).
Goal
Your character needs to have overarching goals to push the story forward (download my free goal and backstory worksheet). At the midpoint, he or she will adapt, change, or redirect the Big Goal.
But each scene needs to have a minor goal, a step-stone goal.
These goals need to be external and active to drive the story forward and keep the reader reading.
Introspection is neither external nor active; it’s internal and passive. It belongs at the end of each scene.
Running away from something requires movement and…
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