Scenes: The Building Blocks of Novels - Page 2
© Kim Kay
Each scene will have some information which is directly expressed and some which is implied. Direct information is the characters' thoughts, actions, and dialogue. Implied information is revealed by how you present your scene. If one scene was used to show the reader that the main character is painfully shy, instead of telling, you would show it through their actions and other direct information.
Your scenes should vary in intensity to keep the reader from getting either bored or emotionally drained. Intensity level is determined by the importance of winning the conflict in each scene, the risks involved, and the resolution of the conflict. Generally, scenes near the climax of the novel will be more intense than ones in the middle.
Your scenes may also vary in length. There is no formula for determining the "right" length of a scene. It can be anywhere from a couple of sentences to several pages. Basically, a scene needs to be long enough to achieve its purpose. In action scenes, for example, the scene ends when the conflict of that scene is resolved and the character(s) involved either learn something or are a step closer to (or farther from) his or her primary goal.
When writing the scenes of your novel, make every one have a purpose and let them flow one into the next. In you achieve these two things, you will be well on your way to creating an enjoyable and tightly written novel.
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