Writing Your Novel One Scene at a Time
8 Options To Propel Your Efforts
Each chapter in your novel will include at least one scene. Scenes are an important part of any novel, novella, or short story. Scenes are the parts of the story where the plot and characters change. They are the point where the story develops, the plot builds, and the story advances. But should you write chapters as one long scene or break that chapter down into multiple scenes? That is the topic of this article and I’ll explore 8 options to help you decide how you want to approach writing your next novel.
ONE | What Are Scenes?
To create a cohesive story structure, a writer uses scenes to form chapters. I usually write scenes in an order that is chronological, but for some stories, the order of the scenes is not critical. Scenes make a novel come alive. Using scenes helps show the dramatic action taking place and tells the story in a more engaging way.
Using scenes to form chapters is a way to create thematic unity in your writing. It's a technique that allows for a holistic view of a longer work of writing. Using scenes to create chapters leads to a cohesive story.
In short, scenes are those snippets of information, settings, and character dialogue that, when combined, form a complete chapter.
TWO | Are Multiple Scenes Necessary?
Some will tell you that individual scenes are unnecessary to create chapters. Some writers, myself included, find it difficult to pen a novel of any substantial length without using scenes. With the use of scenes, I can break my chapters into more manageable sections.
I think that multiple chapter scenes are essential for a well-rounded and interesting story. Without using different scenes, my characters could not explore their world and uncover the mysteries hidden within it. Using scenes allows me to weave together various aspects of the plot, developing subplots that connect to the overall arc of the narrative.
With scenes, I can introduce important characters and events as they emerge throughout the course of my story. By creating multiple scenes, I can make sure that every element of my plot is relevant and serves its purpose in progressing the narrative. With different chapter scenes comes new opportunities for conflict, resolution and even suspense; this keeps readers interested and invested in my work. Together, these elements make up a powerful novel that has a clear beginning, middle and end–something only achievable with careful crafting of several chapter scenes.
THREE | Do Multiple Scene’s Help?
If you feel like your chapters don't flow very well, it may benefit you to break those chapters down into scenes. Think of it as breaking each chapter down into sections that appear more like a scene in a movie? Some writers are hesitant to use multiple scenes when writing a book because they fear it will make the story choppy. But I feel individual scenes are an important part of structuring a book to make it easier to read and understand. Consider this example.
Scene 1:
Jim, a recent college graduate, is feeling overwhelmed as he starts his new job. He nervously enters the lobby of the corporate office building, feeling small and out of place in the towering high rise.
Scene 2:
Jim rides the elevator up to the top floor, where he’ll be starting his job. His palms sweat as he stands among a crowd of business professionals. As the elevator slowly rises higher and higher, Jim feels his anxiety growing.
Scene 3:
The elevator stops at Jim’s floor and everyone steps out into a bustling workspace. He takes a deep breath and walks down the hallway to find his cubicle. When he arrives, he takes another moment to prepare himself before heading in to meet his supervisor.
Using multiple scenes helps the writing process by providing more details about each part of the story and creating vivid imagery for readers. Each scene can serve its own purpose within the chapter while helping to move the story forward. By utilizing several scenes, readers get a clearer sense of how Jim is feeling during his first day at work and what his environment looks like around him.
FOUR | How Many Scenes Per Chapter?
It’s hard to say how many scenes should be in a chapter because it depends on the length of your chapters. The number of scenes in a chapter is up to the author's preference. Chapter scenes of your book are like the scenes in a movie, providing a glimpse into the story. There is no definitive answer about how many scenes to include. If you are a Plotter, you probably are in a better position to determine beforehand how many scenes your chapters require. Pantsers are just the opposite. They will let the characters, their situations, mood, or current experience determine the number of scenes required.
A chapter should contain enough scenes so that the reader can understand the story. A chapter should include a climax and resolution. One way to make sure you have enough scenes is to divide your chapters into three sections: beginning, middle, and end.
FIVE | Scene and Chapter Differences?
A scene is a distinct part of the story. It usually begins and ends in a particular location and is commonly told from the point of view of one or more characters. Scenes are individual parts of a larger section of your work. Scenes have more dialogue than other sections of the novel. A scene is the smallest unit of a novel. It is the shortest, most vivid part of a story. Using scenes can keep the reader in the story. Scenes are typically shorter and more focused than chapters, so it’s easy to identify where one begins and the other ends.
Chapters are larger units of a novel. They allow the reader to learn about different parts of the story. They are longer and usually contain more than a single scene. Using chapters, the reader can decide how long they want to read for. Some people like to read for hours on end and some people like to read for a few minutes at a time. Chapter breaks make the story easier to follow, but they also allow readers to pause and reflect on what they just read.
SIX | Should Scenes Be Long or Short?
I base the length of a scene on how much information I need to present for the reader to understand the story. If a scene is too short, there is not enough information for the reader to understand what is going on. If a scene is too long, it can become boring and difficult to read. Brief scenes can be more exciting because they keep the reader on the edge of their seat waiting for the next one, but long scenes can be better for those who don't have a lot of time to read. Chapter breaks make the story easier to follow, but they also allow readers to pause and reflect on what they just read.
Scenes in a novel should be long or short based on the type of novel they are in. For example, if the novel is a mystery, it is best to have quick scenes so that the reader can easily follow along. If the novel is more of a romance, it is best to have long scenes so that the reader can really get immersed in the story. Long scenes can create a sense of suspense or can develop characters, while short scenes are perfect for a quick read.
The bottom line is that it’s important to write the scene the way you want to, and not the way you perceive someone else may want you to write it.
SEVEN | Any Upsides to Using Scenes?
Breaking your chapters down into scenes can help your readers better understand and follow the story. Sometimes, when you start a story, you may not know where to go with it. Breaking your chapters down into scenes will help you focus on what is important and give you a clear direction. It helps to create a more cohesive narrative and allows the reader to focus on a certain event or plot Point in the story. Using scenes can help you organize your thoughts and keep your story advancing. It's a good idea to have an outline or a rough plot in mind before you write a scene.
So here’s where I should reiterate the fact that, as I’ve mentioned in other articles, I don’t outline my works (See this article for more.) But, regarding scenes, I kind of do. I outline scenes in my head to make sure they apply to the chapter’s structure.
EIGHT | Any Downsides to Using Scenes?
The downside of using chapter scenes in your novel is that it can make the book harder to read. Some people prefer to read a book from beginning to end, so every time they open up the book, they have to start at the beginning and read through to the end. There are also some people who would rather read a book in a different order than the order the author intended.
Another potential downside is that a scene can take away from the action and make the reader feel as if the story drags on.
I honestly don’t agree with any of the ideas in this section, but in the interest of presenting different views on the subject, I thought it relevant to include it.
Conclusion
Using chapter scenes is a powerful tool that can help you as a writer. If you find it difficult to get motivated when writing the next chapter of your book, using chapter scenes is a great way to combat that. Breaking your chapters down into scenes not only keeps your reader engaged, it also helps you structure the chapter. Your readers are more likely to remain engaged if you use scenes to create an eagerness to see what happens next.
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