EDITING: Scenes
Functions of Scenes
- Move story forward
- Reveal character
- Reveal backstory
- Foreshadow the future
- Add description, ambiance and tone
- Provide action
General
- Have as many of the five senses as possible been used in each scene?
- Is each scene told from the best possible Point Of View?
- Does each scene perform at least three of the scene functions?
- Is there a good balance between dialogue, narrative, backstory, and action?
- Does each scene have a beginning, a middle, and an end?
- Is it clear at the beginning of each scene what the character’s goal is for the scene?
- Does the ending of each scene relate to the scene goal?
- Are there too many scenes alike?
- Are the scenes fresh and not relying on clichéd romantic moments?
- Does each scene hold the reader’s interest?
- Is there conflict in the scene, something emotional that forces a character to take action or make a decision?
- Have all weak scenes been eliminated?
- Is any necessary information missing from the scenes?
- Are there missing scenes?
- Are the scenes in the right place in the story line?
- Can a scene be made stronger by adding dialogue or action?
- Can a scene be made stronger by removing unnecessary dialogue or action?
- Is too much time spent moving the characters around from location to location?
Story Movement
- Does each scene move the story forward?
- Are things within the story moving too quickly or too slowly?
- Is each scene the best possible choice to express conflict, character development, and motivation at that point in the story?
- Does the cliffhanger ending of one scene (or chapter) lead to the sequel (starling opening) of the next scene/chapter?
- Are there abrupt endings of scenes and flat openings of the next scene?
- Do the subplot lines not directly advance the main plot?
