Set the Scene

What makes a movie good? Is it the plot, the action, the drama, the comedy, or the music? It’s all of those things of course. Have you ever watched a movie and after some time you decided that it’s a really bad movie and left? I think everyone has seen at least one bad movie in their lifetime. Chances are that the movie was based on a good book. I’m also willing to bet that the movie had a bad screenplay. It simply wasn’t written well.

So much goes into making a movie. The actors have to play their roles well. They don’t even have to be well known actors, as long as they play the characters well. The music has to fit the story or scene. The sets have to be right. In case of a western, you have to have vintage sets, such as a ranch or old west town and vintage costumes. This may be a stretch but can you imagine the local sheriff walking around in a tuxedo with a six shooter hanging from his waist?

As movie goers we can watch the action being played out in front of us. We can SEE the setting. You can see the beautiful mountains in “The Sound of Music” or Tara burning down in “Gone with the Wind.” Reading a novel, we don’t have that advantage. The author has to describe the scene so we can visualize it as the author sees it in his or her mind while creating it.

Let’s say a lone medieval female character is walking through the woods at night. What is she wearing? What’s the weather like? What’s the mood? Obviously there’s a big difference between a clear star filled night and a “dark and stormy” night as Snoopy might write. So our heroine may be scared of something other than the thunder claps roaring above. The wind might be making strange sounds in the trees. Adding to the scene, maybe the wind is making her dress billow and the white top of the dress flare about, and disheveling her hair. As an author you have to describe that scene.

In the next scene the character arrives at her destination, a large room inside of a castle. There is a long heavy table in the center surrounded by padded wooden chairs. She’s having an argument with her lover. The mood is dark and charged. Do you have lots of sconces burning to give lots of light? No. But you might have a fire burning in the chimney, thus creating moving shadows on the cold stone walls of the room. Maybe a chair or two have been knocked over. What is her lover wearing? Do you want him sexy and partially dressed?

I’ve already said that they’re having an argument. Describe the action. They’re being physical with each other and shouting. Communicate that to the reader. Describe how he’s grabbing her and how she’s trying to fend him off. What are they saying (or shouting) to each other? The setting, action and dialogue all create the scene for that reader. Don’t be afraid of detail. Help the reader move from one scene to another.

Happy Writing!

Borough Hall

I have a new feature:

Author of the week!

Aria Michaels

KILLSHOT

How to Start Writing

So you want to become a writer.

I’ve been there. A few years ago I asked myself “What would it be like to write a book? How would I start such a thing?” Well, I started by writing short stories for my self. At first it was just a few pages, less than five in fact. It really doesn’t take long to fill a page with words that eventually lead to a story. Eventually it led to stories of thirty or more pages. At that point I challenged myself to begin writing a book, and started typing away. I admit that I was influenced by the works of other authors for my ideas.

After several months I had my first manuscript written. Manuscript is a book, that hasn’t been accepted by a literary agent yet, nor is it a published work. When I was in my twenties, I managed book store chain satellite location. One of our standard reference books was called ‘Writers Market.’ Writers Market is an excellent resource for finding literary agents and publishers. Since I’d already known about it, I got the latest version. I realized that there were also short pages of advice from other writers included. One of the best ones was simply about “just starting to write.”

That’s true! If you want to become a writer, just start writing, every day. Write whatever comes into your head. Write about your experiences as a child. Write about your passion, be it painting, landscaping, photography or whatever your passion is. Write a diary. The thing is, the more you write, the better you become. New ideas will start coming to you. Write them down. No matter where you are, if an idea comes to you make a note of it, on paper! When you have time, write that idea out and expand on it. Just write!

Think about that book you want to write. If you’re already thinking about a book, then start writing a story line. Start writing paragraph after paragraph. This doesn’t really have to be your book but by writing your story line you’ll have a sort of outline, a beginning. When you feel ready, you’ll already have ideas written out.

That said, you also don’t have to write in your proposed genre. You can write anything at all. Random thoughts! As long as you write daily, no matter what the subject, you’re getting practice. Try to come up with at least a full page every time you write. This means at least one full page per day.

Earlier, I mentioned Writers Market. I highly recommend this book. You don’t have to rush right out for it, but I would suggest you get it before you get too far along with your writing because of the tips and insights it offers.

Until next time, happy writing!

Borough Hall: Conversion