Today's random question can help the tone of a scene. If you're in the middle of your first draft and worried the scene you're writing resembles an earlier scene, imagine the current action taking place twelve hours later. If the scene takes place at noon, imagine it playing out at midnight or vice-versa.
The time of day affects our moods. Things can seem darker, heavier at night or they can glimmer with excitement in a way they wouldn't during the day. Mentally switching times can add a little sparkle to a blah chapter. Of course, you're not rewriting the scene, you're just imagining how it would play out.
Let's throw a quick scenario out there.
Setting: John's farmhouse, Saturday 11:00am, springtime
Players: Tessa and John
Scene Question: Will Tessa convince John to attend a wedding with her?
Set-up: John is anti-social while Tessa is a nervous Nelly, desperate to have a date to a co-worker's wedding. And for some reason John is the only person on the planet she can ask.
The time, 11:00am, evokes thoughts of sunshine and innocence. Maybe a breeze plays through her hair as she waits for him to answer the door. Butterflies flutter. She's a bundle of nerves, but it's sunny and there's a bunny hopping nearby, so she'll be fine. Happy times, right?
Switch it to 11:00pm. The front porch looms in darkness. The sound of owls and possibly coyotes taunt her as she waits. The wind lashes at her hair. Her gaze falls on a huge, ugly spider, and she shivers as she waits for him to answer the door.
The entire mood of the scene shifts when you use this exercise. Maybe the first scenario fits your book best, but if you're worried your scenes are becoming one-note in the tone or mood, try this. You might be surprised at the depth it adds.
Do your middle scenes ever seem repetitive because of their tone?
Join me on Wednesday for another random question!
oh, good idea. I'll keep this one in mind.
ReplyDeleteCleaver, Jill. I like this and will see if any of my scenes can benefit.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. Changing the time can alter the entire scene.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I'd never considered changing the time of day like this, but it definitely would put a new spin on situations. A great tip, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea. I never thought of switching up a scene that way!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how much this helps me right now. This is just what I need to do to one of my scenes. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jill! It is so easy to forget about time of day when we're engaged in a scene. Your post reminds me to take a step back and look at all the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion, Jill! I really like the idea of trying to vary the times and settings of our scenes. I try to pay attention to how often I'm using the same place or time and try to vary it. If possible I try to pay attention to the weather too.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great suggestion, Jill! I'm getting close to plotting my chapters for my new WIP so I'm definitely going to keep this in mind. I LOVE the setting of my WIP, so it will be fun to play with different times of day. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion Jill. Changing the time of day will definitely change the perspective. My scenes generally take place during the day but I see I need to shake them up! Into the night I go.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good reminder to avoid repetition in our scenes. I try to vary the time of day as well as the settings. In the past, I tended to have too many scenes take place during a meal. When I come across one of those during revisions, I force myself to change it.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite (over-used) setting, Jill?
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I repeat MANY things in my novels! Tone, setting, words, phrases. I think I'll always be in recovery for repetitiveness.
I like to introduce several settings within a story and stick to them, but (this is just my opinion) I don't think readers want a different setting in each scene! They want the comfort of the MC's home, or her place of employment, etc.. However, just because the setting is the same, doesn't mean the feel of the scene should be.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
You are brilliant, Jill! I haven't run into this problem yet, but now I'm prepared if I do. :D
ReplyDeleteYou are a thinker!!!
ReplyDeleteSigh. I hope my middle doesn't sag!!!
I try to "scene hop" to liven things up or throw in a storm, either figurative or actual!
Book four will have a Texas tornado!!
P
Great, great idea!! I am definitely going to try this. I do struggle with feeling like the middle suffers from "sameness syndrome" sometimes. I love this idea! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I will be trying this out for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys. Any little way we can switch things up helps!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
Love this exercise. I'll have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing it:)
ReplyDeleteExcellent thought! Thank you Jill.
ReplyDeleteI agree most of my scenes take place at night in my current WIP and it does evoke the mood I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteYou're so clever! :O)
ReplyDeleteHi Jill -
ReplyDeleteThanks for this new exercise to liven up our scenes. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Oh this is excellent! What a great idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't considered this but see that it's true. Hmm...something to keep in mind for when I'm trying to freshen a scene. thanks!
ReplyDeleteJill, this is one of those things I haven't given a thought to. Great suggestion!
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Jill! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you coming over and commenting! Thanks so much for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteWhoa!!! You are so smart. I am gonna use this one for sure. Thanks oodles!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those things that you rarely stop to think about, but it's so true! I love your description of it Jill! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome thought! I never before thought to do that with a scene:) But I will now! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteChanging the time of day certainly changes the mood,doesn't it? Great idea.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't write fiction, this was a good exercise for me! Even thinking through some of the recent fiction I've read and imaging if the author would have incorporated this idea - what a different story might have evolved. Keep the random questions coming, Jill!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm pretty sure some of my scenes have been repetitive. I love using the night in my scenes though! Moonlight can be both romantic and ominous.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'm always thinking about the five senses, this adds something new for me. Awesome isn't a big enough word to describe the photo!
ReplyDelete