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!
Showing posts with label tone of book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tone of book. Show all posts
Monday, May 10, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)