Week 20: Every Scene Begins with a Visual

Imagine you're writing a story. It could be a short story; it could be a novel; it could be a short script that may become a feature length script. But in the process of bringing this story to life, a new scene needs to be added.

The beauty of utilizing story structure is that we, as writers, can know when a scene is needed. Do we need to amp up the emotional beats? Reveal character? Push the story forward in a manner that both amps up the emotional beats and reveals character? Great -- we just have to add a scene.

So, what if you know what the scene needs to contain, but you're not sure how to approach crafting that scene. One way to find the solution is to start with a powerful visual.

Imagine you are passing by when this scene is supposed to take place. What kind of visual would make you want to stop on your path and go in the direction of that scene?

Is it someone clinging to the edge of a cliff? Or a child eating ice cream alone on a park bench? Is it a sunset or even a sunrise? Is it a mysterious woman's trench coat caught in a fitful breeze, the edge of the fabric flitting up and down, then back up again?

If you know the substance of a scene, but are unsure how to start, focus on a visual that opens the scene. This visual could be a turning point in the scene, when it seems all is lost for your protagonist, but then some unforeseen help arrives. The visual could be something to intrigue the reader, to draw them in so they keep reading. Or perhaps the visual reveals character, like a protagonist cutting themselves with a pocket knife. Instead of stopping to tend to the wound, they keep walking -- who is this person? We're asking solely based on a visual.

When in doubt, lean on visuals. They will lead you to the heart of the scene.