After a hiatus due to Co-vid, we are back in business here at Write That Novel--ready to help writers get through these difficult days of struggling to either find time to write, or the will to jump back into our fictitious worlds. Writing fiction can be difficult when there is so much nasty reality staring us in the face. But sometimes it can be fun to escape and to give our characters, our settings and our problems something WE can control. So, with that in mind, let's jump back into the world of fiction and work on how to become even better writers in a world we can create and control.
Writers are always looking for ways to hook their readers. We all want to draw in those readers with our words, our characters, our plots and our stories. We want ways to capture their attention and then to keep them reading our stories and then look for more books we may be writing.
One way to keep those readers turning the pages and coming back to look for our names on books is to keep working on our craft and improving how we write our stories. With that in mind let's look today at developing and writing Scenes and the use of Hooks.
Those elements are the handy writing tools that can work together to do the job of pulling in and then hooking readers. Simply put, most scenes need to propel the story forward. A scene without meaning is useless. Look at why you are including each and every scene in your book. If it doesn't have a purpose, there is no reason for it.
Beyond that, then look at how you might use a hook to keep the plot moving forward. Scenes that end with some kind of a hook really propels the plot. A sudden problem or dilemma coming at the very end of a scene can keep the reader turning the page instead of turning out the light and going to bed. Some scenes might even become stronger with an opening hook.
Still another way to use use scenes is as you plot your book. Instead of a vague outline you can plot by actually using multiple scenes. Many writers use index cards to plot putting one scene to an index card or you might use a separate page in the computer. This method is great for the writers who don't like to come up with a formal outline because each scene can be written individually and then shuffled around to come up with the desired plot. Each scene can be moved back or forth until it is in the "right" place.
A scene shows what happens as the action or the emotional problems/reactions unfold minute by minute. A typical book of let's say 85 to 90,000 words has about 70 or so scenes, give or take a few depending on the length of each scene, with each scene moving the story forward or giving the reader insight in the growth of the main protagonist. Let's look at what we need as you write settings:
Each scene should have a small plot in it.
Remember time and setting. Where is the action taking place. A confused reader will put down your book if they don't know where the characters are and how much time has passed since the last scenes.
As part of the action of the scene, the character MUST react in some manner either to the previous scenes problem or to the plot's overall situation and also show an emotional change or reaction
Always remember motivation the reader needs to know (the motivation behind the character's actions) and understand the goal of the protagonist4
The conflict can be in the action, or it can be in the emotional tension and finally the protagonist or whoever has that scene's POV needs to make some sort of a decision.
Scenes can be a variety of lengths, depending on what you choose to include. Some action-filled scenes may run two to three pages, while a simple conversation may be only half a page...but, on the other hand, it could also be three or four pages. It all depends on your style, genre and whose POV the scene is in.
Use your setting to enhance each scene, to pull your readers into the character's world, but the main things to remember is you write each scene is that the scene must propel the story forward. Each scene needs a reason. If a scene does not serve a purpose, then that scene should be deleted.
Keep in mind as you begin to put the
scenes in order that you will want a variety of action-packed scenes intermixed
with slower scenes or reflective moments.
Too many fast-moving scenes coming one right after another can leave a
reader breathless, while too many long, emotional scenes can lull a reader to
sleep.
Mix the length of the scenes with a progression that makes sense in moving the story forward and that allows the reader time to think and react along with the characters.
Remember - Each scene needs to contain a reaction to what has just happened or to the dilemma with the choices to be decided upon. A decision, which reveals the character's determination and the direction of the overall plot and some type of goal set up for the next scene should end the scene. This is where you can make good use of the hook.
Try a hook:
1 - At the end of a scene (or chapter) so the reader will keep turning the pages
2 - At the beginning of the scene to get the reader "hooked" into reading all of the following pages.
3. At the end of the chapter -- this is the most frequently used way because just like at the end of a scene the reader wants to keep going, but this is a bigger commitment moving on to the next chapter.
A famous use of hooks that I can relate to that you probably see every day if you watch newscasts is the last comments a news anchor makes before throwing to a commercial. As a news producer many years ago, I wrote "teases" before each commercial aimed at keeping viewers seated or wanting to come back for the next news segment. Those were "hooks" -- reasons for viewers to stay tuned, and that is the same way you use a "hook." Keep your readers with you by the use of a hook.
You might see that in books where the writer puts in an action event at the end of a chapter. Are you going to put that book down before you fall asleep? Probably not!
Learning the basics of the writing process, including hooks can keep your readers enjoying your work.
Happy writing and good luck
