Writing a first draft is hard. The idea that you have to sit down and write a whole scene from beginning to end in perfect detail is often overwhelming. However, you shouldn’t feel as though you have to!
When I’m struggling to get into a scene, I use a technique that I’ve come to think of as ‘layering.’
Here’s how it works.
LAYER #1: THE SKELETON
Start by writing the dialogue and basic actions of the scene. For example:
Hannah turned to Joe. “Why are you turning left? The castle’s in the other direction.”
“I know, but we have to pick up Bob first.”
“Why would we do that?”
“Because Bob has the phlebotinum!*”
“Oh, of course!”
Joe turned right and they kept driving.
LAYER #2: SCENE-SETTING
For your second layer, add scene-setting details. Where are they? What are they seeing, hearing or feeling in their environment?
As Joe and Hannah sped down the freeway, Hannah turned the air con to full blast. It was sweltering inside Joe’s beaten-down tin can of a car.
Hannah noticed Joe indicate left as they approached the next turn-off.
“Why are you taking this exit?” she said, voice raised over the country music blaring out of the car speakers. “The castle’s further along.”
“I know, but we have to pick up Bob first.”
“Why would we do that?”
“Because John has the phlebotinum!”
“Oh, of course!”
Joe turned off the freeway and drove towards Bob’s house.
LAYER #3: POV CHARACTER
For your third layer, focus on your point of view character. In this example, it’s Hannah. How do we place the reader in her head? What is she doing? Thinking? Feeling?
As Joe and Hannah sped down the freeway, Hannah turned the air con to full blast. It was sweltering inside Joe’s beaten-down tin can of a car, and her whole back was sticky with sweat where it pressed against the leather seat.
Hannah noticed Joe indicate left as they approached the next turn-off.
“Why are you taking this exit?” she said, voice raised over the country music blaring out of the car speakers. “The castle’s further along.”
“I know, but we have to pick up Bob first.”
Hannah scrunched up her nose. She hated Bob. The idea of having him in the car with them made this already unpleasant journey almost unbearable. “Why would we do that?”
“Because Bob has the phlebotinum!” Joe said. Hannah remembered the crystal gem that Joe had mailed to Bob for safe-keeping, all those months ago.
“Oh, damn, that’s right…” Hannah groaned, leaning back against her car seat.
Joe turned off the freeway and drove towards Bob’s house. What choice did they have?
LAYER #4: OTHER CHARACTER(S)
For your fourth (and subsequent) layer(s), focus on each of your non-POV characters in turn. In this case, it’s John. How do we imply his thoughts and feelings, without going inside his head?
As Joe and Hannah sped down the freeway, Hannah turned the air con to full blast. It was sweltering inside Joe’s beaten-down tin can of a car, and her whole back was sticky with sweat where it pressed against the leather seat.
Hannah noticed Joe indicate left as they approached the next turn-off.
“Why are you taking this exit?” she said, voice raised over the country music blaring out of the car speakers. Joe had chosen the radio station, and he was an avid country music fan – something that Hannah had never been able to understand. “The castle’s further along.”
“I know, but we have to pick up Bob first.”
Hannah scrunched up her nose. She hated Bob. The idea of having him in the back of the car with them made this already unpleasant drive almost unbearable. “Why would we do that?”
“Because Bob has the phlebotinum!” Joe said, exasperated. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and she suspected that the bead of sweat running down his forehead was not entirely due to the heat. Hannah remembered the crystal gem that Joe had mailed to Bob for safe-keeping, all those months ago.
“Oh, damn, that’s right…” Hannah groaned, leaning back against her car seat.
With a jerky movement, Joe turned off the freeway and drove towards Bob’s house. What choice did they have?
And that’s it! Add as many or as few layers as you think is necessary for your scene.