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soc_puppetNear as I can tell, what follows is roughly the Socchan School of Writing Scenes:
1) What is the first thing in this scene that a character needs to be doing?
1a) As in, if you didn't show the character doing this, you would have to write exposition of them doing this
1b) Like, a lot of exposition. Not just one or two sentences.
1c) Honestly, if you have to go into exposition to get to the exposition that explains this scene, back up a step.
1d) Don't go too far back, though! We don't need to be here all month.
2) What exactly is the character doing?
2a) Why are they doing this thing:
2a1) In this way?
2a2) At this time?
2b) Is there anything else we need to know about what they're doing right now?
3) Now that you have things to talk about as you do so, write the next thing that the character needs to do.
3a) Rinse and repeat until you get to the end of the scene.
4) Got it all? All the way to the end?
4a) Great!
4b) Go back to 1 with the next first thing a character needs to be doing.
4b1) Repeat until you run out of things you want/need characters to do.
*shrug* I think that's about it, anyway. Now I just need to not overthink this as I work <_< ....
1) What is the first thing in this scene that a character needs to be doing?
1a) As in, if you didn't show the character doing this, you would have to write exposition of them doing this
1b) Like, a lot of exposition. Not just one or two sentences.
1c) Honestly, if you have to go into exposition to get to the exposition that explains this scene, back up a step.
1d) Don't go too far back, though! We don't need to be here all month.
2) What exactly is the character doing?
2a) Why are they doing this thing:
2a1) In this way?
2a2) At this time?
2b) Is there anything else we need to know about what they're doing right now?
3) Now that you have things to talk about as you do so, write the next thing that the character needs to do.
3a) Rinse and repeat until you get to the end of the scene.
4) Got it all? All the way to the end?
4a) Great!
4b) Go back to 1 with the next first thing a character needs to be doing.
4b1) Repeat until you run out of things you want/need characters to do.
*shrug* I think that's about it, anyway. Now I just need to not overthink this as I work <_< ....
no subject
Date: 2018-08-14 05:32 pm (UTC)Thank you! This was an interesting exercise, and I'd have probably spent way more time on internal lives without using it. As that's my default state (hah) it's good to try new things. :3
(ehehehe language barriers are fun)
no subject
Date: 2018-08-14 06:06 pm (UTC)If you ever figure out your basic scene-writing recipe, I'd be interested in giving that a try, myself :3 I like my style and it works well for me, but I'm sure I would learn new and interesting things about it and others' styles by trying a different method!
no subject
Date: 2018-08-14 06:52 pm (UTC)0 Optionally: set the emotional tone. Usually this is a short descriptive bit, anything from a piece of set dressing that reflects the scene, to a character making a small motion or realizing something.
If you don't do that, drop the scene in media res and let'er rip. :D
The following cycle can be started at any point, but I don't usually feel like I've done a good job with a scene unless I've gone all the way around.
1 Active POV character feels or thinks something. If this matches the tone already present, it should build on it. If it contrasts, show why that's important.
2 Active POV character does or says something that draws from their internal life. Show how they're modulating what they feel for their audience. If they don't do anything at all, don't write that, just GOTO 3.
3 Non-POV characters* interact and move to their own agendas and the story's needs. If the POV character needs something** for matters to advance, think about what you need to set that up and take a step. This step may repeat if there's a lot of non-POV characters present, such as multi-partner conversation scenes or other complex situations.
4 Active POV character perceives or doesn't as necessary and appropriate to character. GOTO 1.
Cycle as many times as you need to get the scene done, then optionally:
5 add an envoy to link this scene to the next one, to a later plot element, or backward to a previous scene. This shouldn't happen on /all/ the scenes but I am unreasonably fond of them.
*I include things like the weather, the setting, or the world at large as non-POV characters. I have no idea if this is typical.
**For definitions of 'needs' including 'character X needs to have a total meltdown and it will take several steps to work that up, so character Y gets to kick them in the feels, hard.'