Editing Your Novel -Looking at the Scenes

My first novel, The Sweet Track, originally included a scene (which in fact became a chapter) where two of the women, Rosa and Becca went out into the countryside together for the day. When I met my first agent and we discussed the novel she told me that she thought the scene was superfluous – what she meant by this was that it added nothing new to the narrative, it did not deepen understanding of the characters of the two women or progress the story. I had to agree, and as she was very enthusiastic about the book as a whole, I was happy to take her advice and remove it. What also swayed me was the knowledge that in writing the scene I had been somewhat self indulgent, wanting to relive a similar outing I had made myself and wanting to describe that landscape.

I think now I would respond differently to such a challenge. I still might remove the scene but not before asking myself; how it could be improved, how it could be useful in revealing character and moving the plot forward, whether the protagonist Lilli had an objective which was relevant to her growth and change, whether it could end on a ‘hook’ or contain a mystery which would keep the reader wanting to turn the page

 Scenes are the building blocks of the novel and these are questions we should ask ourselves about every scene in our novel. Every scene should advance the plot in some way. If a particular scene has no effect on the outcome of the novel or the storyline as a whole, you need to ask yourself why its there and can it be omitted or rewritten?

Also as we read through our novels at the editing stage we often become aware of a gap or the need for another scene. I am certainly writing several new scenes in my novel to ensure that the story works for the reader.

It is important also as you review and edit the scenes in your novel to ensure that they flow as smoothly as possible and link together the action into one continuous whole. It is the writer’s job to take the reader from scene to scene, through time and place – it should seem effortless but it must be clear – so that the reader is no doubt of the where and when of the action!

Bearing this in mind, then no scene is more important that the opening scene – this is the who, where and when of your novel and as far as my current novel is concerned I am still working on my opening to make it as good as it can be.

 So what constitutes a good scene? For me a good scene, as well as showing or telling us who, where and when, and advancing and thickening the plot, will also stand on its own, having a beginning, a middle and an end.

 It will have a mix of at least some of the following; narrative action, dialogue, description or atmosphere (although this can be conveyed in a line here and there never in large chunks) and introspection as well as a minimum of exposition – and an element of surprise or mystery or a hook at the end to keep the reader engaged.

 If there is no mix or no surprise then look again and be sure there are good reasons why not!

 When I edit my scenes I try to visualise them as if in film or TV and I think this can really help with judging if the scene works.

 What do you think makes a good scene? Do let me know.