Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes Paperback - 2000

Writing page-turning fiction depends on your ability to create rock-solid, believable scenes. Scenes act as dynamic structures that thrust both your characters and readers forward through conflict, baiting them with goals that may–or may not–be obtained. Writing good scenes makes the difference between a tale that crackles with energy and momentum and a story that falls flat.

In "Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes," Raymond Obstfeld leads you through the creation process, examining all the elements that go into making scenes successful, cohesive and compelling. Tackling topics like finding a scene's "hot spot," identifying its dominating purpose and avoiding a cliched ending, Obstfeld provides essential reading for novice and novelist alike. Using examples from film, short stories, and best-selling fiction, he documents why and how scenes work. You'll learn:

• what is (and isn't) a scene
• how to make scenes memorable
• how to use point of view
• how to focus on character, plot and theme
• how to make scenes pay off
• how to structure a scene
• how to use setting
• how to revise a scene
• the importance of first impressions

Every page of "Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes" opens a new window of opportunity for writers by offering valuable insight, articulate advice and expert examples. It's a reference, a road map and a romp, all rolled into one. So go on–make a scene. And make it unforgettable.