Fiction Writing:

Prompts for Revising at the Level of Scene

What all is going on in this scene? On the surface? Beneath the surface? Between all significant characters involved?

How does this scene advance the story? How does it contribute to plot or character, or ideally both? How does it advance our understanding of all significant characters involved?

What’s the rhythm of the scene’s plot? Its architecture?

What’s the emotional rhythm or arc of the scene?

How does the scene move?

How does the scene relate to surrounding scenes? 

What’s the rhythm of the dialogue? Consider beats. Consider wording and tone and each speaker’s voice.

What does the dialogue really accomplish? How does it illustrate the relationship between the speakers? Is it really necessary? How could exposition be handled differently?

Consider what’s said versus what’s not said. The latter can create really interesting tension and emotional depth.

From whose point of view is the scene written? Consider the implications of this decision. Consider how point of view could do even more work in this scene.

Consider setting. How can setting deepen the emotional tone of the scene?

Read the scene out loud to a real or imagined audience.