A scene is a place where events (real or fictional) take place. It can also be a description of an event, or a continuous portion of a play, film or book – those are usually what we mean be a scene in writing.If you display strong emotions in public then you could be accused of making a scene. The view or landscape can also be considered a scene. Is the photo a tranquil woodland scene, or about to become the scene of the crime?
A scene can also be a way of life, subculture or interest.
Today, I'm one of the Insecure Writer's Support Group co-hosts along with J.H. Moncrieff , Natalie Aguirre and Chemist Ken who're all supporting our Ninja Captain Alex.This month's optional question is – If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)
I have several free to enter writing competitions for you today. Whether you enter this sci-fi/horror short story competition, these stage and radio play competitions, this one for prose up to 17,000 words or even the monologue competition, you'll probably need scenes in your work.
Is entering writing competitions your scene? (If it is, keep coming back – I add more free entry ones most weeks.)
WoW! It's good to know about your new writings. We are excited to hear more from you
ReplyDeleteI think I write a "series" of scenes that eventually for a chapter, then a novel. Or story; seems I've been writing only flash fiction and short stories for a few years.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the competition links, and for co-hosting this month.
Sounds an interesting way to start writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for Co-hosting. Blessings✨
ReplyDeleteI'm old enough to remember when "making the scene" was a good thing as opposed to "making a scene"! I write novels like screenplays, a scene at a time, the way I visualize them. Thanks for co-hosting this month, Patsy, and for the writing info!
ReplyDeleteScience fiction horror - now that has my interest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
Thank you for co-hosting. Have a great week!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting. And also for the info on the writing competitions. Not in my genres but they sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, if a child dared to make a scene in public, your mother wouldn't hesitate to take off her shoe for you...
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the links and for co-hosting the IWSG this month!
Happy IWSG Day!
Loved reading your screen description; nice and clear. Thank you for creating a very interest site, loaded with links to great sites. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG group this month.
ReplyDeleteLynn La Vita blog: Writers Supporting Writers
I've entered quite a few writing contests in the past few years, but now I'm pickier about the ones I choose. I tend to stay away from most of the ones with entry fees.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy writing stories for anthology calls.
Thanks for co-hosting!
Thanks for co-hosting and thanks for the links! I've entered contests before and have been a runner-up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the competitions too.
Great share, Patsy! Thanks for co-hosting this month. CV
ReplyDeleteIt's usually the opening scene for me.
ReplyDeleteGood to 'see' you. :)
My first drafts tend to look like screenplays--dialogue and stage directions. Describing a scene comes later. Some people may find that weird, but it works for me. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
ReplyDeleteI should enter more contests, especially free ones, but most days it is an accomplishment just to push the current manuscript forward a few pages.
ReplyDeleteI like to enter contests, but found they distract me right now from finishing my current WIP, so, sadly, I am waiting to enter anymore for the time being. Like the definitions of "scenes". Nice reminder. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI enter a few competitions each year. Today I'm busy writing Scene Cards (a la Lisa Cron's Story Genius) for my WIP. I wish you happy writing in April.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Patsy. I supposed I could say that entering writing competitions is sometimes my scene, but sometimes it isn't! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I might enter to submit a manuscript for an anthology, but otherwise, I don't enter writing contests.
ReplyDeleteI haven't entered a contest lately but I'm thinking I should, thank you for the submission info.
ReplyDeleteThanks for cohosting too. Happy Spring.
I like your discussion of 'scene'. Spot on and I hadn't thought it through that well.
ReplyDeleteI do enter the occasional contest. I like the challenge of when publications have themes or funky word count limitations.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
That's neat about the contests. Man, if only I had a noir theme to my one short story, then it'd fit that Sci-Fi/Fantasy one!
ReplyDeleteWriting advice that I've taken to heart, write like you're "making a scene." Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
ReplyDeleteMore than any other, it is the first and last scenes which trouble me most.
Thanks for co-hosting today!
I always wish/hope the first chapter hooks the reader, agent, publisher! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought a scene was a building block of a story. hehehe
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI love writing scenes. First I run it like a movie in my head for days until it becomes a 3D technicolor film strip. Same with the dialogue, catching the voice tone, facial expressions and body language, using language that fits the character. It's so much fun. Thanks for co-hosting, Patsy. Blessings
ReplyDeleteI write scene by scene. I try to complete at least one scene per day so the word count varies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting. Thanks for the competition links... yet I don't require competitions to propel me to write. I shy away and benefit more from this group of insecure writers.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I find that - if I content my inner critic - I write well enough. That inner voice is a bad-ass sometimes. I strive to keep her mouth shut.
I'm not so much into a writing contest, but one day I may try one. I am into submitting to anthologies a new thing for me. Thanks for co-hosting. Happy IWSG!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually participate in writing contests. I do send my stories to magazines and anthologies, but I'm doing it less and less often these days.
ReplyDeleteI've never entered many writing competitions. I probably should try it, but then again I probably should be writing more than I do.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks for co-hosting, Patsy! Nice work on all of the variants of scene. I have scene what you've done! ;-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting discussion about scenes. I've not entered any contests, but I am intrigued by a couple in your list. I'll check them out. Thanks for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting, Patsy! I hope that you've had a great time The illustration of the fly agaric mushroom drove all thoughts of a tranquil woodland scene out of my mind and turned it to thoughts of murder by poison. I've only entered one writing contest, because they're another distraction from the writing I need to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting. Entering some competitions is my scene, actually. I have a goal to enter a few this year. So I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteI love a good scene, but I love one exquisitely described even better:)
ReplyDeleteScenes are interesting. They can make a person laugh or cry or ho-hum. Thanks for co-hosting today. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove your word challenges, Patsy, and thanks for the comp links - will check them out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patsy, for co-hosting the IWSG question for April. I love your descriptions of scene. They are all true in my book! Thanks for sharing the links for writing contests. All best to you!
ReplyDeletehttp://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com
Scene is obviously one of those important story elements like characters and plot. Creating scenes craftily must be hard. I think it's extremely important in the prologue or first chapter. As I'm writing a memoir, I try to incorporate scene, but it plays a less important part in my story than the characters, the emotions, and the way of life (or maybe this is the "scene" in my book). I'd like to incorporate scene a bit more, but then my book would be even longer of a tome! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month, Patsy!
Thanks, everyone for the replies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteWriting a good fight scene is something I'd love to be blessed with. I'd read a good fight scene, get pulled into it and I'm 'how do they do that?' and 'how can I do that?' I'm able to choreograph the scene in my head but when I get it down on paper, it goes from fireworks display to wet sparkler.
A lot of start-up writers will be inspired by your works. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteAmazing South Bend Clutches