To write it or not to write it

Maiden · May 8, 2009

Yes I know I am full of questions lately. I guess I jsut enjoy picking everyone's brains.

I was wondering though if a scene doesn't really add anything to the story, say a scene were two people are making a sandwich and having lunch, do you write it out anyway? Or just write out a general statement? For example writing something like:

The friends had a nice lunch and talked of mundane things. They enjoyed eachothers company and spent the rest of the day watchig movies and playing video games.

And no that wasn't anything that is happening in my WIP.

I don't want to ramble and bore my readers (or myself writing it.) But I also don't want to scene hop either.

TheIT · May 8, 2009

Skip the boring bits. If nothing happens story-wise during a time period, either summarize in narrative or skip it entirely and let the readers fill in the gaps.

Related discussion in the thread I started yesterday:

"Depicting the Edges"
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141044

RJK · May 8, 2009

I'd shorten it up even more: "After lunch Maiden spent the day watching movies while I played video games. It was bedtime before we knew it."

Kitty Pryde · May 8, 2009

I wouldn't, unless they have a critical conversation during lunch, or a ninja break-in or something. Otherwise I'd gloss over it and get to the next interesting thing. " Nathan and Maria were doing the dishes after a pleasant lunch, when zombies broke in through the patio door."

ChristineR · May 8, 2009

In general, whenever I have a "to write, or not to write" question, I write. You can always not use it.

Maiden · May 8, 2009

Ninjas and Zombies... if I have lunch at your house I am coming armed.

Kitty Pryde · May 8, 2009

Yeah, lunch is srs bizness.

blacbird · May 8, 2009

ChristineR said:
In general, whenever I have a "to write, or not to write" question, I write. You can always not use it.

I agree with this, in no small part because the very act of considering the scene means that something about the idea interests you, and the act of actually writing it may well generate something useful for the story, even if you don't know in advance what it is. I've had this kind of thing happen more than once.

caw

TheIT · May 8, 2009

The other thing to consider is that if you're working on the first draft, err on the "write it" side. Sometimes by writing something out, you might realize that hey, there really is something interesting happening. You can always cut the piece out later if it isn't necessary.

scarletpeaches · May 8, 2009

I fling anything I fancy into the first draft and sort it out on the edits.

Course, these days my 'firsts' are tighter than previous 'completes'.

Birol · May 8, 2009

There are many reasons to write a scene. Some serve only the author and never make it past the first draft, but if something doesn't add to the story, I certainly hope you wouldn't keep it in, even if you did write it.

geardrops · May 8, 2009

Maiden said:
I was wondering though if a scene doesn't really add anything to the story, say a scene were two people are making a sandwich and having lunch, do you write it out anyway? Or just write out a general statement?

My two cents: First draft? Write it. You can always cut it in edits.

Izz · May 8, 2009

Yeah, write it out in first draft. You never know, the lunch might turn into some serious character building and plot development.

But when it comes to edits and rewrites and new drafts, if it doesn't build or progress story then it's best to get rid of it.

psykeout · May 8, 2009

I agree with the general public on here. If you're in a first draft, it's a LOT easier to add in everything. This is something that I've seen highly recommended. It's easier to take things out, then to try and add things in later.

Rewrites, edits, drafts, beta-reading, etc. are all designed to take out things that don't work. First drafts are when you spew your intellectual seed on paper (or computer) and work with the mess that comes.

Mr. Anonymous · May 8, 2009

If you do decide to write it, try to come in with an idea of what you want the scene to accomplish. Realize also that as far as goals go, character development is just as important as plot advancement.

Judg · May 8, 2009

You don't need to fill in every point between A and Z. Readers are quite capable of filling in the gaps.

I do see the sense of writing it for the first draft, in case anything pops up that's usable. But if it doesn't move the story forward, make important character developments, or contribute to the theme, it shouldn't make it to the second.

Remember, we are not writing scientific reports. It is not only permissable but desirable to leave things to the imagination. I mean, would you read a novel in which every trip to the bathroom was faithfully recorded?

psykeout · May 8, 2009

Judg said:
I mean, would you read a novel in which every trip to the bathroom was faithfully recorded?

Only if it was tastefully described and progressed the story in some form or fashion. But, the question related to two characters interacting with each other, not a trip to the toilet.

ChristineR · May 8, 2009

Judg said:
I mean, would you read a novel in which every trip to the bathroom was faithfully recorded?

Ulysses

BlueLucario · May 8, 2009

I wouldn't DARE write a scene like that or any irrelevant scene for that matter. I have so many random stuff in my head that I want to write so badly, but I have to think before I write. What do I expect to accomplish? Is it important to the story and its characters? If not, then I wouldn't write it at all.

BlueLucario · May 8, 2009

Judg said:
Remember, we are not writing scientific reports. It is not only permissable but desirable to leave things to the imagination. I mean, would you read a novel in which every trip to the bathroom was faithfully recorded?

I would certainly read about that.

Matera the Mad · May 8, 2009

If writing it helps you to understand your characters better, the time is not wasted.

Susan Breen · May 8, 2009

I've written scenes that I've later cut out, but at the time I wrote them there was something about the scene that interested me. Maybe I wanted to know how the characters talked to each other, or what the kitchen looked like. Usually there's something pulling me into the scene.

Ken Schneider · May 8, 2009

I wouldn't put a scene like that in just for giggles. It would have to have some punch and relate to the story.

Lisa scraped the ending of the peanutbutter from the jar and spread it on the last two pieces of bread. She wasn't sure she should tell Jane about who she saw. She didn't even know if her hunch about the guy was right. Lisa set the plate down on the table and took her seat in the chair across from Jane.
"You know, Jane. I saw that guy again last night." Jane took half a sandwich and looked at the thin spread peanut butter between the slices.
"You mean the creep with the leather jacket and sandals." Lisa nodded Jane's stopped chewing the bite of sandwich she just took and dropped the rest on her plate.
"That's him," Lisa said. "I think he's the guy that stole the money."

Or whatever plot fits.

They're eating, which many writers tend to leave out of their stories. Talking about something that has a little meat to it, and making small talk at the same time. If you want to burn up some space, burn a little plot with it.

CallaLily · May 8, 2009

Not trying to highjack the thread, but I just wanted to tell Susan Congratulations on your award. I saw your sig line, and I just had to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your book!

Susan Breen said:
I've written scenes that I've later cut out, but at the time I wrote them there was something about the scene that interested me. Maybe I wanted to know how the characters talked to each other, or what the kitchen looked like. Usually there's something pulling me into the scene.

CallaLily · May 8, 2009

Ok, so I should add my two cents. I agree with those that said that you should not add a scene just to add it. Authors skip over the mundane all the time. Add in what moves the story along.

To write it or not to write it

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