I was recently interviewed for Book Editor Sue Toth’s newsletter regarding elevating scenes. Here are some excerpts from our conversation that I hope will be helpful to you.

What does elevating a scene mean?

It means taking a scene from “okay” to “memorable”. You can have written a scene and it’s “fine” when you read it. But is it going to keep the reader engaged enough to want to read more?

It’s like being on a first date with someone who might be your next significant other. When your friends excitingly ask, “So how was he/she?” and you reply, “They were nice.” Ugh! No future there. You want that individual to be “Awesome!” and you can’t stop thinking about them. So, too, your scenes.

Why is it so important?

It’s important because of the high degree of competition you face in today’s fiction market. You can’t settle for writing “good enough” scenes and stories because there are so many other published books with many “great” scenes available and similar books looking for agents and publishers. There are also many writers––from journalists to copywriters––who are out of work and turning to writing novels, increasing your competition. [Readers angle]

How do you know when a scene needs to be elevated?

After you write a scene, step away from it. Then read it again later. If it’s boring or just “okay”, then you need to elevate it. Also, ask your beta readers and book editor. Have them read a chapter and have them point out which scenes captured their attention. If they glossed over a scene that you feel is important to the story, then consider elevating it.

Ask yourself:

Is the conflict strong enough?

If not, heighten it via dialogue (like subtext) or silence between characters, or action (if your story warrants it). Conflict is drama, even in comedies.

Is it visual enough?

We live in a very visual society, so make your scenes as visually impactful as possible. This helps readers remember them. Do this through characters and their behavior, the setting, etc. You want to burn that scene into your reader’s mind––especially if the scene is foreshadowing a future event in your story. When that event occurs, your reader will easily connect it to the elevated scene. This makes for great writing!

Does it progress the plot by revealing vital information about the plot or characters?

This is an effective way to share more details about the story line and your characters in an entertaining way and to keep the pages turning. Characters are front-and-center in many successful stories––from Robert Langdon in Dan Brown novels to Jack Reacher in Lee Child’s books. So, this is an effective way to get your reader to really know and love them–– both good and bad ones.

Does it create enough suspense? Suspense is one of the best ways to keep your reader engaged. The more you have, the better. You can do this in both subtle and blatant ways to engage your reader and make for gripping story telling.