We’re so glad we discovered Rita Karnopp’s blog. And we definitely think you will be too. Rita writes about prose writing, but good writing is good writing, regardless of whether it’s for the page or the stage:
by Rita Karnopp
What exactly [comprises] a scene? I think of a scene like a trip to the mountains. There are valleys of flowers and cliffs of varying shapes and colors. Sometimes the end of the trail leads to a beautiful waterfall. Suddenly we notice a dead body floating at the far end . . . and the story begins. Each scene you create should stand on its own and add to the story in a crucial way, creating a structurally solid read.
How do we make scenes intrinsically sound? The way I do it is to imagine every scene in my head. I see my characters and feel what they’re feeling and understand why they react the way they do. If you run your story through your mind like a movie, you’ll find holes and implausible behavior.