Tight Scenes

Last time I wrote about making each chapter like the scene of a movie or TV show. What do I mean by that?

The example that always comes to mind for me is Breaking Bad. I can’t say much about that show that hasn’t already been said before in probably an infinite number of reviews inhabiting every alleyway of the Internet. For me, one of the things that made it outstanding was how each scene was crafted.

Especially as the series progressed, every part of the script had purpose to propel the story forward. I remember the intensity of the dialogue, the physical responses the characters displayed, and my personal investment in every episode. Each scene is vivid. You could pull apart every episode and do a masterclass in all aspects: writing, blocking, editing, setting, props, etc.

How does that work with writing a book? At least for me, I want every chapter to function like a scene in Breaking Bad. I’m not that good a writer yet, but I keep trying. If I can make it so the reader walks away from a chapter with a clear visual image of the scene and even a small emotional investment, then I’ve succeeded at least that much.