Suzy's Writing Corner - Lesson 14- Create a Scene

Reach for the Stars! Writing Workshop for Kids

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Suzy's Writing Corner

Welcome to my writing workshop for budding young authors. Learn how to create your characters and "show don't tell" their feelings. Write beginnings that "hook" your readers. Learn to use a "writing camera" to freeze a scene, and more! Download free worksheets. Click LESSON 1 on the left sidebar to begin.
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Aug. 30, 2007

Lesson 14- Create a Scene

There are only a couple lessons left in the Reach for the Stars Writing Workshop. If you are on Lesson 14, then you are nearing the finish line! Don't forget that any student who completes the entire workshop will receive a certificate of completion, and I'll add a "Graduates" list to the WW sidebar.

This week you will begin to put some of the the elements of writing stories together to create a "scene."
So...pop quiz: What's a scene? (Think movie scene). Got it? Give up? OK, read on...
A "scene" is a MAIN EVENT that happens in a movie or (for us) a story. A short story may be only one scene long. A book is a whole series of scenes strung together, like a movie (which, when you think about it, is a story on a screen). In a book, the scenes are sometimes divided into chapters, with each chapter being a new "scene" that is building up to the CLIMAX (most important event) of the story.
What does each scene include? (This is important, so read carefully.) Hint: This same information is on the downloaded worksheets.
1) A beginning, a middle, and an end
2) Action
3) Dialogue (usually)
4) Conflict (trouble)
5) Description
6) Characters' feelings

So a scene is basically a "mini-story" within a BIG story. I'll show you (by example) how to create a scene from a nutshell summary. The worksheets have another example, one that YOU turn into a scene from a nutshell summary. OK, here goes.
Let's say I'm writing a story about a family on a camping trip. One scene in the story tells about Jody's (main character) first time fishing. The scene is going to be how he catches his first fish. I could just TELL what happens (boring!) like this: Jody went to the lake and caught his first fish.
Or I could make it a scene with all of the elements included (from above). First of all I think about the things I need to make it an exciting scene.
1) Action: casting the rod, baiting the hook, almost losing the 20" trout; almost falling overboard (I don't have to include all. These are just ideas)
2) Feelings & Dialogue: Jody screaming his surprise; yelling for help; sighing when no fish bites
3) Descriptions of: the boat, the fish, the bait, his sisters or brothers

OK, now I'm going to write the scene and turn that boring nutshell, telling sentence into an interesting happening--it could be a chapter in an adventure story. Watch what happens...

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    Jody laid his new fishing pole over his shoulder and scurried to catch up to his older brothers. They had already climbed into the family's prized possession--a green and black inflatable boat that had only one slow leak.
    "Hurry up, Jody!" Michael yelled, tossing the bait box into the raft. "The fish won't be biting much longer."
    Jody tripped and sprawled in the bottom of the boat. His pole went flying. Great, he thought, My very first fishing trip, and I'm a clutz. Michael yanked him by the seat of his pants and pulled him the rest of the way into the boat.
    Tyler began rowing. He didn't say anything, but Jody knew his brothers were laughing at him.
    The sun shone down, hot and bright. The lake was as smooth as glass as the boys baited their hooks and threw their lines in. Jody watched carefully. He bit his lip, squeezed his eyes shut, and smeared the Powerbait onto his hook.
    "This stuff's gross," he said. No one answered. Michael and Tyler were sprawled out in the raft, clearly enjoying the quiet afternoon.
    Plop! Jody threw his line overboard. He sighed, happy to have baited his hook successfully. He held tightly to his pole, waiting for the giant fish to snatch up the Powerbait.
    Nothing.
    Jody slumped. He listened to the swish, swish of water lapping against the rubber boat and yawned. His brothers began to tell stories of past fishing trips. Jody slouched and let his grip relax.
    Suddenly his pole jerked from his hands. Just in time, he caught the end. "Help!" he cried. The boat rocked as Michael and Tyler sat straight up.
    "Reel him in, Jody!" Tyler screamed.
    "I betcha he's 20 inches," Michael added.
    Jody held onto his pole for dear life and reeled in the line. It won't reel in! The fish is pulling too hard! he thought.
    "Want me to take over?" Michael asked.
     "No!" Jody said between clenched teeth. "This is my fish."
    The fish suddenly jumped out of the water. All three boys gasped. It was the largest trout any of them had ever seen. Shining silver and pink and black, it flipped and plunged back into the lake.
    Tyler whistled. "Little brother, that's some fish."
    Jody's hands felt wet. Sweat poured from his forehead, but still he reeled in the line. Inch by inch, the trout came closer to the boat. Michael grabbed the net and dipped it in the water. With a mighty scoop, he brought the trout into the boat. It landed at Jody's feet, flopping and wriggling.
    "Oh, wow," Jody said proudly. "My very first fish!"

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Your assignment:
1) Download the worksheets: LESSON 14- CREATE A SCENE
2) Create a scene using the hints on the worksheet.
3) Post your written scene. Don't forget to indent your paragraphs and to use quotation marks correctly when you have dialogue (conversation) between your characters.

Sign Mr. Linky and leave a comment so I can enjoy your scene!

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Comments

Jan. 4, 2008 - What is this?

Posted by Eleanor/Mick

Hi,
I love to write and I'm wondering what this is. Writing workshops, I know that, but can you give me more info. Please, come to either of my blogs www.homeschoolblogger.com/bigsister or www.homeschoolblogger.com/agirlslife.

Thanks,
Eleanor (or Mick if you go to the second blog)