wrong-scene-stupid

You know there are warning signs for just about everything. A cold is creeping up on ya, your throat gets that little itch in the back of the throat. The flu, yeah, you feel like you got in a bar fight you did NOT win at all.

It’s the same when you are writing in the wrong scene. It’s harder to pinpoint in first person, because there’s no way you’re in the wrong POV. So here’s a short list I’ve thought up. Oh, and you should be warned I’m using every cliche known to man. (yeah, like that one.)

1. It just feels wrong. It may not feel wrong like you may be kissing a relative wrong, but it’s one of those same gut feelings.

2. There are days where writing can be harder than pulling out teeth with whiskey and pliers, but if you give the scene enough play time it’ll pick up. But if you are on the third day of writing said scene…

A. Ok, it shouldn’t take three days to write a short, quick scene that has a place in the story, and has a goal. It’s pretty much being stubborn until you breakthrough.
B. I repeat, three days on the same scene?
C. You never break through even after writing it for three days.

3. You’re characters have gone from talking about the weather to an awkward silence. How is that possible in a novel? Well, it is if you are in the wrong scene.

4. In your character’s own monologue they are wondering, “What am I doing here?”

5. If you smarten up and go back to the tried and true test of whether or not you have a scene AND the results say you’ve got nothing…

You’re in the wrong scene, stupid. Not you, but me, because I’ve been writing on this scene since Saturday night. It has just now hit me I’m in the wrong scene. Couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get past it. So, now I’m behind on my own NaNo goal. Sigh.

How do you know when you are in the wrong scene?