I am struggling with Jack Bell's book Plot and Structure. I have a good handle on plot but not on scene. Specifically, I don't see what Bell calls a scene in any of the fiction that I've read so far. If someone would point me to a scene in one of Sue Grafton's books I would be grateful.
I wouldn't advise getting hung up on Jack Bell's book Plot and Structure. It's one of the few books I've thrown across the room in frustration. I have a low opinion of it and have tried to erase it from my memory. Just read Sue Grafton's books, or books by any other decent published writer, to get what a scene is.
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Looking for a Scene and Sequel I've read all the way from A is for Alibi through N is for Noose. I've tried to find what I think is a scene and sequel in all of them without success. If you would poin tme to a secne and a sequel in any of them I would be very grateful.
forget about how-tos and formulaic merde like 'scene and sequel' and just read good writing, to see how it's done... fyi, put it simply, a 'scene' is anything that happens during a particular point in time... a scene can take place in more than one location, if the character is on the move and there are no lapses in time... when the time frame changes, it becomes another scene... that should allow you to pinpoint 'scenes' in any of grafton's well-respected novels... what bell considers 'sequels' i have no clue... nor do i think it matters...
I've heard of this term - Scene and Sequel - I read a lot of how-to-books Far as I can tell a scene is something that happens that helps develope character or plot - think of Star Wars when Luke Skywalker finds the message in R2D2 that would be a scene - the sequel would be ( because he needs to find Obi Wan Kenobi ) him sitting down and talking with Obi Wan - the follow up or result of the other scene. In essence almost every thing could be termed scene and sequel - with an occational interruption for sand people. lol. So at times scene and sequel, I suppose, can have distance drawing out each minor conclusion. Really, it's just a fancy term to ensure you link your scenes to ensure a sense of flow.
Grafton is one of the best to learn good first-person writing from. But toss the scene and sequel crud, and pay attention to how she manages point of view. Also note what she reveals, and what she leaves hanging, to build suspense and develop plot. The reader knows what she knows (or assumes), which is the best reason for choosing first person - if you are good enough to do it justice.
