Step 7: Craft Scenes in Act I

Crafting scenes is much like making a patchwork quilt. Each scene must be different–reveal some detail about the plot or characters or both–but it must also fit into the larger whole of the story. But don’t get too anxious–this is the fun part!

To begin, review last week’s post on the 3 act structure. Take each act separately. Consider what must happen in the act and design the first scene. Since I’m writing this as I’m creating a new story, I’ll use the first act of this book as an example. (Don’t worry, no spoilers here!)

In scene one, my sleuth overhears a stranger arguing with the community’s leader. The stranger stomps off threatening to send the law. We know that this man will cause trouble, don’t we? Also, I include a few details about the setting and the community, not too many so as not to slow up the story.

Since I write from two characters’ points of view, the second scene introduces my sleuth’s husband in a small domestic argument. That will result in trouble later, won’t it?

By the third scene, the husband encounters trouble in town and intervenes. Now we know he has some strengths (he was weaker in early stories, one of readers’ complaints).

Midway through Act I a body is found, the victim of a horrific accident. That’s the inciting incident. Although the sleuth doesn’t yet get involved, we know she will.

The villagers get back to work. The dead man was a stranger and someone from town will soon arrive for his body and all will be well. Ha! We know better!

Now is time to weave in scenes between various characters to foreshadow coming events. A distant family member returns but refuses to explain why he’s there. A villager acts suspicious–is he hiding anything? Then a constable arrives with a summons for the leader to answer to a charge of fraud.

Of course our sleuth can’t leave well enough alone and discovers the man did not die in an accident. He was murdered. She thinks she’s the only one who knows. Not so they learn when the sheriff arrives to arrest a man, charging him with murder.

Perfect! To free the man she’s certain is falsely accused, my sleuth must discover the actual killer. It won’t be easy, though. The body’s gone, her countryman is jailed miles away, and the town is in an uproar.

All set for Act II? That’s next week.