the key element that every good scene needs (or: how to change the game in your novel)

A good scene requires a turning point. A turning point happens on two different levels, and like a figure skater planning two quad jumps in his Olympic performance, it's important to nail each one.

(Okay, that figure skater reference probably a bit gratuitous. I just wanted an excuse to use that photo of Kurt Browning. When I was growing up, I totally hearted Kurt Browning. But I digress.)

A scene is the basic building block of your novel. A scene is like a novel in...