Continuing her series of articles on using cinematic techniques in prose, C.S. Lakin offers more specific advice on mastering this approach. “The more you can immerse your reader quickly into the world of your characters, the more they’ll get hooked,” Lakin says. “The sooner they will care what happens. And that means they’ll keep turning pages to the end.”
So how can you practice this? First, Lakin says you should start a scene with an establishing shot. “Show where your character is—using sensory detail. Think about the locale, the weather, the time of day and year,” she explains. “Even one line can often accomplish this.”
Next, she suggests starting in the middle of something happening. “Resist the urge to explain. Just show. And fast-forward to the interesting stuff,” she writes. “There’s nothing riveting about watching a character wake up or brush her teeth.”
Finally, choose the right camera angle. To determine that, consider the point of your scene and what you need to show. “If you need to reveal small details, a close-up shot will do the trick,” Lakin says. “You may want to zoom in to show something important. Or pull back to reveal the bigger picture.” She recommends working backwards from the big moment in your scene. Start before that key reveal and position your characters accordingly. “It’s all about making your reader notice what you want her to notice,” Lakin says.
