C.S. Lakin continues her series on using cinematic techniques in your writing with a discussion on how to open your scenes. “By following these three cinematic tips, you will have the best chance of hooking your reader and keeping them reading,” Lakin writes.
- Open with an establishing shot. “Show where your character is—using sensory detail,” Lakin says. “Think about the locale, the weather, the time of day and year. Even one line can often accomplish this.”
- Start in the middle of the action. “Readers don’t want author interference,” Lakin writes. “Resist the urge to explain. Just show. And fast-forward to the interesting stuff. There’s nothing riveting about watching a character wake up or brush her teeth.”
- Choose the right “camera angle.” Consider the reason for your scene and what the reader must know about your characters and their actions. This will help you determine how to frame your “shot”, Lakin says. “If you need to reveal small details, a close-up shot will do the trick,” she writes. “You may want to zoom in to show something important. Or pull back to reveal the bigger picture. It helps to work backward from your high moment. If you start your scene a bit before the key reveal, think first of what and how you will ‘shoot’ that moment, then how and where you will position your characters just before that so you can build to that moment.”
