I have the big picture for my plot ~ but I am stuck on figuring out individual scenes. How do I come up with scenes that don’t drag?

Good question! I am loving the new show, Journeyman, a time travel show about a guy who gets snatched (by who, what cosmic force?) to be sent back in time to “put right what once went wrong” (to quote my favorite time-travel show Quantum Leap). I love time travel shows, and this one is stellar because of the layers of relationships and trouble his “bouncing” causes.

It also raises a lot of questions. Like, what if he gets killed back in time? Or what if he changes something that affects his life, or the life of someone he loves? What if he’s in the shower when he gets snatched back in time, or, like this week, what if he’s alone with his small child, and leaves the child in danger?

It’s questions that drive a reader, or viewer, through a story. And not only the big questions, but the small ones, also. I’m currently writing a story about a MN girl who moves to Siberia with her husband and two preschoolers. Yes, the big question is…will she survive? But there are smaller ones built into the big one – how does one GET to Siberia? What does one wear in Siberia? What does a family eat in Siberia? All questions I can use as fodder to create scenes (or episodes, perhaps) and drive the plot forward.

As you are creating your plot, ask: What questions are naturally generated by my characters profession, situation, or even location? The answers will help you find the right scenes to craft, while keeping kindled the energy of the plot!

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