I hope everyone is enjoying this weeks discussion on Scenes and Sequels. Part of a great scene is seeing the action, and hearing the dialog through the point of view character.

When you’re getting ready to write a scene, it’s important to consider from whose eyes and ears are we looking and listening. Of course, if you’re writing in first person with a single character view, the decision is made for you.

But, if your story has multiple points of view, pause to consider which character will tell the scene best.

Choose the character that has the most to lose.

Here’s an example.

In Love Starts With Elle, the book I just finished for Thomas Nelson, I’d written a scene from Elle’s point of view because from the beginning of the story, I’d always imagined the particular key scene from her heart and mind. Mainly, because a returning character would impact her the most.

But, as I worked through the rewrites, I suddenly realized, I told the scene from the wrong perspective.

While the return of this character impacted and shocked Elle, the hero, Heath, was the one who had the most to lose.

So, I changed the point of view to Heath’s and the story popped! I had some great internal dialog as he watched Elle and this other person (can’t say too much, I’ll give it away.)

If a scene is bogging down, write it from another character’s POV. Does it come alive? Do you see things you’ve never seen before?

Is the scene best written from an antagonist point of view?

Close your eyes and picture your scene. Let’s say you want June to discover Ward is cheating on her while also dealing with the Beave being suspended from the fourth grade. Obviously, both June and Ward have a lot to lose, but what if the scene is told from the Beavers’ POV?

What if the “other woman” is in the room?

What evokes the most emotion? What stirs you as a viewer in the room? What would cause the most surprise at the end of the story?

There are simple choices, too. For example, which character do we need to hear from? Practical choices work too.

Let’s summarize.

Write the scene from the character’s POV who has the most to lose.
Write the scene from an unlikely character’s POV.
Write the scene from the character’s POV which stirs the most emotion.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up.