How do I get from the plot outline to an scene-for-scene summary?

My first milestone in writing a story is to have a complete, start to finish description of the sequence of events and character actions that comprises the story. However, this isn't enough to get started writing, because a scene is more than a story event: a scene is an event and a point of view. Which character are you following during this event? When do you enter scene and exit scene?

I have trouble getting from a sequence of events to a sequence of scenes. There are infinitely many possible sequences of scenes to describe a given sequence of events, and I get overwhelmed trying to figure out which ones are better. What goals do I have to keep in mind to figure out what the sequence of scenes should be? In other words, what "rules", or approximate rules, can I use to decide whether one scene is better than another?

(As examples, "enter late, leave early" or "build every scene around a conflict with a resolution" are examples of rules that can be used to help decide how to turn your events into actual scenes).

Also, what concrete processes can I use to work it all out? For instance, do you find it better to start with the opening scene and work from there? Make a chart of where the characters are at different points? Etc.

posted over 9 years ago

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Jack M‭

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