中级英语写作 (9).pdf

Unit 9 
 
 9.4 Writing Vivid Scenes Scene In a scene, events are described as they happen: specific characters, in a specific place, doing a specific thing. ➢ An important function in fiction writing: it provide the important rewards for reading the story. The most important details of your story should almost happen in a scene. Such, Such Were by Joys Sambo [the teacher] was a round-shouldered, curiously oafish-looking man, not large but shambling in gait, with a chubby face which was like that of an overgrown baby, and which was capable of good humour. He knew, of course, why I had been sent to him, and had already taken a bone-handled riding-crop out of the cupboard, but it was part of the punishment of reporting yourself that you had to proclaim your offence with your own lips. When I had said my say, he read me a short but pompous lecture, then seized me by the scruff of the neck, twisted me over and began beating… He had a habit of continuing his lecture while he flogged you, and I remember the words ‘you dir-ty lit-tle boy’ keeping time with the blows. Such, Such Were by Joys • An excellent example of scene: when the narrator, having failed to stop his bedwetting, is sent to be punished. • In the most focused scene, time is constantly pausing to show the characters thoughts, or jumping forward in a leap of summary. • When writing scenes,think about which details will be most important, and make sure to place a strong emphasis on them. If something isn’t important, it can be summarized in order to emphasize the important actions. Kurt Vonnegut: “Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.” • Every scene should ei