The First Step

Happy Wednesday! And a Belated Happy Halloween. I realized too late I missed a golden opportunity for a Monday Meme that was Halloween themed. Next year!

Let’s turn to the meat of writing and editing a scene. If you’ve read the other posts the last couple Wednesday’s you’ve got the tools to just start writing and the resources we’ll use going through editing.

But the first step is to just get the scene down on paper. It can be shorter or longer than you want it to be just get it down. Below at the bottom is a free writing scene I’m going to use as my example going forward. It’s really rough and not pretty but I figure that way I solidify the my personal process with editing.

The scene I’m using isn’t Halloween themed but if you want to write something and go through my process with me write about a quick scene about passing out candy to trick or treaters.

Example Scene:

She sat there on the cot, her tight tank top showing her curves, the terrible florescent lighting exaggerated her muscles. From the security camera above with each rise and fall of her chest one could catch the slightest glimpse of black lace and while the average man might have enjoyed the view the current viewer’s wouldn’t have dared allowed the thought to cross their minds. She had been their general once and the price for any who dared would have been too high. She had a reputation for not smiling, even now her face remained stony. She showed no emotion. Besides the rise and fall of her chest she hadn’t moved, her eyes just staring at the blank wall in front of her. 

No one really knew why she was being held. It had been several years since she had led them out of the war against the Noctifer, then just as the war had ended it was announced she had retired. A week ago, a small guard had returned with her in chains, depositing her in the cell. 

Suddenly the door banged open with the head consul of Defense, Castor Tanner, and the head of state, Rohit Horvat. Tanner slammed a file on the bed beside her and Horvat closed the door. 

“Why the hell are the Ataraxia asking us, to release you into their custody?” demanded Tanner, bending over so he was eye level with her. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t even flinched. 

“Tanner, remember what we discussed,” warned Horvat leaning back against the door casually.

“General, I gave you an order,” commanded Tanner, his face purpling. 

“I am no longer a General in your army, sir,” came the steady response. 

“General Parker, I think you misunderstand us, we simply wish to understand how you come to have some prior relationship the Ataraxia a notoriously private and almost mythical star system,” Tanner soothed, from his position on the wall. 

“I have no information for you, sir.” 

“Like hell you don’t,” screamed Tanner, “someone with your capabilities and ambition just wasting time with a farm on some outer moon.”

“Tanner,” the soft warning came again, “even if you don’t tell us now, we have instructions to bring you to the main planet of the system in which houses the Queen of Ataraxia and in return they are willing to open trade agreements. We had hoped you would be able to provide some information but have it as you will, we will be leaving with in a couple hours,” Horvat shrugged his shoulders, opening the door and holding it open. 

“Just so you know, the Queen herself specifically requested your presence,” whispered Tanner in her ear, before slugging her on the side of the head. She gripped the cot harder but kept her balance. Tanner stalked out and Horvat shut the door behind them.