What a SCENE!
- Gail Stelter
- Jun 22
- 6 min read
Hello Gates Open friends
What a Scene!
Are you a Story Quilter?
I set out to revisit writing a novel in scenes. I went back to several of my U of T courses that discussed and challenged me to write scenes, especially the memoir course and the writing short story fiction course. When I got stuck in writing my mystery novel, I was thinking about chapters, not scenes. Now, I write the scenes I need and want, and that is enough for drafting and creating. The writing is flowing. I start with an idea for my next scene, and then I write and write some more. Something quite wonderful happens as the scene unfolds, and my characters lead me to conflict and situations that I hadn’t preplanned. This happens when you are a plantster: some organization and planning combined with creative free writing. My planning whiteboard and stickies worked. I was having fun again and making wonderful progress.
Today, I decided to revisit the scene through “research”. Much of what I found reiterated what I already knew, but it was interesting to explore the varying definitions of scenes. Then I stumbled upon something new: the concept of being a story quilter, and I was excited:
She begins by reviewing our writing lives through the process we use:
Pantsers sit down at the keyboard and see what falls out of their fingertips for a while to figure out how the story will take shape.
Plotters lay everything out in advance, so they have a guide for their story.
Those rebel Plantsters do a little bit of planning – maybe the inciting incident and the turning points, possibly the All Is Lost moment – but not too much before they write away.
I am now a plantster. Am I also a story quilter, or do I want to be one?
Hansen's definition: Story Quilters are writers who divide books into individual scenes that they stitch together later into a cohesive story.
Yes, I do that. Most of the scenes I write fit in sequence in the unfolding mystery, but there are, indeed, some that I will “stick together later into a cohesive story.” I found myself saying. “I just have to write this scene now, and I’ll figure out later how and where it best fits in. This approach gives me more freedom, and I think, greater creativity. So, now I am a plantster / story quilter. It works.
A final consideration of the scene:
I like this definition of scene by Author Margaret Dilloway:
“Each scene is an event that changes the character’s situation in a meaningful way.
- Every scene needs something to happen.
- Each scene produces a change achieved through conflict.
- Each scene shows how the character responds under pressure.
The hard part: If the scene doesn’t meet these criteria, take it out.”
I think this definition is a good checklist for developmental editing, and I’m planning to use it as such.
***
My Writing Life
I hope you are enjoying your writing life. Here’s a brief update and some thoughts about my writing life.
I wrote a Father’s Day story reflecting on my dad and my husband for Writing on the Senior Side. My next story that I will submit to the editor tomorrow is called O Canada. July 1st is Canada Day! Writing for the local newspaper is story journalism, where I am often writing on the fourth wall. I always wonder if people read it. It was great to have two (I know I’m easily pleased) people I don’t know tell me that they read every story. One woman told me it was nice to put a face to the name. Every other writer who submits regularly - I have had stories published every other week for three and a half years - has a headshot photo that accompanies their stories. I have thought about requesting one, but it’s not important to me, and maybe it’s fine to meet readers this way. Anyway, it seems to me that if I have to ask, it’s probably not a good idea.
I attended a book launch for another local author. It’s always nice to be part of a writing community and to support each other.
My first author table at a book fair: Bookapaolooza 2026 in Minden, Ontario, proved to be an excellent day that included book talks by two best-selling Canadian authors: Bianca Marias and Marissa Stapley. I enjoyed meeting people as they stopped at my table and interacting with the authors at nearby tables. I won’t go again next year, not because it wasn’t great, but because my book is part family stories, part memoir, and there are few people at these events interested in purchasing it and also because setting up my table and then sitting from 10 am to 4 pm was too long for this 77-year-old. I was exhausted. I am still glad I attended and enjoyed the day, but I know myself, and I know it was a little too much for me. Perhaps when I publish my mystery novel, I will change my mind, but I don’t think so. I also made the day successful by telling myself that if I sold one book, it would be a great day, and I sold three. Success is what you make it.
I am still meeting and even exceeding my self-imposed goal of two thousand words a week….having fun with mystery. I am somewhat surprised that I am so content to write and that I don’t miss all those volunteer endeavours that kept me busy after retirement.
I wonder about beta readers....it would be nice to get some feedback on the first 25 000 words.
I didn’t hear back from a short story submission. It is still hard. When I fist starting submitting my short stories, I had success. Lately, not so much. I think I will take a week off from my novel and focus on short story writing...or maybe not...lol
I am using Spaces by Wix, where I can respond to your comments or questions.
I spent an hour trying to transfer a JPEG of one of my stories to my Substack page, never got to Instagram….lol… I am a determined author. I’ll figure it out - might need a little help from my friend.
I’m going to make a video, maybe more than one, about writing, my book, my mystery novel, and more….not sure why I am doing this, and that’s okay. I’m not sure why I write this blog, but I still enjoy it, so it’s all good.
Finishing up this blog with an excerpt from one of my family stories about my dad that is not in my book and not in my father’s day newspaper story, but is one of my favourites. It is on my website somewhere....
“…When Gail thought of her dad, she often recalled the saying about lighting a candle at both ends: “When a candle burns at both ends, it will not last the night. But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, it gives a lovely light!” (Edna St. Vincent Millay). Her dad died too soon. They said he drank too much. He did. They said he ate too much. He did. They said he didn’t attend to his fitness and health. He didn’t. They said he lit the candle at both ends. But oh, she thought, it had been a lovely light. She was 26 years old when he died, and every stranger she saw reminded her of him. The old man who bumped into her with his walker reminded her of all the old people still alive. She was bitter and jealous. The teller at the bank laughed so easily, freely spilling joy to all. Her dad had that same exuberance. The clerk at the library reminded her that her dad had taken her to get her first library card and inspired her voracious appetite for books. Even the young couple embracing on the street corner reminded her of him. Dad had wrapped her in unconditional love and hugged her with beaming pride. He lit the candle at both ends. It had been a lovely light.”
Take care and have fun in your writing life
Gail
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