Jumping Off The Bridge

I recently completed reading three books, each of which having almost identical problems, but differing in genres. Usually, I ask my muse why she (can muse’s be classified according to sex?) threw these particular book my way. There’s gotta be a reason, right?

Once I identified the problem, I also knew why I needed to face this issue today. Hopefully, every writer, besides writing the next best-selling masterpiece, also wants to better her craft. My muse tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to my latest work in progress, and then nodded her head.

Basically, a work of fiction is a collection of scenes leading to a denouement. In the three books I read last weekend, all the scenes looked to be disjointed. What the author missed and what would have helped the reading immensely are bridges tying each scene to the next.

Why is the next scene important to the development of the story and character and does it need to be the next scene? Once answered, the bridge all but builds itself. The reason you have for writing subsequent scenes, easily tickles the reader’s curiosity or suspense and furthers the character development.

From my soon-to-be-published book, No Time For Love:

Reana didn’t have strength enough to move the knife. She was pinned solidly and getting weaker. Eventually she stopped, more from exhaustion, than pain and passed out.

* * * *

Like a childhood nightmare, a pair of glowing eyes stared from the darkness. With just enough light for her to make out the shape, a wolf, stood a few yards away, watching her.