What do you think?
Rate this book
Writer's Craft #28
How To Write That Scene: Professional Techniques For Fiction Authors
Learn how professional authors craft scenes, and apply the techniques to your fiction. This book shows you how to choose the cast of characters and the point-of-view, how to work with plot events and create conflict, how to build tension and conflict, and how to rework a dull scene to make it sparkle. It teaches you professional techniques for specific types of scenes, with a full chapter for each of the - novel-beginning scenes - novel-ending scenes - black moment scenes - climax scenes - outdoor scenes - indoor scenes - scary scenes - creepy scenes - love scenes - erotic scenes - chase scenes - confession scenes - fight scenes - duel scenes - battle scenes - night scenes - relationship break-up scenes - argument scenes - travel scenes Whatever kind scene you're writing or revising, this guide can help. Please some of the content overlaps with Rayne Hall's other books and articles.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2018
297 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Hall
108 books1,438 followersRayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction, some of it quirky, most of it dark. She is the author of over sixty books in different genres and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in six countries, translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in magazines, e-zines and anthologies.
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 28, 2018
It’s all about the journey. A novel that grabs our interest and hangs on like a pit bull is what we crave. When the plot contains a satisfactory ending but we are still left with an empty feeling, the issue usually lies with the presentation.
That’s what “How to Write That Scene” addresses, how to write scenes that engage readers and leave them craving more. And when they crave more, it’s for the right reasons and not because important elements are missing from the book.
This is not a book meant to be read by writers and then parked on the shelf. Author Rayne Hall has designed it to be a ready reference, a tool to use when crafting scenes, an opportunity to continue learning skills that add to your expertise. The first eight chapters concentrate on the basics (characters, location, plots, etc.) that are contained in any scene. The next twenty chapters address almost any type of scene one could imagine. Ms. Hall provides hundreds of examples, demonstrating how to write scenes dealing with love, arguments, battles, relationships, and magic, just to name a few.
This is a great book for novices, and Ms. Hall addresses the rookie mistakes that plague those new to the craft. Advanced writers will also discover many gems among the pages. The author has included a section in each chapter directed specifically toward those with more experience, pointing them in directions that are sure to raise their skill levels a few more notches. At the end of each chapter there is an assignment, geared toward practicing what has just been learned.
The information is presented in a low-key manner, as suggestions rather than hard and fast rules. Newer writers would find it difficult to discover another book that lays out these foundations in an easy-to-learn layout. More experienced writers will, at the very least, be reminded of good practices they already know. Five stars.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy of this book.
That’s what “How to Write That Scene” addresses, how to write scenes that engage readers and leave them craving more. And when they crave more, it’s for the right reasons and not because important elements are missing from the book.
This is not a book meant to be read by writers and then parked on the shelf. Author Rayne Hall has designed it to be a ready reference, a tool to use when crafting scenes, an opportunity to continue learning skills that add to your expertise. The first eight chapters concentrate on the basics (characters, location, plots, etc.) that are contained in any scene. The next twenty chapters address almost any type of scene one could imagine. Ms. Hall provides hundreds of examples, demonstrating how to write scenes dealing with love, arguments, battles, relationships, and magic, just to name a few.
This is a great book for novices, and Ms. Hall addresses the rookie mistakes that plague those new to the craft. Advanced writers will also discover many gems among the pages. The author has included a section in each chapter directed specifically toward those with more experience, pointing them in directions that are sure to raise their skill levels a few more notches. At the end of each chapter there is an assignment, geared toward practicing what has just been learned.
The information is presented in a low-key manner, as suggestions rather than hard and fast rules. Newer writers would find it difficult to discover another book that lays out these foundations in an easy-to-learn layout. More experienced writers will, at the very least, be reminded of good practices they already know. Five stars.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy of this book.
June 19, 2018
This books teaches the basics of a scene and goes further. It is a book you can refer to over and over. I own most of the writing books by this author and she has not disappointed me yet. I always learn and there always something I will refer back to. It is a great book for refreshing what you already know too.
January 23, 2021
I found something helpful in every chapter
This is one of the best writing crafts books I have read. I like how all the books in Rayne Hall’s series have the same cover images, to make them easily recognizable. The tips are easy to understand and apply, and Rayne gives plenty of examples and includes writing exercises at the end of each chapter. I recommend this and the other books in the series for any writer who wants to improve their fiction writing.
I write literary thrillers, and I found many tips, and ideas about details and ways to incorporate the five senses into my writing to make it more vivid, intriguing and realistic. I also found ideas about ways to evoke emotions in my readers by the length of sentences and word choice.
This is one of the best writing crafts books I have read. I like how all the books in Rayne Hall’s series have the same cover images, to make them easily recognizable. The tips are easy to understand and apply, and Rayne gives plenty of examples and includes writing exercises at the end of each chapter. I recommend this and the other books in the series for any writer who wants to improve their fiction writing.
I write literary thrillers, and I found many tips, and ideas about details and ways to incorporate the five senses into my writing to make it more vivid, intriguing and realistic. I also found ideas about ways to evoke emotions in my readers by the length of sentences and word choice.
May 18, 2022
How to Write That Scene! by Rayne Hall is part of her Writer's Craft series. This book gives brief tips for writing a variety of different scenes from novel openings and ending to travel, fight, and love scenes and everything in between. Each type of scene has its own separate volume within the Writer's Craft series that covers them in depth, but this edition does an excellent job recapping the essentials for a wide variety of scene types.
I absolutely love this series of writingcraft books! Each chapter has plenty of examples, and ends with assignment prompts to help you hone your craft. Whether you are a new writer or a well-practiced one, How to Write That Scene! can help you tweak your writing to really give it punch. This series is a must have resource for all writers.
I absolutely love this series of writingcraft books! Each chapter has plenty of examples, and ends with assignment prompts to help you hone your craft. Whether you are a new writer or a well-practiced one, How to Write That Scene! can help you tweak your writing to really give it punch. This series is a must have resource for all writers.
August 30, 2021
When I'm looking to learn more about the writing and authoring craft, I'm looking for practical advice as opposed to theoretical ponderings. If I learned something that I can immediately put into practice, I see that as practical advice.
I have read several of Rayne Hall's authoring and writing craft books and have found practical advice in every one of them. In "How to Write That Scene", I learned how to determine the purpose and structure of each scene as well as how to write several different types of scenes. These techniques are game changers for me and have resulted in my restructuring the novel I'm currently working on.
I highly recommend this book!
I have read several of Rayne Hall's authoring and writing craft books and have found practical advice in every one of them. In "How to Write That Scene", I learned how to determine the purpose and structure of each scene as well as how to write several different types of scenes. These techniques are game changers for me and have resulted in my restructuring the novel I'm currently working on.
I highly recommend this book!
December 10, 2020
Haven’t read anything better
This is truly the best analysis of fictional writing -hands down. As I read Rayne Hall’s book, I could clearly see holes in my own writing and places for improvement. She answered questions I didn’t even know I had! This is a must read for writers of all abilities!
This is truly the best analysis of fictional writing -hands down. As I read Rayne Hall’s book, I could clearly see holes in my own writing and places for improvement. She answered questions I didn’t even know I had! This is a must read for writers of all abilities!
July 21, 2019
Helpful and informative, like all the other books in this series. It was a bit of a sales pitch however, constantly referring to another title with more info on the subject of that particular type of scene. Still useful though.
August 14, 2019
A Writer's Must-Read
This book goes over EVERY kind of scene imaginable. It dissects each with how to improve and what not to do. It's easy to read and even things you may already know are still good reminders to keep your writing fresh and tip top.
This book goes over EVERY kind of scene imaginable. It dissects each with how to improve and what not to do. It's easy to read and even things you may already know are still good reminders to keep your writing fresh and tip top.
August 18, 2020
Fantastic!
I have written two books and I cannot imagine how I accomplished that without this book! I love this book; she tells a writer everything you need to know to write any scene. Excellent Read.
I have written two books and I cannot imagine how I accomplished that without this book! I love this book; she tells a writer everything you need to know to write any scene. Excellent Read.
July 26, 2025
Thorough
From the basic structure to specific scenes, this book doesn't leave anything behind. Scene structure, conflicts, emotions, body language, what not to do. Also it teaches how to write all sorts of scenes.
From the basic structure to specific scenes, this book doesn't leave anything behind. Scene structure, conflicts, emotions, body language, what not to do. Also it teaches how to write all sorts of scenes.
May 11, 2018
Super helpful
This book gave me so much insight on how to craft my scenes! All the stuff in school they don’t teach!
This book gave me so much insight on how to craft my scenes! All the stuff in school they don’t teach!
May 15, 2018
I like her writing style, and I found the suggested assignments for each section very useful.
December 7, 2018
If you've read her other books, you don't need this one. Nothing new here.
June 3, 2019
Really Helpful
Lots of great tips on writing different kinds of scenes. A great reference to have for all kinds of writers.
Lots of great tips on writing different kinds of scenes. A great reference to have for all kinds of writers.
December 28, 2019
I found really helpful writing tips in this book. Most of her books have been that way for me.
February 20, 2020
Many Interesting suggestions
I found much, though not all the suggestions in the book useful. It did change my perspective on some aspects of some kinds of scenes.
I found much, though not all the suggestions in the book useful. It did change my perspective on some aspects of some kinds of scenes.
March 30, 2020
Great book!
This is another valuable learning tool you must have to be a great writer, each book teaches you very important techniques in the craft of creative writing.
This is another valuable learning tool you must have to be a great writer, each book teaches you very important techniques in the craft of creative writing.
March 23, 2021
As a developmental editor, I found the chapters on specific types of scenes VERY useful. This book is a reference that I will be returning to many times.
March 25, 2021
Useful
Loved reading the book and found it very insightful. Might read again to internalise all insights.
Will read more books from the author
Loved reading the book and found it very insightful. Might read again to internalise all insights.
Will read more books from the author
December 18, 2020
This was a fast, clear, effective, and helpful book. I can immediately implement the strategies and suggestions Rayne explained. I'll go back to it as a reference several times in the future-guaranteed. I recommend this book to any author who wants to improve their craft. The tips are straight forward to put into action.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews