Scenes are the Legos, the building blocks of the story. We all loved building things with our Legos, but readers are impatient. For that reason, no scene can be wasted, written just to entertain us, the writer. All of those scenes are background and world building, and should be saved in a separate file.

We want to ensure that each scene has a function. When I am writing the first or even the second draft, I can find myself at a loss as to what needs to happen next to advance the story.

I keep a list of plot points that could be explored and try to nudge my plot forward by exploring one of these actions:

• Information
• Confrontation
• Reunion
• Revelation
• Negotiation
• Decision
• Capitulation
• Catalyst
• Contemplation/Reflection
• Turning Point
• Resolution
• Deep emotions

Exploring each of these plot points alters the characters’ view of their world. Every change in a character’s awareness…