Some time ago, I wrote a blog entry called "Three-Person Conversations." Now that I'm writing a book where my main character has three friends, and he's going to parties and public events a lot, I'm finding that I'm revisiting this context, and considering it in terms of multi-character scenes.
These scenes can be disorienting at times for a writer - and if the writer is feeling disoriented, imagine how the reader must feel! My main technique for avoiding confusion (all over my writing) is close point of view. The point of view allows me to provide a single person's understanding of the situation, and to control information by limiting it to that person's perceptions and judgments. Here are some more things to think about as you head into that crowded situation.
1. Consider the entry.
A. Is your character prepared for this situation? Does he/she expect it? What is his/her state of mind? What is his/her purpose in entering?
B. Is your character alone as he/she enters the situation, or does he/she have someone to bring him/her in who will give purpose and direction to their entry?
It's funny, but sometimes when I can't figure out how to get a character to walk into a room cold, I can help myself with the dynamics by giving him another person to walk in with.
2. Consider the character's general impression of the situation.
What does he/she notice first? A particular person, or group of people? An overall impression of chaos? Of bustling activity? Of subdued general chit-chat?
Establishing an initial overall impression of the scene will allow you to set up the general dynamic in the reader's mind; then you can focus on smaller interactions within it, and return to the general dynamic in transitions between those interactions.
3. Consider the drive of smaller interactions.
Is your character's goal the primary thing taking him/her from one interaction to another? Or is your character being buffeted by circumstance from one interaction to another, and trying to stay afloat?
Knowing whether your character or the situation is the primary driver will help you decide how to begin minor interactions and move between them.
4. Consider the dynamic of smaller interactions.
Is your character engaging in one-on-one interactions within the larger situation? What are the conditions under which more people would join each interaction? Interruption? Being brought in by one of the conversation participants? How does your point of view character react to this kind of complexity? Easily, or with some kind of emotional reaction? Are there any times when a single individual gets the attention of the entire group?
5. Within smaller interactions, make sure to consider each participant's motives, background and state of mind.
Even if you're not using other characters' points of view, keeping track of who is interacting and what they want will help you to differentiate between participants, which is especially important when many characters are present.
6. Consider how long each interaction should last.
Is there room within the larger situation for people to have long private conversations? Or does the larger dynamic keep smaller interactions relatively short?
7. Consider how to maintain the reader's awareness, both of the participants in smaller interactions, and of the larger situation.
Is your character aware of things going on outside the interaction in which he/she is engaged? How does that affect his/her engagement in the smaller interaction? Are there people present in the smaller interaction who don't say much but can be noticed in their body language so readers don't forget they are there?
I hope these thoughts give you some ways to analyze those party scenes, playground scenes, ballroom scenes, cocktail lounge scenes, and all the different kinds of multi-character scenes that may present themselves in your writing. I find that thinking these things through can help me improve a scene I've written on gut instinct, or head into a new scene that I'm having trouble starting.
So jump into the group dynamic and have some fun!
I can think of a few scenes where I'm going to need these ideas. Could be fun. :D
ReplyDeleteMakes me think about the cultural connotations: is it appropriate/required to wait to be invited into a conversation? can one simply begin a conversation (or do you have to be of a certain rank to do so)? should one hover at the edges and wait for a lull to interject some (relevant) point? Hmm... I never really thought about that different cultures and circumstances have different requirements about even joining group interactions.
ReplyDeleteThese situations are fun and have bags of potential. I remember the dinner scene in Herbert's Dune as an especially good case.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Jaleh, Megs and Porky!
ReplyDeleteMegs, good point about cultural differences in the style of interaction and entry to conversations. I've tried to keep my questions general to allow for different kinds of options there.
Porky, I remember liking that party scene too.
I did three people conversations in comics a lot. It's fun and easy with the visual of the characters. Often two parallel conversations would be going at once with one character a few minutes behind in what was going on. It was also a great way to show what each character was concerned with because no one is actully listening to what the others are saying everyone is sort of adding to the conversation on the basis of what matters to them, not what is being said.
ReplyDeleteAh....those were the days... I have tried it in a manuscript yet.
Another helpful post, Juliette- I will definitely refer back to this when I have a multi-character scene to write!
ReplyDelete- Sophia.
Che,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Your thoughts remind me of my friend K, who thinks of things in terms of theater. Certainly it's easier to deal with these situations when we get visual input. A good thought for those who are writing... make sure to give readers the visuals!
Sophia,
Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you found it helpful.
This is a helpful post. Sometimes just adding one person can complicate the scene. You make it seem easy.
ReplyDeleteClarissa, thanks for the comment. It's not easy for me! But this is my checklist for planning, and for checking things through when I'm finished.
ReplyDelete