You may have heard the term ‘cinematic writing style’ and thought, how is it different than traditional writing? The simple distinction is the writing is visual-scene based instead of the traditional story narrative. You’ll recognize it as having substantially more dialogue and less description. The push toward cinematic is based on demand since many readers as children grew up experiencing movies and television more than they read books. People like what they like, and they like the familiar.
Why I Prefer the Cinematic Style
The advantages of cinematic writing are a faster pace, they’re more dynamic, and the story visually evolves in the reader’s mind. It is truly ‘showing’ and not ‘telling’ the reader what is happening. You learn the characters through their actions, what they say and what others say about them — the same as in a film. Don’t tell the reader about your characters. Don’t tell the reader about what is happening . . . Show them.
Setting the Stage
The beginning of a chapter is always the opening of a scene; you can have scene changes throughout the chapter, but you can’t take off with the dialogue without context. It’s like hearing a conversation in complete darkness. The reader needs to know a few things first, mostly where and why? The ‘why’ could be assumed based on the storyline, but the basic elements need to be set in place to make it work.
Have you ever watched a low-budget play, but the props were enough to know two actors were sitting at a table in a restaurant? The focused action was an argument. The context of the setting needs to be enough, but not too much. Would describing the restaurant menu help the scene? Not unless the menu was the focus of the argument. Would more tables with other patrons add to the drama? Would an altercation with the waiter enhance the tension? Maybe, but considering we are using the written word, just knowing the characters are in a restaurant allows the reader to fill in much of the scene themselves. It’s your choice.
Scene Evolution
It’s preferable to roll out the details as they are needed. Suppose the opening line is a disturbance that wakes your protagonist in the middle of the night and they leap from their bed and run to the window. Do you not already have a reasonable picture of the room in your mind? As the scene develops let’s say your protagonist gets dressed to inspect the noise and throws on a coat. Now you know it’s cold out, but you didn’t say it. You showed it through the character’s actions. Did they run out or take their time? You don’t describe them as being anxious, you show them as anxious.
Never describe a character as upset, mad, angry, happy, etc. Use an action that lets the reader know their mental state. Example: “John grabbed his coat and ran outside. He yelled at the boys speeding away on their bikes as he surveyed the trash thrown across his front yard.” The reader knows John is upset and why.
Please read and comment on the series of posts I’ve provided. My experience is what it is. If you have something to add that will help other writers, I greatly encourage all feedback.