Writing the scene--inside and out

Writing a novel consists of writing a series of individual yet connected scenes. The writer has to focus on the scene at hand, while remembering to consider how that scene fits within the story as a whole.

Sarah Domet (90 Days to Your Novel) puts it this way: "...the writer must master the art of gazing outward and downward, a bit like a quarterback, who is constantly looking both at his immediate surroundings, peripherally, so that he doesn't get sacked by the defense, while his eyes are focused downfield for the pass. You, too, must always keep your eyes in two places at once: the micro (the scene) and the macro (the novel). It is essential to constantly consider how each of the "parts" of your novel influences the overall trajectory of your plot and character development."