Despite going back to rewrite my scene yesterday because it had gotten off track, it threatened to do the same thing again today. Fortunately, I was able to use the beats as a focus point to return and prevent myself from diverting on a tangent.
I’m also trying to make sure that I keep the scene focused on my protagonist’s desire within it. I am realizing that focusing on that desire gives me permission – almost a mandate – to trim anything peripheral to that desire. If other characters are talking, but it isn’t related to her desire and focus in the scene, then I can skip over that, because she wouldn’t be particularly interested. It helps to know what sections should be long and short as the scene progresses.
I think I’m getting close to the end of this scene and the decision point. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll get there. The next series of scenes should not be nearly as complex, more based around single actions and events. That should give me more practice in writing clear, crisp scenes. But first I have to bring this conversation to a close.