How can you use cutaways to create detail in your writing?

1 What are the benefits of cutaways?

Cutaways can help you achieve several goals in your writing, such as showing instead of telling, building tension or contrast, and adding depth or context. By showing aspects of characters, settings, or themes that would otherwise be difficult to explain in words, cutaways can create suspense and contrast. They can also enrich the story world by showing details that expand the setting, history, or culture. Cutaways can provide context by showing how the main scene relates to other events or characters. In this way, cutaways can help bring your story to life.

2 How to choose cutaways?

Cutaways should not be random or irrelevant to your story, but instead should serve a purpose and enhance your main scene. To choose effective cutaways, consider the point of view of your narrator or focal character. If writing in first or third person limited, only use cutaways that your narrator or focal character can see, hear, remember, or imagine. If writing in third person omniscient, you have more freedom to use cutaways that show other characters or locations, but still maintain a clear and consistent voice and tone. Additionally, cutaways should complement or contrast the mood or tone of your main scene. If looking to create harmony, use cutaways that reinforce the emotion or atmosphere of your scene. If looking to create conflict, use cutaways that challenge or contradict the expectation or attitude of your scene. Lastly, consider the pace or rhythm of your scene when selecting cutaways. For a faster action sequence, opt for short and sharp cutaways that create urgency or surprise. To slow down the action, choose longer and smoother cutaways that create depth or reflection.

3 How to write cutaways?

Cutaways should be clear and concise, without confusing or distracting your reader. To write effective cutaways, you should use transitions to introduce or close your cutaways and link them to your main scene. Additionally, use sensory details to create vivid and immersive cutaways that show your reader what your characters experience. Finally, use dialogue or narration to create dynamic and expressive cutaways that show your reader what your characters feel or mean. For example, "He opened the door and stepped into the dark alley. Meanwhile, she was waiting for him in the hotel lobby, unaware of the danger. She heard a loud bang and saw a flash of light. The smell of smoke filled her nostrils and the taste of blood filled her mouth. She felt a sharp pain in her chest and collapsed on the floor. He looked at her with a smile and said, 'I love you.' She looked at him with a frown and thought, 'You liar.'"