Scenes and Sequels - How to Write Page-Turning Fiction

Park Ranger Travis O’Brian braced himself as he held a climbing line snug against his backside. All around him were the forested hills of Yellowstone National Park and the scent of pine. In the distance a ghostlike column of steam rose above the trees, reminding him that Native Americans once viewed the Yellowstone area as a home of evil spirits, a portal to the underworld.

At the other end of the rope, an overweight biologist in blue jeans climbed down a ten-foot rock wall. Nestled in a pear-shaped sinkhole lay an azure-blue pool about five yards wide. Wisps of steam rose from water so clear and deep that it seemed bottomless.

The biologist was there to gather specimens from the water’s edge for a research project. O’Brian figured the guy was wasting his time, but it didn’t hurt to humor him. “Shoot’n for a Nobel prize or something?”

The curly haired, pug-nosed biologist, Shawn Gruden, flipped up his clip-on sunglasses and laughed. “You never know. The rain forests of the world have yielded new drugs that provide amazing cures. Maybe tucked away in some place like this could be a new species of bacteria or algae that could save the world from suffering.”

Right, thought O’Brian, glancing at his watch. If this bozo didn’t take too long, he could finish his camp inspections before five o’clock, then stop for a beer on the way home. “What makes you think anything useful could be growing here?”

Gruden reached the edge of the pool and slipped a daypack off his shoulders. “Every microenvironment we’ve studied has produced plant and animal life unique to its conditions. The more harsh the environment, the more unique have been the adaptations. It’s trial-and-error research, but someday I may just get lucky and discover something useful, maybe even a real breakthrough. Apparently the concept is interesting enough for a major pharmaceutical company to fund my research while I prepare a doctoral thesis.”

This guy’s even more of a nerd than I suspected, thought O’Brian. “I wouldn’t think anything could live in hot water.”

Gruden had his pack open and its contents spread on the rock around the pool. “You’d be surprised where life can survive, even flourish—from the coldest reaches of the Arctic to the very edge of active volcanoes. I’m hoping that Yellowstone, with all its geysers and hot springs, will yield something exciting.”

O’Brian watched silently as Gruden picked up a plastic container that looked like the case for a thermometer. The scientist popped off one end of the container, revealing a plastic stick with a fuzzy end. He leaned over the edge of the pool, exposing his ample butt crack.

O’Brian tightened his grip on the rope, wishing he had run the line around a tree before letting the biologist descend. Rocks around geysers and hot springs tended to be brittle. “Careful now. Letting a scientist get parboiled wouldn’t look good in my personnel file.”

Gruden sat back on the rock ledge and examined the smudged end of the sample swab. “Not to worry, my friend, not to worry.” He slipped the plastic cap back on the swab container and snapped it tight. “One down, and three to go.”

The rock under O’Brian shuddered. “Whoa! What was that?” Gruden edged back from the pool.

“Just a tremor. We get them all the time up here. You know Yellowstone is the site of an ancient volcano, don’t you?”

“Supervolcano, actually,” said Gruden. “Probably caused an ice age when it erupted.”

O’Brian waited a moment, half expecting another tremor. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. “What do you say we wrap this up and call it a day?”

“Just a few more samples.” Gruden snatched up another kit and edged to the pool.

O’Brian pulled the line taut as the biologist leaned close to the steaming water. From deep in the clear-blue pool appeared a dark spot. It blossomed into a billowing black cloud, its edges churning as it expanded. O’Brian pulled hard on the line, yanking Gruden back from the pool.

“Ouch!” screamed Gruden. “What’s your problem?”

The black cloud rose quickly, obliterating any trace of blue in the pool. As the blackness reached the surface, the water roiled. O’Brian cringed at the stench of sulfur.

“Crap!” yelled Gruden. “Get me out of here!” O’Brian pulled with all his strength, hand over hand, hauling Gruden up the wall. As Gruden approached the top of the wall, O’Brian stepped back, dragging the biologist over the edge.

Gruden looked at O’Brian and laughed with relief.

O’Brian panted with exertion, but he couldn’t keep himself from chuckling, feeling a little embarrassed.

Another tremor. O’Brian steadied himself.

The rock under them collapsed, cascading with a roar toward the pool.

For a moment, O’Brian felt suspended in midair. His stomach seemed to rise within him, like on a roller coaster. His feet caught on rock, and he tumbled end over end toward the pool. His mind flashed bright colors, then all turned black.

Park Ranger Travis O’Brian (CHARACTER) braced himself as he held a climbing line snug against his backside. All around him were the forested hills of Yellowstone National Park and the scent of pine. In the distance a ghostlike column of steam rose above the trees, reminding him that native Americans once viewed the Yellowstone area as a home of evil spirits, a portal to the underworld. (SETTING)

At the other end of the rope, an overweight biologist (CHARACTER) in blue jeans climbed down a ten-foot rock wall. Nestled in a pear-shaped sinkhole, lay an azure-blue pool about five yards wide (CRUCIBLE). Wisps of steam rose from water so clear and deep that it seemed bottomless.

The biologist was there to gather specimens from the water’s edge for a research project (GOAL). O’Brian figured the guy was wasting his time, but it didn’t hurt to humor him. “Shoot’n for a Nobel prize or something?”

The curly haired, pug-nosed biologist, Shawn Gruden, flipped up his clip-on sunglasses and laughed. “You never know. The rain forests of the world have yielded new drugs that provide amazing cures. Maybe tucked away in some place like this could be a new species of bacteria or algae that could save the world from suffering.” (STAKES)

Right, thought O’Brian, glancing at his watch. If this bozo didn’t take too long, he could finish his camp inspections before five o’clock, then stop for a beer on the way home. (GOAL) “What makes you think anything useful could be growing here?”

Gruden reached the edge of the pool and slipped a daypack off his shoulders. “Every micro-environment we’ve studied has produced plant and animal life unique to its conditions. The more harsh the environment, the more unique have been the adaptations. It’s trial-and-error research, but someday I may just get lucky and discover something useful, maybe even a real breakthrough. Apparently the concept is interesting enough for a major pharmaceutical company to fund my research while I prepare a doctoral thesis.” (STAKES)

This guy’s even more of a nerd than I suspected, thought O’Brian. “I wouldn’t think anything could live in hot water.”

Gruden had his pack open and its contents spread on the rock around the pool. “You’d be surprised where life can survive, even flourish—from the coldest reaches of the Arctic to the very edge of active volcanoes. I’m hoping that Yellowstone, with all its geysers and hot springs, will yield something exciting.” (STAKES)

O’Brian watched silently as Gruden picked up a plastic container that looked like the case for a thermometer. The scientist popped off one end of the container, revealing a plastic stick with a fuzzy end. He leaned over the edge of the pool, exposing his ample butt crack. (FIRST ATTEMPT)

O’Brian tightened his grip on the rope, wishing he had run the line around a tree before letting the biologist descend. Rocks around geysers and hot springs tended to be brittle. “Careful now. Letting a scientist get parboiled wouldn’t look good in my personnel file.” (STAKES)

Gruden sat back on the rock ledge and examined the smudged end of the sample swab. “Not to worry, my friend, not to worry.” He slipped the plastic cap back on the swab container and snapped it tight. “One down, and three to go.” (SUCCESS)

The rock under O’Brian shuddered. (RESISTANCE)

“Whoa! What was that?” Gruden edged back from the pool.

“Just a tremor. We get them all the time up here. You know Yellowstone is the site of an ancient volcano, don’t you?” (SITUATION)

“Supervolcano, actually,” said Gruden. “Probably caused...