Shortly after the two of them first meet, Shrek tries explaining to Donkey that ogres, like onions, have layers. Novels have layers, too. As I mentioned the other day, I’ve been writing some of my scenes in almost a short hand style of writing. Something like: Skip pours a drink. Monica stares at the sea. Skip does something. Monica throws her glass out into the ocean. Usually this happens when either (a) I’m tired, (b) I’m not really in the mood to be writing, or (c) I’m writing an action scene, and my fingers can’t keep up with my brain.… (read more)