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This is really all about your story being logical.
Cause
The question “Why?” is very useful here. “How?” is also
quite enlightening. If you could read your work backwards it might be helpful.
Why is the gun smoking? How did it get there? Why has the father written this
letter? How was it delivered? Why did the boy steal the loaf? How did he manage
that?
Effect
Does every happening lead to something else? Every scene
must have its consequences. It’s useful too if it projects forward. What will
that gun do? What will the protagonist
do because they have received the letter? What will now happen to the boy who
stole the loaf?
Logistics
Can that really have happened? We looked at this with
endings. Something must happen. It mustn’t be too melodramatic. You mustn’t cheat and have some unbelievable
magic move you on too easily. Don’t find the gun conveniently hidden in the
chimney. Don’t let the letter contain a magic formula for curing all the protagonist’s
ills. Don’t make the boy the secret love child of the judge. (Though we may
have to forgive Dickens, Molière and Shkespeare for such tricks).
How to proceed with this
Examine every scene carefully and ask these four questions.
What has caused this to happen?
What will this lead to?
Is the relationship between cause and effect believable?
Does this scene actually add to the story?
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