This was just a writing exercise I did in /r/writing here with the help of the users there.

Essentially write something down, look at it, ask a bunch of questions on what else you can "write about" in the scene, and then write it again, answering some or all of those questions. You may end up with a completely different paragraph, and that's fine.

1. First Draft

Cora burst through the door, holstering her gun and hiding it behind her uniform. She didn't want to start a panic. Not today, at least. This is a library. She paused, looking around briefly. A busy library. People of all shapes and sizes - and a few Cretorians, which she found interesting - were milling about exchanging books and conversing with one another. Clearly she had walked in on some type of convention or something, as this was not the normal hushed voices and muffled footsteps you'd expect in a library. Likely some sort of "Species' Rights" activists or something, if there were humans interacting with other-planetary life forms.

2. Questions

Setting

• What unique defining characteristics describe the library? Outside the library?

• What is the politically charged topics of this world? Why?

• How many species of "people" are there in this world?

• Honestly I've been sitting here for like 30 minutes and this is all I can come up with. Aside from things like "what books are visible" and other mundane things.

Character

• What organization does she work for? Is it on the side of the law or against it?

• Who/What is she running from?

• Physical characteristics, basic - eyes, hair, height, figure, etc.

• Physical quirks - scars, etc.

• Personality, basic - uptight, optimistic, stoic, etc.

• Personality quirks - tics, vices, subjects she feels passionate about, rituals she engages in (like, OCD rituals, not demon-summoning rituals), pet-peeves, etc.

• Talents

• Hobbies

• Background - family/friends/romance, education, social status, etc.

• How is she feeling about this encounter in general? Is she terrified, calm, excited, nervous, sad, angry, or optimistic? What defines her emotional state, in other words, when this scene begins?

My questions initially were shit. The user there (don't wish to spam his inbox, can look up through link above), helped me think of better questions for part 2 of this exercise below:

We're describing the current moment, so focus the questions on the current moment.

You'd think this would have been obvious to me, but it wasn't! XD I got you. Again, this is a lot harder (at least for me) to do than I thought it would be, but it's definitely stretching those creative muscles, thanks for the exercise.

See if you can get a few more.

Setting

• What materials is the library made of? Tile Floors? Hardwood? Carpet? Steel? Plaster Walls? Marble? Etc.

• Are there any empty spaces/more crowded areas?

• How old is this library? Are there cracks in the mortar, etc. that show age, or was it recently constructed?

• Cora is some type of soldier - what type of on-hand "environmental" weapons are located around the area?

• In the hustle and bustle of this event, is there anyone that looks out of place, possibly dangerous or in danger?

• Where is the nearest escape route, or is there one, besides turning back through the doors? Along with this - are there multiple floors?

• Did anyone notice her "bursting" through the doors, or was it so busy that she was barely acknowledged? Is this good or bad?

• What's the weather like?

Character

• What other weapons, gadgets or tools does Cora have on her?

• Is she exhausted or ready to fight/run/etc.?

• Is she traveling alone?

• Is she wounded?

3. Second Draft

"Shit." Lightning flashed behind the cityscape, providing fleeting images of the rain-drenched streets before darkness swallowed them once more, a preamble to the impending BOOM of the thunder as it followed its visible cousin. Cora's pursuers' splashing footsteps echoed through the empty streets as she rounded the corner. She held her bruised left shoulder as she glanced around frantically, finding salvation in only one location - an ornately carved oak door on her right. A sign was carved into the concrete frame above the door, clearly marking it as a public building of some sort.

Too panicked to observe further she burst through the door, much to the surprise of several patrons nearest the entryway. Drenched to the bone and shivering, she holstered her pistol and hid it behind her uniform in one quick, unseen motion despite the pain in her damaged shoulder - no reason to start a panic just yet. The Dark Walkers would see the same door she did and guess, correctly, that she had taken shelter here; she needed to move quickly.

Cora called to her training, closing her eyes and calming her mind as she briefly and efficiently processed the environment her eyes had just seen. Three floors. Stairs in the back. No make-shift weapons. No escape. Several hiding spots. Violence unavoidable.

Cora opened her eyes again, taking in her surroundings more calmly and fully, and slipped through the masses easily.

"Shit." She repeated. I'm in a library. An integrated library. At least as evidenced by the presence of humans and Cretorians. This was bad. Her employer wouldn't be happy. He may end up putting a bounty on her head as well.

"Shit, shit, shit."