Sloane Talest

Scene – MSP Workshop Notes

Posted on June 10, 2018 Updated on April 29, 2019

• Each scene is a micro-story in itself containing:
  • Purpose
  • An inciting incident
  • Tension
  • Conclusion
• Starting a scene
  • Launching a scene
    • characters
    • action
    • narrative
    • setting
  • Vary the beginning of scenes just like you vary your sentence structure.
  • Starting with dialog
    • Sacrifices grounding
      • Ground your readers as soon as possible after the dialog
    • Adds energy
    • Could be too much tension up front
      • How can you escalate tension?
• The middle of a scene has one of three things:
  • Withhold
  • Element of danger
  • Reveal
• Tension and plot
  • Scenes can be used to establish the status quo as a set up break the status quo.
  • The Jim Butcher model states that scenes are an action or reaction.
  • A scene exists if it in some way shape or form advances the story.
  • Use Want -> But -> Therefore for advancement of the story.
  • Scenes contain cause and effect that help advance a plot.
• The first scene
  • is the most important scene because people who aren’t familiar with your work are going to buy or not buy your book on that scene.
  • is a promise to your reader how the end of the book is going to hack their brain.
• The last scene
  • For novels, the last scene should end on a reaction.
  • For short stories, the last scene should end on an action.
• General
  • Suggested one scene per chapter
  • The entrance or exit is relative to where the scene before it ends and after it begins.
  • Dwell on important stuff
    • The specific things you focus on will set the readers mindset.
  • Establish stakes or goals
    • Your character should have a goal.
• What a scene is not
  • Infodump
    • The whole point of the scene is to reveal information
    • This is different than a “reveal” similar to “Luke I am your father!”
  • Dialog only
  • Often transportation to the scene is included when not necessary.
• What is your favorite scene?
  • Awkward character meetings
  • Scenes that are descriptive and seminal for the character
    • Catniss going into the arena
• Recommended books or resources
  • Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight
  • Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon
  • Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld
  • Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
  • Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
  • “Scenes” by Jim Butcher
  • Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
  • Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain
  • The Scene Book by Sandra Scofield
  • “What Makes a Scene” Writing Excuses Episode 10.25