#Scene writing

[nanowrimo]

5 Essential Tips for Mastering Scene Writing in Your Novel

There's many parts involved when writing a scene. Knowing how these different pieces work together may help you move forward in your novel. NaNo Participant Amy de la Force offers some tips on brushing up your scene writing knowledge. Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, the stages where characters spring to life, conflicts brew and emotions run high. Mastering the art of scene writing is crucial for any aspiring writer, especially in the lead-up to NaNoWriMo. But what is a scene, and how do you effectively craft one? 

What is a Scene? 

A scene is a short period of time — in a set place — that moves the story forward with dramatic conflict that reveals character, generally through dialogue or action. Think of writing a scene as a mini-story with a beginning, middle and end, all contributing to the narrative. 

Why Scene Writing is Your Secret Weapon in Storytelling

Well-crafted scenes enhance your story to develop characters, advance the plot, and engage readers through tension and emotion. Whether you're writing a novel, short story or even non-fiction, scenes weave the threads of your story together.

Tip #1: Scenes vs. Sequels

According to university lecturer Dwight Swain in Techniques of the Selling Writer, narrative time can be broken down into not just scenes, but sequels. 

Scene

The 3 parts of a scene are:

Goal: The protagonist or point-of-view (POV) character’s objective at the start of the scene.

Conflict: For dramatic conflict, this is an equally strong combination of the character’s ‘want + obstacle’ to their goal. 

Disaster: When the obstacle wins, it forces the character’s hand to act, ratcheting up tension. 

Sequel 

Similarly, Swain’s sequels have 3 parts:

Reaction: This is the POV character’s emotional follow-up to the previous scene’s disaster. 

Dilemma: If the dramatic conflict is strong enough, each possible next step seems worse than anything the character has faced.  

Decision: The scene’s goal may still apply, but the choice of action to meet it will be difficult. 

Tip #2: Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing a Scene

In Story Genius, story coach and ex–literary agent Lisa Cron lists 4 questions to guide you in scene writing:

What does my POV character go into the scene believing?

Why do they believe it?

What is my character’s goal in the scene?

What does my character expect will happen in this scene?

Tip #3: Writing Opening and Closing Scenes

Now that we know more about scene structure and character considerations, it’s time to open with a bang, or more to the point, a hook. Forget warming up and write a scene in the middle of the action or a conversation. Don’t forget to set the place and time with a vivid description or a little world-building. To end the scene, go for something that resolves the current tension, or a cliffhanger to make your scene or chapter ‘unputdownable’. 

Tip #4: Mastering Tension and Pacing 

A benefit to Swain’s scenes and sequels is that introspective sequels tend to balance the pace by slowing it, building tension. This pacing variation, which you can help by alternating dialogue with action or sentence lengths, offers readers the mental quiet space to rest and digest any action-packed scenes. 

Tip #5: Scene Writing for Emotional Impact

For writing a scene, the top tips from master editor Sol Stein in Stein on Writing are:

Fiction evokes emotion, so make a list of the emotion(s) you want readers to feel in your scenes and work to that list.

For editing, cut scenes that don’t serve a purpose (ideally, several purposes), or make you feel bored. If you are, your reader is too. 

Conclusion

From understanding the anatomy of a scene to writing your own, these tips will help elevate your scenes from good to unforgettable, so you can resonate with readers.

Amy de la Force is a YA and adult speculative fiction writer, alumna of Curtis Brown Creative's selective novel-writing program and Society of Authors member. The novel she’s querying longlisted for Voyage YA’s Spring First Chapters Contest in 2021. An Aussie expat, Amy lives in London. Check her out on Twitter, Bluesky, and on her website! Her books can be found on Amazon. Photo by cottonbro studio

[averagekindergartenfan]

September 30, 2024

• Just another case

‼️TW: IMPLIED SELF HARM

*Linda woke up at a different place, last she remembered she was in her bedroom behind the door* ".....Uhhh, god..... wait, am I in a.. hospital room?" *She looked around and saw a long tube going in her arm, and.. Jacob's worried look, oh jesus.*

J: "HOLY SHIT, YOU FINALLY WAKE UP! Oh thank goodness I thought I lost you forever!"

L: "..Oh, fuck you found me bleeding"

J: "YES! Oh my god I should've kept it hidden somewhere else"

L: "Dude whatever..."

J: "I'M NOT JOKING RIGHT NOW! YOUR ARM WAS LITERALLY A WATERFALL!"

L: "OKAY! calm down! I'm a little disoriented right now so volume down"

J: "Oh my god, alright. I'm just worried for you, like you haven't been responding to me in like 3 days and you refused to eat."

L: "Don't have to remind me, it's just one of those days"

J: "I'm still allowed to be WORRIED though"

L: "Doesn't make it any less worse."

J: "*Deep breath* Alright, I need to calm down. I'm sorry for talking to you like that, I recognise your issues and I really want you to recover. You really mean a lot to me FAR beyond friendship. I want to help you heal in any way you can..I'll help."

L: "...I- uhh...thanks I think. Uhhh yeah I guess I'll accept that or something"

*A hospital worker walks in while Jacob was talking* "Sir, you may now leave the patient's room as your visiting time is up" (Idk how hospital workers talk man)

J: "*Sigh...* Please take care, just so you know I love you, please don't forget"

L: "... can't promise but I'll try"

"...Well now you just looked like a pitiful asshole, a leech if you will. No way in hell are YOU gonna be his 24/7 issue. Now you just ruined the rest of the day or next month.." She thought to herself. She tried to lay down on her side but her body felt a tiny bit heavier, maybe because it's still limp.

...Whatever, it's just another case

[derangedthots]

i have a particular fondness for scenes in media that read like sex scenes even tho no sex is actually happening...which is also why the last jacemond scene in ch1 of CTF is one of my fav things i've ever written😶‍🌫️🥰

[winterlilyswwritings]

Emily is Saved by a Bird

Somewhere in the woods a corpse was lying on the ground.

It was wearing a torn blood soaked white t-shirt. There was a large hole in its chest where someone had left a branch embedded in its chest. Its head was hanging onto its neck by barely an inch of skin and its glassy eyes were staring at the night sky. One of its arms was bent backwards at an angle entirely incompatible with its bones and the other rested by its side.

There was a long golden needle with a golden flower at one end stabbed into the corpse's stomach.

The corpse lay there undisturbed by scavengers and wildlife for a long while. The needle glowed softly in the night, warning the animals the corpse was steeped in evil magic.

Near dusk a magpie flew by and spotted the shiny golden needle. He landed near the corpse and walked in circles around it, steeling itself to brave the scent of unnatural magic and death that still lingered in the area. He hopped up on the corpse and pecked at its stomach, and then pulled the needle out and proudly strut in a circle with the pretty thing in its beak.

Suddenly the corpse twitched, and the magpie immediately hopped back, the needle slipping out of his grasp and landing by the corpse's hand. It slowly raised that hand, and then gently waved at the bird. Then it picked up the needle and held it out for him to take. The magpie cautiously approached the corpse and grabbed the needle, quickly flying away.

Emily watched the magpie fly away and smiled. She wished it well. It was going to be a long night before she could get herself out of this ditch but she wasn't going to die.

She might not be alive, but she wasn't quite dead yet.

[adam-n-dog]

Adam is sitting (Somewhat? He is upside down, with his feet over the back) on the sofa.

He tosses a small ball up and down as Dog watches with interest. He had been writing names, but he was still a teenage boy, and that being said, one who's attention span was not the longest.

Adam looked over the people in the room and frowned. Not a sad frown, but a thoughtful one.

He looked back down at Dog, who cocked his head.

"What even would happen if we brought back dinosaurs?"

[snugglesquiggle]

What Does it Take to (Re)Write a Scene?

new essay's out: Flesh On the Wrong Bone, explaining my new understanding of what it means to render a scene. i've written about scenes at length before, but with about a year's more experience writing (and agonizing about) stories at various levels of fidelity has made the mechanisms and purpose of detail click into place

if you want insight on what you need to turn an outline into a draft, what an unbaked first draft might be missing, or just hone your understanding of what makes scenes tick, i've got you covered.

i was planning to put this up on patreon early access for a bit (and i do need the money lol), but i crave the attention too much rip

[former-prince-of-hell]

Beelzebub laid sideways in a plush armchair, hand hung lazily off the side.

They were enjoying their home, a place that was just their’s, them and Gabriel. The home was in the stars, in America, beyond what a human mind could even fathom but somehow within the mind itself. Just like Heaven and Hell are everywhere, so was their home.

Gabriel walked in from the kitchen, a hot mug and a small dish of fruit (Several flies were already enjoying the sweet juice that puddled at the bottom) in his hands.

Beelzebub smiled. They were enjoying their home.

[astraeasi13nce]

WIP: N/A Characters: N/A Word count: 196 Content notes: suicide

✦

I woke up to a pure white light. My heart and throat swelled up in excitement. 

Is this oh my God oh heaven my God I see oh my God heaven?

As my senses slowly returned, I absorbed the sensations of heaven; a soft cloud felt, angels' quiet murmur and a high-pitched beeping heard, and—

I heard a heart monitor’s beeping. I smelled medicine and antibiotics. I saw pure white light that turned to simply be from a ceiling rather than a sky's sun and clouds, glaring into my eyes; I moved my gaze away from the blinding light and saw my body, donned in a hospital gown, and the white walls and counters of a hospital room.

This is not heaven. I am not dead not dead I failed my suicide attempt my suicide failed I failed.

My excitement faded away, leaving me with bitter disappointment. I lay in my hospital bed in a silence only broken by murmurs from outside the room and beeping. Then, I closed my eyes, shutting myself away from the white world. Still, my bed was not a soft cloud, the murmurs were not from angels, and I was not dead.

✦

old writing exercise I did. I was figuring out my writing style back then (still sorta am). It's interesting to look back and see how I've improved. No title or character name, so this def needs to be more; I hope this scene idea reappears in a fuller story w/ a developed character down the line. Dunno where, but somewhere

BG Image

[cepheusgalaxy]

Something I used to do and have No Idea of why I stopped and should totally go back to doing: If I'm stuck on a scene, I pick another PoV, maybe even starting before, and write it from the perspective of another character. Helps diving into the mind of the other characters in the story and gives you more ✨perspective✨. Also, don't be afraid of startign the extra PoV sooner or later than the actual scene. If it helps, it helps!

[notetakingnonsense]

Anyone ever start writing but get distracted by how pretty a character’s name is?

That’s happening to me rn.

[writersbeware]

The Storm

Imagine that it is raining. Not a soft, gentle rain, but a downpour that pounds against the windows and rivers and streams overflow their banks, flooding streets. Many of us like to stay indoors on rainy days, perhaps sitting by the window, watching it happen. We might see leaves torn from trees due to high winds, branches that bend, almost touching the ground. If we’re sitting inside a warm…

[wannabestoryteller]

Random scene writing

Walking through the threshold of the entrance, he is greeted by bird songs and soothing whooshing of water sounds from a handcrafted fountain making an enchanted ambiance beckoning weary travelers. She told him this was the best tavern in the land and she wasn’t pulling his leg. A rustic facade decorated with ivy and blooming flowers. Polished wooden floors exude a rich, honey eyed glow. A fireplace crackles in the corner, casting a soft flickering warm light that dances across the room inviting patrons to gather and share stories. He definitely didn’t quite aesthetically belong. Regardless, his heavy boots steadily clomped forward towards the desk where a peaceful elf adorned in a tasteful ensemble of earth toned garments sits reading, absolutely unbothered by the burly dark outsider. A huge puff from his cigar engulfs her face as he approaches and she starts letting out small faint coughs. She closes her book and covers her mouth with one hand while putting up her pointer finger to him with the other. “Excuse me a moment” she squeezes out in between her polite coughs. He puts the cigar out and blows the smoke away from her this time. “Welcome to the Aduial Tavern. How may I help you today?” She says after quickly composing herself. 

“Just a room for the night” 

“Of course, a room for the night is one silver and our premium room is three silver. It has a view of the ocean from a lovely bath” her voice turns back to its natural warm and comforting cadence. He reaches in his pocket pulling out only 1 silver coin placing it on the table. “Standard room will do” 

“Standard room it is” she takes the silver and starts getting his key together, moving with effortless elegance. She decides to to take this opportunity of his trapped attention to indulge her interest in his mysterious aura. “Where might you be from?” 

His eyes dart up to hers. Although his patience for social interaction with curious people seem very low at the moment, not even having the energy to hide such on his face, he sees the purely genuine curiosity and interest in hers. She notices the unfriendly look but still feels safe enough to keep prying. “If I may ask” she adds respectfully. “I get many walks of life from many different realms through here, but none quite like you.”

“My endeavors usually take place across the sea.”

“Well it’s a good thing you didn’t decide to stay in Hornswaggle Port. Pirates tend to spend their nights between voyages there. It can get quite nasty”

“So I’ve heard” 

“ what brings you across the sea?”

“A mission from a friend I couldn’t say no to” 

[averagekindergartenfan]

• Partner

English class, 2nd period

‼️TW: HARASSMENT

(this is also very long so uhm, YOUTUBE SHORTS WATCHERS BEWARE)

Jacob was sitting in English class listening to the teacher talk about Romeo & Juliet, he thought it was pretty interesting but he probably wouldn't read it in his freetime. The teacher then stopped looking at the whiteboard and faced the students as she walked over to her desk

Ms. Lillie: "For today, you'll be partnered up with somebody to analyse the hidden meanings in each scene. I already have your partners written out on little paper strips, so you'll know who to get to :D"

"Alright, I guess I could help someone here, I do know some English linguistics anyway" He thought to himself. The teacher handed him a paper strip, so he read it and.....

"Jacob & Nathan!" ..Holy shit.

J: "...Oh! Uhm.. I kind of.. I don't know" He wanted to say something to the teacher but she was already at the other students' desks. He looked at Nathan and saw his face lit up just by a little bit... Jacob didn't really like this

*Time skip*

N: "So? You and me partners again after a while?"

J: "Please don't talk about it, I'm not really comfortable talking about our history"

N: "Come onnnn, brings back some memories doesn't it?"

J: "Yeah but I REALLY don't feel comfortable talking about that right now, we have a project to do"

N: "And we've got some life catching-up to do. So, how has is it been since you..well, left me."

J: "*writing in his notebook* I'm just fine, also could you like please focus on the project right now?"

N: "The project's due like next week, it's not like she's the type to change the date on us so suddenly. Speaking of date... You got one?"

J: "No but I'm fine without one"

N: "...You look fit to be my date, again."

J: "*sigh* Look, I don't want to talk about you and I right now, I'm just going through some stuff."

N: "Maybe I could help you out ;)"

J: "HELL THE FUCK NO Uhm, I'd rather you not"

N: "..Alright fine whatever, be a prick, not like I care. Let's do this dumb project"

*Minutes pass by and the bell rings.*

Everybody left the class and Jacob went to meet Linda, as per usual everytime class ends. All of the sudden, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked back to see who it was and, it was Nathan, his now again "partner"

N: "Ay, I wanted to talk to you about something"

J: "Uhm, sorry I was about to go meet my friend, maybe we could talk later"

N: "Bullshit, we're talking now"

J: "I-... Sorry?"

N: "I gotta talk to you now"

J: "I guess? I'll just text them that I'm busy with something"

N: "Yeah just do that real quick"

*Sound of Jacob typing on his phone. "Hey so like I have to talk to somebody right now, you don't mind if I'm gone for a bit right?" He sent to Linda. She replied back by saying "Yeah sure, I got Kayla anyways so I still got company", alright cool*

J: "So like, what did you want to talk to me about?"

N: "It's about us, like why are you so avoidant now? Everytime I tried to send you a dm you didn't respond, plus you got a new girl or something"

J: "Okay uh, I just don't really feel comfortable with you now. Like in the past you just pushed me around and just made me do the things you wanted to do, and like I didn't really want to experience that again so that's why I've been avoidant. Also she's not my girl, she's a friend for now"

N: "Yeah, for NOW. Next you'll just be with her moving on as if you and me never hung out at your place like everyday"

J: "Please don't mention that, it used to be fun but then it just got out of hand"

He was sweating bullets trying not to panic in public. Why would he talk about this NOW?! OF ALL TIMES?! Jacob frankly felt like he was walking on eggshells while talking to Nathan

N: "Come on it wasn't that bad, or are you still thinking of that one time when I got you to-"

J: "ALRIGHT! We should stop talking now, I really need to go my friend's waiting for me"

N: "NOT YET ASSHOLE!"

Nathan quickly grabbed Jacob's sleeve, just before he could even form a step. Jacob flinched as soon as he did that

J: "WHAT DO YOU STILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT?! We could do this another time!"

N: "US! still! *deep breath* Look, I still want to be connected with you, and I don't want you to just kick me out of your life. I still think about hanging out with you and..maybe doing a lot of other stuff but that doesn't matter. All I'm saying it, I want you back."

J: "...Well I- *sigh* I'm sorry, but for my sake I just don't want you back in my life at all. You genuinely hurt me a lot, and I just want to move on because being with you was a terrible period in my life. Again, I'm sorry, I hope you'll be able to accept this."

N: "...Fuck you."

Jacob watched as he turned back and stormed down the hallway. He was still frozen from fear and felt his heart stop. Why hasn't Nathan gotten over him by now?? Pretty sure he has a girlfriend now, he should be happy right? All Jacob could do was just shut his mind and walk it off, he did need to meet up with his friend anyway, not sure if she's still there. He went to his locker and looked to his right and saw usual Linda

L: "So, what did you and the 'somebody' talk about?

J: ".. Personal stuff."

L: "..Like what? Hope you don't mind me asking"

J: "I'd rather not talk about it"

L: "Oh, that's fine"

He tried to hold back tears and tried to relax his throat. Talking to him brought back awful memories, especially when THAT happened...

...Why is he my partner?

[knighted-princess]

From My Writing Graveyard

@faroresson

The Knight And The Writer

After a long day of fighting ferocious dragons, Sir Isaac returned to his room. He removed the heavy armor and takes another look at the mirror.

“Perhaps, today will be the day, when I will see that fair maiden again!” He said gallantly. “Perhaps, she will write another adventure for her dear knight in shining armor!”

The glassy surface suddenly rippled and revealed a young woman, sitting at a desk, flooded with paperwork and books. Sir Isaac noticed that she is skimming through a book with diagrams and picture of a strange bird of red. He wanted to get a better look of the creature, so he carefully crafted his question. He pushed through his nervousness and insecurities, and he finally asked, “My fair maiden, what---"

“Lauren, are you sure that my publishers are requiring this?” She groaned and facepalmed. “I mean, seriously, why am I required to include a particular, non-fictional bird species in a fictional series? That doesn’t make any sense!”

“…”

“Yes, yes. YES! I understand. The company is getting funded to do this, so that we can raise awareness for endangered birds. But, come on! Why did I get stuck with a bird called a “red-tailed booby?”

“…”

“Don’t get me wrong. I love my writing career! In fact, I have had some great success with my latest book, Sir Isaac and The Dragons of Nevermore, but…” She paused.

How do I explain this? She pondered.

“Lauren, I don’t know how I feel about introducing boobies into the world of Sir Isaac. I just don’t want my work getting turned into an eighth-grade giggle fest!”

Sir Isaac waited patiently, but his mind soon began to wander.

I wonder why she is so worried about these boobies? Are they really that dangerous? Perhaps, they pierce armor or they use elemental spells? Hold on! If they are ‘in danger,’ why can’t I do something to help them? And what exactly is an “eighth-grade giggle fest?" Is that some kind of dragon or beast that I should be worried about?

“Anyway, I have to get going. Those birds aren’t going to magically appear, in the next book, by themselves! Bye!” She hung up. “I am so done with today! And, who would have thought that this nightmare would be all because of boobies!” She raised her hand in disbelief. “BOOBIES!”

The mirror returned back to normal, and Sir Isaac prepared for a night’s rest.

[never2old4thisshit]