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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
#nanowrimo#writing#writing advice#scene writing#writing scenes#plotting#by nano guest#amy de la force
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ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴄᴇɴᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛꜱ
how is this fight scene crucial to the plot?
how does it reinforce the characters' beliefs?
what are the stakes?
keep the action moving
keep sentences short and punchy
how does this impact the characters mentally?
remove unnecessary sentences
what mistakes reflect the character?
how do their flaws impact the fight?
what is the goal of the fight?
what started it?
would the plot be the same without the fight? in that case, you may not need it.
mix dialogue and action
read fight scenes—Macbeth, the princess bride, Percy Jackson
watch fight scenes and rewrite them in your own words
how does the setting affect the tone and mood?
avoid blow-by-blow
research the weapons and techniques used for accuracy
what are the characters thinking?
show the aftermath.
requested by anon
#fight scene#lyralit#writerblr#creative writing#writers#writers block#writing prompts#scene writing#fights#writing action#writing ideas#writblr#writing
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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?"
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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😶🌫️🥰
#the way i was digging my nails into my palms to refrain from using the word thrust when aemond got jace on the table#jace expressly swearing his consent to be harmed by aemond...not realizing...yeah#the knife switching hands and drawing blood...the tease of it all#valyrian wedding metaphors but also...consummation metaphors...#jace calling erryk inside as witness smth smth bedding ceremony metaphors...#i hope someone sees these tags bc in hindsight i really did go ham writing that scene LMAO#head in hands i need a concentrated iv drip of the motivation i had back then#author notations#jacemond#ctf#scene writing
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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.
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Writing Prompt:
Write a scene where your characters are experiencing a type of weather they rarely or have never seen before. For example, if a character has never seen snow, write the moment they experience it for the first time — even if this weather is not part of your WIP.
#creative writing#prompts#writing prompt#writers community#writing#screenwriter#worldbuilding tips#writing advice#scene writing#weather
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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!
#the scene doesn't even need to be included its just there to help you#writing tips#writing advice#scene writing#writeblr#creative writing
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hey! could you describe what you put in your "scene cards"? it seems like a great idea!
of course!
for starters, i like to color-code the information i put on each one. usually i’ll have one card with a key that goes something like this:
pink - setting
purple - characters
blue - motives & conflict
green - ending/resolution
then, using highlighters or pens corresponding to the colors i set aside to mark those details, i’ll write a summary or prompt on a sticky note or index card to use as inspiration for when i get to writing. for example:
character a meets character b in the courtyard at night to discuss something important. character b appears to be upset and hiding something, but character a, afraid of rocking the boat, doesn’t ask about it. this creates a slight rift in their relationship.
it has to be short, since there’s limited space to work with, but something like that gets across who is involved, where and when the scene takes place, what they are doing, what goes wrong, and the outcome.
i either tape the completed scene cards to my wall and take them off one at a time once finished as a visual representation of my progress or bind them together with a rubber band and carry them with me in a small pencil case. if you decide to tape them up, make sure to take a picture in case you decide to write while out and about!
thank you for asking, and i hope that was helpful :)
#🌿 writing#🌿 asks#writing tips & resources#writing advice#writing tips#outlining#scene writing#brainstorming#plotting
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I posted about this vaguely on Thursday night, but I've got some more Grad School thoughts for you guys
This one isn't big, just something that I started thinking about in my Graduate Writing class (NOT a fiction writing class, this is a lit analysis class designed to teach us the differences between undergrad and grad level analysis)
I know a lot of us like to joke around about things having meaning in literature and why it's important for us to be able to extract that meaning and understand symbolism and all of that, but my professor said something that really stuck out to me:
"If a work of literature truly actually works, it should be able to be understood without any extraneous explanation."
This is obviously super heavily reliant on having an intelligent reader who can pick up on context clues and is culturally aware enough to know what specific things mean, but we talked a lot about how figurative language really allows the reader to apply their own feelings to a certain piece of symbolism and understand how that piece works in relation to the rest of the text, JUST BASED ON THEIR OWN FEELINGS ABOUT THE PIECE. For example, obviously someone who had a very positive religious upbringing is going to feel very differently than someone who didn't have that about a piece that has lots of negative religious connotations, or a character that is portrayed as "satanic"
Additionally, this idea sort of flows into how long each specific scene is, and what a reader might read into that. The book we're currently reading has a lot of scenes that are about the same length, and we noted that nothing feels particularly important, it all feels vaguely flat and boring. You can use the lengths of your scenes to vary the intensity of your piece, and subconsciously or not, your reader will recognize this and will engage with your work differently! What is each scene saying? Is it worth lingering on? Do the scenes fall into any sort of pattern (see my other post about story structures for more on patterns lol)
These are just some random thoughts I had, but I didn't really expect to learn so much about writing and crafting my own stories from a literature analysis class. Maybe that's shortsighted of me, and these things are obvious, but I figured I would share in case anyone else wanted to read this advice!
Tagging the people who asked to be tagged in this kind of stuff (and let me know if you want to be notified when I post things I'm learning in grad school! I'd be happy to add you to the list!) @approximately20eggs @faeriegutz @moonscribbler @marigoldispeculiar @wildjuniperjones
#writeblr#creative writing#about the author#writing#writing community#grad school#writing advice#writing resources#writing tips#literature analysis#scene writing#symbolism#literature
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Anyone ever start writing but get distracted by how pretty a character’s name is?
That’s happening to me rn.
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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…
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#feelings#prompt#prompt about a downpour#prompt about a storm#prompt about an event#Reaction#Scene writing#The Downpour#write a story in which your character faces challenges#write about a dilemma#writer&039;s idea#Writer&039;s prompt#writing a horror story#Writing about a storm#writing about an event#writing about emotions#writing activity#writing idea#Writing prompt
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Are you struggling with writing your scenes? Try out these tips to make things a bit easier.
Use your setting to brainstorm ways to increase conflict.
Let your character experience sensory details. Utilize the five senses.
Ensure every scene has a purpose to drive the story forward.
Stuck? Try writing it from a different point of view to get a better understanding of various character motives.
Happy writing!
#writing resources#writing tips#how to write#writing advice#writing community#writer things#creative writing#writer problems#scene writing
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(via Dying Light. A novel excerpt | by SJStone | Aug, 2023 | Medium)
Something clicked in her mind and she thought about the moment she’d entered the house, her eyes trailing after her thoughts, back to the half-closed door there and its implications. There had been no sign of forced entry. The door had been open when the cops had arrived.
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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.
#hi faron!#here is a part of it#the writing#the workshop part ideas are not posted yet#just the one scene I got#scene writing#I wrote it#around March of 2022#writing#writer#story#knight#comedy#writers block#dragon#booby bird#kept getting attacked by birds#bird
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#poetry#writing#scribbles#poemsociety#original poem#train of thought#original prose#my prose#Rome#picture#scene writing
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The scene starts in Space. Space is bright, colorful and shining. You can see a spaceman floating, tethered to the Earth or a Planet far far below. You can't see inside the helmet, where the spaceman's face would be.
"i want to be high among the stars, i want to be part one of them. i want to be remembered, to be eternal"
"no one understands what i feel, they possibly couldn't feel the amount of wanting i feel, they couldn't provide it even if they could"
"no one will miss me, i am insignificant and i want to be eternal"
The Spaceman floats higher and higher drifting away as the Earth or Planet becomes smaller and smaller with each dialogue.
"i no longer want to be tethered to the real world, i want to be free"
Then the Spaceman's communication device starts ringing and they ignore it for a bit till they pick it up.
'high in the sky again?'
"yeah, nothing matters back down on earth. all i can do is rely on me. to achieve my dream of being among the stars"
'but will that make you happy?'
The spaceman says nothing, drifting off further.
'the more you drift, the harder it will be to save you'
"what if I don't wanna be saved"
The Spaceman floats farther and farther, the Earth or Planet getting smaller and smaller behind them. Bright, blossoming and blooming the space around them turns out to be. With golds and blues dancing around their visor and stars falling in the distance, beautiful it seems.
'you do want to be saved, if you didn't you wouldn't have answered'
The Spaceman says nothing and the sun appears in their visor.
'... come home'
"I want to be Eternal. I want to be Remembered. I want to make my mark among the stars"
'but stars don't shine they burn and they are forgotten overtime'
The Spaceman stops drifting and we get a glance of what's inside and they are crying.
'nothing lasts forever and that's okay. you shouldn't strive to last forever, you should strive to last now'
'i will always be there for you. i'll always be here when you eventually want to come home'
The communicator device "clicks".
The Spaceman still floats in space as the scene ends but the space no longer is bright and colorful but dull and dim.
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