Does Your Scene Include Everything It Should?

Writing Tips

Scene Checklist

Does your scene include everything it should?

「 note: this is for the editing stage; remember, first draft is for the writer & editing is for the reader; get it down before worrying about these things unless it is just for practice 」

ACTIONS

↦ are the actions necessary?

↦ are the verbs as descriptive as possible?

↦ do the actions match the character? why did the character take those actions?

↦ are the actions clear?

DIALOGUE

↦ what is the purpose for each statement?

↦ does each statement move the story forward?

↦ are the dialogue tags as descriptive as possible?

↦ does the dialogue match the character? why did the character say those things?

EMOTIONS

↦ are each character’s emotions clearly stated or implied?

↦ are the character’s emotions justifiable?

↦ how does the character’s emotions affect their actions?

LANGUAGE

↦ are you showing or telling?

↦ does the scene have clarity & coherence?

↦ does the scene have the desired tone, mood, & voice?

PURPOSE

↦ is this scene necessary? (if removed, would the story still make sense?)

↦ are there stakes at risk in this scene? is there tension?

↦ has something changed from the beginning to the end of the scene?

↦ possible purposes: advance the plot? reveal character goal? increase tension? develop character? reveal conflict? react to conflict? explain backstory? foreshadow? build world? reinforce theme, tone, or mood?

SETTING

↦ will your reader clearly know the setting throughout the scene?

↦ room? house? city? state? country? planet? galaxy?

↦ time of day? season of year? weather?

↦ chronologically within story?

STRUCTURE

↦ is there a distinct beginning, middle, and end?

↦ is the chronological order of events clear?

↦ does the scene smoothly transition from one to another?

DWIGHT SWAIN’S SCENE VS SEQUEL

↦ Swain believed scenes should repeat these sequences in order to keep the interest of the reader piqued

↦ Swain says “a scene is a unit of conflict lived through by character and reader” & “a sequel is a unit of transition that links two scenes”

↦ scene: goal, conflict, disaster

⟿ goal: character’s decision to do something for a purpose

⟿ conflict: something opposing the character’s ability to achieve goal

⟿ disaster: a disruption or turning point to keep the readers hooked

↦ sequel: reaction, dilemma, decision

⟿ reaction: character’s emotional/analytical reaction to the disaster

⟿ dilemma: what should the character do now

⟿ decision: what does the character do now

↦ does your scene have one of these three-part patterns?

DWIGHT SWAIN’S MRU

↦ MRU: motivation-reaction units

↦ these are for alternating sentences or paragraphs

↦ motivation: objective thing your character externally senses (what happens?)

↦ reaction: subjective response your character internally has (how does your character react? feeling, reflex, action, dialogue?)

↦ this is very difficult to follow, especially without practice, but it is a way to guarantee your reader’s interest & attention

More Posts from Blogmarkostuff and Others

9 years ago

Saltillo de mis Recuerdos

Me gustaba el aire de la ciudad. Era encantador. Saltillo era bella, o quizas mis memorias decidieron conservarla asi, como una manera de atrapar el tiempo en aquel momento que disfrutaba la vida, y persiguiendo como estudiante, (y a veces como periodista) los eventos culturales del CAVIE Studio, o la exposicion de pinturas en la Escuela de Artes Visuales o la presentacion de la Sinfonica Estatal en el Teatro de la Ciudad. Numerosos memorias tengo de esas andanzas cuando se acude a un encuentro cultural con una disposicion por encontrar lo que no conoces, y conocer diferentes pensamientos que son plasmados en escritura, en musica, en artes plasticas. No se cuente de la cantidad innumerable de personas, cuyo gusto similar empata con el de uno, formando asi una relacion especial por afinidad. A mi mente llama la atencion un evento en Artes Plasticas, al traer desde la ciudad de Mexico, a un ponente que disertaria sobre “La Filosofia del Cero”. Tema interesante, ponderaba yo, el Cero visto desde un punto de vista filosofico, habria de ser algo que recordaria toda la vida. Asi pues llegue a aquella casa, ahora convertida en Escuela, en el Centro de la Ciudad, cuya fachada era de doble piso y amplia, con una cantidad innumerable de cuartos arriba y abajo, que imagine perteneceria a algunas de las familias pudientes del siglo pasado. La casa tenia un estilo arabe, y hacia un corredor en forma de “U”, y alrededor del corredor diferentes cuartos con sendas puertas que al abrirlas se sentia la majestuosidad de la “hubiera habitacion” que ahora estaba repleta de escritorios y sillas descoloridas. Supongo que en su tiempo, la estancia en esa casa seria placentera. Imagino a los hijos de esa familia llegar de la calle, retomar sus habitaciones espaciosas (y dije espaciosas, no cuadros de cemento tipo INFONAVIT) y al descansar, querer convivir con los demas precisamente al Centro de la casa, (en el patio) donde la gran fuente con agua chorreando, haria el dia mas fresco, y sentados ahi, a la orilla de la fuente, sentirian ese salpiqueo del agua en las caras a la accion del viento. Pregunte por la ponencia a los estudiantes ahi congregados, y me dicen abajo, en la boveda de la casa. Asi que al llegar, encuentro una boveda helada y espaciosa como fuera de vinos tintos y ahi estaban los tres o cuatro personas innumerables que escuchariamos al ponente sobre la filosofia del cero. Oh my God! para empezar ya empezamos mal: Cero significa nada, asi que si queriamos aprender algo todo empezaba por nada, pense en tono jovial, para disimular mi desencanto por la magnitud apoteotica de gentes en el lugar. Bendito aquel ponente que por gusto al arte puede sostener ideas de suyo unicas, aunque escaso sea la audiencia, pero donde todos piensan igual no hay cultura, sino acarreo priista y “ay la baba” pues en la diversidad esta el gusto. Despues de tantas desideratas y discusiones, llegamos a la conclusion de que el Cero sirve para nada ( filosoficamente hablando) sino solo para marcar una etapa capitalista de crear un instrumento financiero que sirva para diferenciar el dinero entre los que tienen y no tienen nada; es decir, Cero. Nada. Punto. Sin mas ni mas. Vasto aprendizaje, dije yo. Me seguira por toda la vida porque ensena filosoficamente que hay que trabajar duro y tener. Al menos si el aprendizaje del Cero fue dificil, e interiorizarlo para designar donde se queria estar, compensaria con algo agradable que me gusto y era el vino tinto frances, que servian despues de la exposicion, con sus partituras de queso y jamon. Uhmmm que delicia! Despues este truan, al influjo del vino tinto e inspirado por la noche y sin carro, se va caminando a su casa, a escasos 5 kilometros de ese lugar. Era bonito caminar por esas calles empedradas de mosaico rosa, con el sonido tan peculiar que causa en los autos que pasan y que parecieran llantas pasando por un tallador antiguo. Lo recuerdan? Cuando no habia lavadoras Hoover, Maytag? Asi pues disfrutar de las vistas, el Palacio de Gobierno, La Catedral, la Casa Purcell que tenia una noria, aun ahi, donde antiguamente solian extraer agua en esa forma tan antigua y peculiar.. Y de ahi, decidirse ir toda la calle de Allende para retomar el boulevard Coss. Dejeme decirle que caminar por la calle de Allende es un acto de proeza que ensena como el ser humano debe luchar por la vida y seguir adelante. Transeunte a la izquierda y derecha, al frente, y en tono de “Navy Seals” decir “enemigo a la 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11. Y 12” que es como recorrer todo el reloj y decir “estamos totalmente rodeados” y hay que inventar como salir de aqui! No sabe si la estrategia para salir seria convertirse en abuelita octagenaria con carro que le da el patatus y sume el acelerador y “Ay les voy!” y despues todo mundo cayendo como los bolos con la bola de boliche. Esa calle esta congestionada de transeuntes o guligans que al influjo de las prisas arrecholan, golpean, empujan sin tan siquiera pedir una disculpa por el empujon pues en las aceras solo caben parejas tomadas de la mano, y pisar en el estribo, esto es, pisar la carpeta asfaltica de carros es otra historia, sobre todo con los decentes y bien comportados choferes del transporte urbano. Se me olvido decir tambien “gentiles choferes del transporte urbano”. Asi pues, llegar al Blvd Coss es una relajacion pues es un espectaculo de luces multicolores ya que los faroles y luminarias de la noche resaltan la arquitectura griega de los edificios culturales y gubernamentales. El Palacio Legislativo, la Biblioteca Publica, el Ayuntamiento de Saltillo, despues el majestuoso Teatro de la Ciudad, para terminar con la Antigua Estacion de Ferrocarril que la convirtieron en una Pena Cultural donde soliamos ir Sergio, Alejandro, Fernando y yo a tomar unos rompope ( perdonen el vejestorio vinatero, pero a nuestra corta edad era lo unico que podiamos acceder sin perder la decencia estudiantil de un ambiente cultural, aunque eso no queria decir que no tomaramos Tequila, Brandy Presidente, y Corona segun los presupuestos ajustados de un estudiante normal y que estaban reservados para las fiestas de Traje en diferentes hogares, segun quien decidiera ser huesped, y tener la valentia de ver una casa hecha anicos al dia siguiente). Asi pues, “como veiamos dabamos” y nos comportabamos segun la etiqueta. El ambiente bohemio en la Pena donde ibamos y conociamos estudiantes de letras y musica y pintura hacian del lugar algo especial para aquel que degustara el aire cultural. La musica de Pablo Milanes, Oscar Chavez con su canto de protesta, y esos alumnos de la escuela de musica ya sea tocando en guitarra y con maracas, y a veces con piano, lograban imprimir el ambiente bohemio al lugar. Que sensacion! Mi amiga Iliana me sorprendia, de musica ella, al influjo del licor y tomando el piano para tocar las “Cuatro Estaciones” de Vivaldi con esa presteza en los dedos que se movian como una mano de flamenco en guitarra y se expandian sus manos por todo el teclado, incluyendo los bemoles. Me lo dijo su maestro, Chio Sulaika, ahi presente, a esa nina todavia le falta cadencia y momentum para imprimir con sus dedos ese temperamento del autor. Que sabia yo? Que si un tiempo lo convirtio en dos, o si realizo el octavo de silencio de la pieza. Humilde mortal, con desconocimento musical que solo sabia las canciones de Jose Alfredo, o Rigo Tovar; mi conocimiento no era profundo, solo disfrutaba la armonia musical, y la tocata de mi amiga me parecio sensacional.

Que le parece si volvemos con estas memorias despues de este corte comercial?

1 year ago

To wait for something seems to be an integral part of the universe and the way it works. It takes 13 nights for the moon to turn full. It took 40 nights for Moses to receive the Torah. It takes 9 long months for a human embryo to evolve & finally take birth into this world. Teach your soul to wait, when there's nothing else to be done. To wait patiently with all the beauty in tact, certain of the promise that when the time finally arrives, the king himself will send for you, just like Joseph, after waiting for several years imprisoned...

Random Xpressions

9 years ago

Success

If success is not accompanied by failure, it may makes us arrogant, insensitive, and, eventually shallow.

10 years ago
Millennial Girls And Women Have Grown Up With The Sentiment That Independence Is One Of The Most Important
Millennial Girls And Women Have Grown Up With The Sentiment That Independence Is One Of The Most Important

Millennial girls and women have grown up with the sentiment that independence is one of the most important qualities for a modern woman to possess and that we should never, ever let our happiness depend on a boy. While those are certainly important tenets to try to live in accordance to, it can be hard to reconcile that with our needs as humans who have the basic desire to be liked and cared for. What results is the tug-of-war between finding healthy companionship and maintaining your own self-sufficiency that comes to define late-youth. Katie Crutchfield, the woman behind Waxahatchee, is now 26 years old—a good age to begin the inevitable power cleanse of the toxic relationships in your life. Her third album Ivy Tripp documents this transitional period with even more of the self-awareness and wisdom that characterised her previous work.

There is subtle sunniness to the album suggesting that whatever was burdening Crutchfield during the making of her last two albums has dissipated, most likely through her own will. While, as a whole, Ivy Tripp stays on brand for Waxahatchee, there are a few pop tracks sprinkled throughout that prove Crutchfield is growing sonically as well. Crutchfield’s fingerprints are all over the album and the delicate lo-fi quality harkens back to her debut album of bedroom recordings, 2012′s American Weekend, making the maturation of her lyrics even more apparent.

Even with some of the quieter songs, Ivy Tripp is never boring. However, the standout is, without a doubt, its first single “Under A Rock”. The pop-rock track is Crutchfield’s rallying cry against dudes in whom she’s become maybe too emotionally invested, flippantly singing “Now you’re someone else’s mess tonight”. Later on in the album, in the hazy “<”, she croons “You’re less than me; I am nothing”, articulating the simultaneous self-deprecation and self-assuredness of a 20-something fumbling around with their newfound adulthood.

Ivy Tripp is the light at the end of early adulthood. While it is melancholic, there is a sense of contentment overshadowing that, or at least making it a little more palatable. Listening to it in one sitting feels like going to the beach on a rainy day at the beginning of spring; everything is damp and the air still feels vaguely bitter, but at least you’re finally outside.

9 years ago

How would you sing a song with a broken heart?

4 years ago

En la cultura de milenio, todo es instantáneo, la gratificación es instantánea, y supongo que eso tiene que ver con lo instantáneo del post, de sólo copiar y pegar, en un instante. Asi, si escojo un post con millones de likes, de alguna forma me hago famoso por escoger algo de otro, con otro, y aseguro mi vistosidad. 

blogmarkostuff - My Blog
10 years ago

Originality and creativity combined with a great set of colors, in addition to a wonderful team of dancers, make this video the one hitting the top in the first place in the USA.

What can we say about the song? Original! and even Meghan Trainor recognize that point by saying to DirectLyrics "I wrote the song for myself and my insecurities and it seems to have helped many other people in world too. I'm so happy others can relate to it and understand what I'm singing about." .

Obviously that was one parte of the whole enchilada. A song without an artistic idea is flawless, and as you watch the video, we enjoy every second not only for the dancers and their funny way of expressing themselves, but also for the point that the singer is trying to convey."Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top".

Here is the song for those who want the lyrics:

                                  "All About That Bass"

Because you know I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two But I can shake it, shake it Like I'm supposed to do Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase And all the right junk in all the right places I see the magazine, workin' that Photoshop We know that shit ain't real C'mon now, make it stop If you got beauty beauty, just raise 'em up Cause every inch of you is perfect From the bottom to the top Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Hey!

I'm bringing booty back Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that No I'm just playing I know you think you're fat But I'm here to tell ya Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top Yeah my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass 'Bout that bass, 'bout that bass Hey, hey, ooh You know you like this bass

1 year ago

Baraja de cartas con cartas hipnóticas

Baraja de cartas con cartas hipnóticas

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blogmarkostuff - My Blog
My Blog

Here you will find some of the things that I really like. I like writing, music, poems, and producing any idea that comes to my mind. I hope you like it!

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