Scene Structure Roadmap
What is a Scene?
It sounds like a simple question. But if you hand a book over to two editors, they will probably define the scenes of the book in very different ways. Even I have arguments with myself, both sides winning, of where a scene starts and ends. That is because a well structured book is constructed with building blocks of action and reaction, from the smallest kernel of bickering dialogue to the large scale relationship between the story’s inciting incident and climax.
And the most digestible of these blocks are scenes.
The building blocks of a novel.
Scene RX: A Roadmap for Scene Structure
Get my free scene structure booklet! An in depth look at scene structure with an analyzed scene from The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, and a Scene Checklist for your own scenes.
Basically, what it boils down to, is that a scene has a beginning, a middle and an end.
This, you probably already know. But what I aim to do is think of how to shape the scene around Goals, Tactics and Conflict.
Goal: A specific and tangible object of desire or state of being that the Protag aims to achieve.
Goals are important because they drive your Protagonist. They take what could be a meandering scene, and make it have purpose. Goals can always change throughout a scene and story, but there should always be a Goal that is the driver, even if that Goal is to sit and do nothing.
Tactic: The Protagonist’s action or strategy to achieve their Goal.
Conflict: The Antagonistic Force(s) or Internal Conflict that prevents the Protag from either achieving their Goal or forces them to change Tactic.
Although not all of the following seven steps are in every scene ever written, understanding the power of how a scene is a conversation, a push and pull, between the Protagonist and the Antagonist will help you add tension and drive to your scenes.
It is as simple as having a goal, and something gets in the way of that goal. But being able to label these parts as they progressively become worst or better for the Protagonist, will allow you to diagnosis your scenes and see why they are or are not working.
Below is the Scene Roadmap from the Beginning to the End of a scene, ensuring that you are moving your story forward.
Set Up: Protagonist has a scene Goal and a clear Initial Tactic on how they will achieve their Goal.
Conflict: An Inciting Incident: Something or someone unexpectedly gets in their way of achieving their Goal, disrupting their Tactic.
New Goal / New Tactic: Conflict forces Protag to adopt a new Goal or a new Tactic in achieving their original goal.
Progressive Complications: Things get worse as the Antagonistic Force(s) respond to their new Goal or Tactic.
Crisis: Protag is forced to make a decision they do not want to make, pushing them in an unexpected direction.
Climax: Final action of Protag ends with them either achieving or failing their Goal.
Change of Situation: Situations have changed for the Protag: new information, new goal, or new problem.
Visual Roadmap of Scenes
Tools, not Rules.
I want to end here with this sentiment: there is no one way or correct way to write. Please take what helps you, and not stress about the rest. Everything here is to help you strengthen your scene writing, not dictate what is right or wrong.
This is a tool for you to use when you are stuck or when you are editing. Or you might find it helpful when you are drafting an outline or planning out scenes. Everyone is different. The goal is to help you improve as a writer so you can grab your reader’s interest and have them fall in love with your world.