Short Story Organization

Conflict And Encounters: Scenes

Scenes

• Sequence of dramatic linking units• Transform story and characterization into

dramatic and purposeful forward action• Good scene planning leads to good continuity,

forward movement, suspenseful action, and emotional conflict

Successful Scene Formula

• Writer should follow this sequence in constructing a scene:– Purpose– When– Where– Who– What happens

Elements Of A Good Scene

• Every scene contains certain basic elements.• How you combine these basic elements

produces the formula.• A scene formula helps you organize and

integrate the action with the characters.

Purpose

• Should advance the story action by helping or hindering the Viewpoint in the solution of the problem

Purpose

• Opening scene confronts the Viewpoint with a problem and forces the Viewpoint to make a decision to take action

Purpose

• Complication scenes develop the conflict between the Viewpoint and the supporting characters, ending in a balance

Purpose

• Crisis scene upsets the balance and pushes the Viewpoint to a moment of revelation

Purpose

• Climax scene establishes the Viewpoint's character change

Purpose

• If you know exactly why you need each scene you will be sure of getting unity and forward movement

Time (When)

• Each scene moves the Viewpoint nearer to the end of the immediacy and the solution of the problem

Time (When)

• First scene opens on the day of the problem in the Viewpoint's life

Time (When)

• Establish exact time of day and the length of time the Viewpoint has to solve the problem– Story matter will dictate the pacing of the

complications

Time (When)

• Crisis scene takes place immediate before the end of the immediacy and occurs directly after the moment of revelation

Time (When)

• RULE: First line of each scene notifies reader how much time has elapsed.

Place (Where)

• Restrict the settings to a few places

Place (Where)

• Don't exhaust the reader with a lot of city hopping

Place (Where)

• Show the setting in the problem situation between Viewpoint action and reaction

Place (Where)

• Do not stop the action with long setting descriptions

Place (Where)

• Complication scenes can move to a different area of the basic setting

Place (Where)

• Crisis scene should return to the opening setting or near

Place (Where)

• Climax continues in the crisis setting

Place (Where)

• Setting should stimulate the inner and outer emotional conflict of the Viewpoint

Place (Where)

• Familiar settings

Next week

• Characters (Who)• Action & Decision (What happens)