Scene

Arc of the Scene - Stepping Stone for a Hero

© November 19 2008 by Robin Perini

Stepping Stones

I recently judged a writing contest and half of the entries included scenes that didn't really work very well.  The writers could write.  The characters were good, but the scenes fell flat.  As I studied the entries more closely in order, I realized that the scenes had one thing in common.  There was no arc to the scene.

One of my critique partners and I have been talking a lot about the arc of the scene.  It's one of those elements of story that writers don't mention very often.  Many of you have read Techniques of the Selling Writer, by Dwight Swain, or Scene and Structureby Jack Bickham.  They talk about the structure of scene.

Scene includes:  goal, conflict, disaster
Sequel includes: emotion, quandary, decision, action

Tags: Arc, Character, Craft of Writing, Growth, Scene, Writing, Sequel
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