In-depth Scene Elements

What makes a scene?

My code-writing persona is considering developing an app for writers, so I’ve been musing on scenes.

Want to get technical? Want a comprehensive breakdown of the parts of a scene?

  • The actual text, of course, in its many possible forms: outline, first draft, final draft, released
  • The text in its context of the overall work: previous scene, next scene, sequence number (sometimes ID), and chapter
    • The scene in terms of plot: its significance, milestones, plot thread, even POV
    • Story elements, like theme and motif and whatever else connects the scene to the story as a whole
    • Is the scene part of an action/reaction, aka scene/sequel pair? If so, which scene?
  • Scene identification: ID number , name, purpose, description — what the writer uses to identify the scene when managing a collection of scenes
  • Concrete elements like setting, date, time, cast of characters, even POV
  • Character
    • What are the character’s goals?
    • And what sequence happens with the character goals, like with Kowal’s “yes, but” and “no, and” ideas
    • Emotions: What are the character’s emotion beats? At the beginning? At the end?
  • Structural elements
    • Basic:
      • How does the scene open? Close? With dialogue, action, narration, or…? What’s in the middle?
      • What’s the atmosphere or mood of the scene?
      • What’s the conflict or tension of the scene?
    • Scene Mechanics Type: Throw-a-twist, flash-back or flash-forward, exposition, establishing scene or setting, bridge or transition, revelation, reversal of expectations, action, interaction
    • Design: scene/sequel concepts or action/reaction concepts, the tension or conflict of the scene
    • Action: What happens at the beginning, middle, end in terms of action?
    • Scene Content Type: Love, travel, escape, pursuit, investigation, unexpected visitor, protagonist shut-out, food and/or beverage

So, did I miss anything? Let me know.

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