Scene Basics

What parts are there to a scene? If you’re like me, the answer is there’s a beginning, middle, and end. It’s a mini-story within the story. A problem pops up that must be resolved or not resolved by the end of the scene. 

Some other rules stick in my head but might not necessarily be correct. For example, the scene can’t be in two different geographical spaces. Unless the person is moving from room to room or leaving a room is the action pushing the character into the space for the scene to take place. Switching character perspectives is also a big no-no. Let’s be honest; it’s confusing. 

When breaking down a scene, some of the best advice I’ve gotten is to treat it like a mini-story. I tend to wander when working on scenes, especially when it’s a scene that builds more subplots than the actual plot. Oh, and to let your first draft of a scene be full of clichés. That’s just getting the juices flowing and letting the memories and ideas from other stories come out. 

So with that in mind, let’s dive a little deeper into the parts of a scene.

The Beginning

Much like the beginning of a story, when writing a scene, the beginning is what convinces your reader your story is worth reading. It’s got to capture the reader’s attention. 

The Middle

The middle is where you keep the reader’s attention. The middle is the meat of the scene, where most of the build-up to the climax occurs. 

The End

The end of the scene usually includes the climax and resolution of the scene. 

What are some basic rules you have when building a scene?