Scene Checklist

Character-Conflict-Change

Scene protagonist:
Who is he/she?
What does he/she want?
How does he/she feel?
What actions does he/she take to reach the goal?

Scene antagonist:
Who is he/she/it?
What does he/she/it want?
How does he/she/it feel?
What actions does he/she/it take to reach goal?

Other characters:
Role in scene?
Is each necessary? Distinct as an individual?

Is the conflict strong and/or clear enough?

What is the worst thing that could happen in this scene?


Scene-Setting-Senses-Story

What does the reader learn about the story’s world in this scene?
Do they need to know that information at this point?
Can any information be held off until later?
Is any necessary information missing?

Does the reader get a vivid, multi-sensory sense of the setting?

Does the setting contribute to scene tension?

Are the character’s senses and emotions engaged?

Does the scene stop at a point with forward momentum?
Do you want to turn the page to the next scene?
If not, can you end the scene at a different, probably earlier, point?

What has changed at the end of the scene?

Is this scene necessary to the larger plot of the novel?

Comments

Beth Camp said…
Thanks for posting this scene checklist. I'm working through a revision of a historical novel and found your questions useful to really focus down on the dynamics of the scene itself. May your writing go well!
October 5, 2008 at 3:14 AM
Amelia said…
Thank you, Beth! I'm glad you found it useful.
October 5, 2008 at 8:18 PM
JohnnyAza said…
Hi, Robertpagezoso aka Dc aka Johnny A., from the AFWD group, and here's my comments:

1st - a protagonist can be an IT. Anyone ever watch Wall-E? Yeah he was obviously male, but a robot has no gender, therefore Wall-E was an IT. Anyway, just thought to make that clear and obnoxiously so...probably.

2. Here're a couple writing exercises I learned from a book I recently read a few months back. These exercises are basically the same, but they deal with the senses too so I'll just post 'em and anyone can try them as wanted. Personally, they really help and it's good to flex some writing muscle from time to time.

- 5 senses, write a short page or couple paragraphs when a character enters a new place for the 1st time. Within this intro, should each of the 5 senses be engaged. Try not to use obvious words and show not tell - stuff I'm sure you all know.

- same thing as before but write 5 things for EACH sense. 5 sentences in the intro, each pertaining to the same sense. Repeat for rest of senses. This may sound easy, which it is, but if you want this to be great and even used for a future project, then you know the demands involved.

Lastly, an exercise I like to use, have been using for years, and in fact, am so comfortable with I use this to write most things I write and to an extent, most writers do anyway. This is the stream of conscious exercise. Simply put, just write. Don't think. Don't plan. Don't worry. Don't do anything but write. Whatever flows from you unhindered imagination down through your pen/pencil/keyboard to the sheet of paper or screen, that will be what it be, and don't stop till you're exhausted.

Anyhow, that's just me. Find what you may and use it if so desire. I'll be looking forward to any future projects. Just won't promise I'll like them - especially if they are romance/western, and ugh...stuff about teens. lol
Cheers,
JA
July 6, 2009 at 3:37 AM
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