TECH: Scenes? In six parts?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting 13 August 2009

[psst? Working on those contest stories? a quest, a quest, my kingdom for a ...]

Over on her blog, Jacqueline Lichtenberg takes a strong stance about scenes. Basically, she considers scenes to be the fundamental building block for writing. And while she admits that they may be hard to see in polished professional work, she recommends working on making building blocks and then learning how to mesh them into a larger story.

She identifies six key characteristics of scenes. Let's take a look at her six fundamentals.

1. Beginning, middle, end. Start with a narrative hook, at the midpoint raise the stakes and have something change, and end with a cliffhanger/setup/foreshadowing of the next scene. Drag the reader into the scene, make something happen, and link to the next scene.
2. Every scene needs to provide character arc. Emotional tension needs to rise or fall in the scene. Change is caused by conflict, as we move towards resolution.
3. Every scene advances the plot. There must be at least one plot moving event in the scene. (Elsewhere Jacqueline says that plot is the sequence of events)
4. Every scene needs to advance the story. Something needs to change in how the main character sees things. An event, learning, dialogue, figure it out -- somehow the character sees the world differently. (Elsewhere Jacqueline says that story is how the character interprets events -- what they mean to the character.)
5. Every scene needs conflict and resolution. There's a chain: hook->conflict->resolution->handoff (cliffhanger with implied action/tension).

Okay? She points out that the purpose of the scene is four-fold. First, to grab attention. That's the job of the first characteristic. Second, to hold attention. That's what the character arc does for us. Third, to deliver a message. This is done by a combination of the plot moving event (3) and its meaning or story (4). Fourth, to make the reader want more. That's what the fifth characteristic, especially the cliffhanger at the end does for us. A little reward -- the resolution -- and a tease to keep us coming back.

The sixth characteristic is probably the hardest to swallow. Basically, scenes are a standard length in most genres. According to Jacqueline, this works out to be 750 words -- or about three minutes of reading. Longer scenes are possible, but they run into readers and publishers who like them short. This size is based on the market, and Jacqueline suggests it may be shrinking.

It's kind of an interesting notion. The concrete blocks of writing... one scene at a time. Stack them up, clunk, clunk, clunk...and there's a wall!

What do you think? Are those basic characteristics of every scene? What about that length notion? Hum?

I have to admit, I haven't read any of this author's writing -- I just saw these blog postings listed somewhere and took a look at them. Alien romances? Science fiction romance, futuristic or paranormal romances?

Jacqueline Lichtenberg

6 Tricks of Scene Structure
http://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2009/07/6-tricks-of-scene-structure.html

6 Tricks of Scene Structure - Part 2
http://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2009/07/6-tricks-of-scene-structure-part-2.html