Scene Structure and Transitions in Big Scenes

Welcome! I'm K.M. Weiland, the award-winning and internationally published author of acclaimed writing guides such as Structuring Your Novel and Creating Character Arcs. I mentor authors on story theory, technique, and all the wild and wonderful highs and lows of the writing life!

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Learn how to seamlessly transition out of big set pieces in your story. Discover practical tips for scene structure and transitions.

How to Use Story and Scene Structure to Create Transitions 01:00
The Action Half of the Scene 03:20
The Reaction Half of the Scene (aka, the Sequel) 04:12
Planning Your Big Scene Transitions 05:36
Think About Where You Will Develop Character Relationships 07:05
Pay Attention to Pacing in Big Scene Transitions 07:50
Techniques for Scene Breaks 14:05
Never Lie to Readers in Your Scene Transitions 18:42

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Video edited by Usvaldo de Leon, Jr.
Scene structure graphics by Christine Frazier of Better Novel Project.

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[SK-gcxv]

Buy her book. It's a top 10 novel writing book, easily.

[TheZetaKai]

Structurally, every action scene is followed by a reaction scene, which is followed by another action scene, and so on throughout a story until the end. An action scene has a goal, a conflict, and a disaster. A reaction scene has a reaction (duh), a dilemma, and a decision. The key to ensuring that your scenes work is to include all of the elements, and to make sure that the next scene is the inevitable consequence of the previous one. If an action is missing its goal, or a reaction scene is missing its decision, then they aren't going to work, and your audience isn't going to be satisfied, even if they may not be able to explain why.

[NellieMunroAuthor]

Thank you! You explain this so well 😊 I’m glad I discovered you as I’m writing my first novel.

[billatkinson]

Thanks for this posting. I'm in the midst of a final edit of my mystery which has benefitted from all of your books and this post continues that support. Though a small part of the post the idea about using a word from the ending of the last scene in the beginning of the next scene is really subtle and a neat idea.

[generationzen]

I'm so glad I came across your channel. I had seen you featured on another channel talking about the three act structure in movies, which was a really great video . Your knowledge and wisdom is helping me so much. I'm currently writing a script for a play and your help is transferring easily into that format. I have avoided making some mistakes because of your help. You have great way of presenting the information clearly, concisely and in a very watchable way. I will be subscribing and catching up on all your videos here. Thank you.

[dubugman]

I instantly clucked this when it popped up on my feed! This is one of the things I struggle with!

[durandaldevil]

Great video! Wish I discovered you before starting my book.

[writeit_right]

This is a very informative video. Thank you Ms. Weiland for sharing this.

[mattiasthornkvist]

Really good breakdown of this topic and love your site too! If I may pose a question it´s about a narrative technique. I´m unsure on what it is called, but if the story only tells the reader and not the in book character about the danger/obstacles of the protagonist to create suspense.

Let´s say Psycho. If we (instead of the movie) meet the heroine on the way to the motel, when she checks in and everything seems normal followed by a scene where Norman Bates talks to the remains of his mother. Now we have suspense as the motel owner is a *drumroll* psycho and we start to worry about the heroine who is oblivious to this.

The good part is we immediately have a high level of suspense, but the bad is that we have 'spent our powder'.

If you could elaborate on this types of narrative I´d be grateful. Thank you for a great channel/site.

[anthonycosentino]

You're good at this. And not annoying at all.

[WILLIAMSBENTO-mr]

Hi K! Could you tell me what was the 'want' and 'need' of Andy in the Shawshank Redemption movie, if you have seen? Because i did indentify the want, but not the need. Thank you so much! Also, It would be wonderful you if could breakdown some movies for your fans as examples. Thanks again!

[MrPetitparadis]

Thanks K.M. for you videos. I have a question relating to opening scenes in novels. So much attention is given to making sure that the opening scene ticks all the necessary boxes. Ie : introduces the protagonist in action, at a pivotal point in their story, whilst preferably using engaging dialogue. I haven’t seen anybody address the situation I find myself in with my first person pov story. The scene I have ticks the boxes, but it has been taken out of the chronological flow of the story - which makes it more of a prologue. Now I am looking for alternatives to use when the story comes back around to this specific time and scene, without repeating it again verbatim. My solution to this has been to lead into it with a portion from the protagonists diary and modify the scene by making it shorter, with some extra dialogue. I am wondering if you or others have come across this situation before and how they have approached it? J

[anthonywritesfantasy]

"The plan never survives contact with the enemy. Nonetheless, you must always have a plan."

[bluenetmarketing]

With all the analysis, planning, and structure, can the heart, soul, and life of the story become obscured and lose personal connection with the reader?