Writing Tips - The 9 Essential Elements Of A Scene

You know what you want to happen, or what needs to happen to move the plot along...but how do you capture it in scene? Layer in these nine essential elements of the scene, and your scenes will pop. (Actually, only eight of these are essential. One is optional.)

Disclaimer: All images and characters used in this video are created and owned by Misque Press or used in accordance with fair use law for commentary, satire and news.

[nathansullivan]

Good job, this is actually the single most useful video on YouTube about writing a scene in a novel. I mean come on though where are all the damn scene making videos at?!

[SHVDETHEDON]

Hey hi, i'm trying to make sense of how stories works but i have some problems and after watching this video and see how easy and articulate you are i would really like for you to help me .. (note: i'm french, please forgive my terrible english)

I have 4 questions:

- What is the difference between an event and an action ?
Events and actions are they both the same thing ? Cause the way i see them is:

Event = Everything that happen in the story
Action = What characters are doing !

For example:

- Two idiots trying to start a fire in a forest is both, an action (because characters are performing the action) and an event (because it is something that happen in the story)
- Now if rain start falling and stop the fire, this time is just an event (something that happen that didn't need a character to perform it)
- And finally if the cops shows up, again it is both the action of the cops, and the event which is what happen in the story: the cops showing up

Is my understanding of events and actions correct ?

- What is a scene ?
When watching for definitions all i get is: A scene is a unit of story comprise of one event !

But i have a hard time of understanding that definition since everything that happen in a story is a event how could a scene only have " ONE EVENT " ?

For example how many scene would that be:

- Getting into the castle
- Looking for and finding the artefact
- Steal it
- Getting out of the castle

Would it be:
Example 1: 4 separate scenes

- Entering the castle: a guard who is not supposed to be making the rounds at the moment spots them. They need to find a way to subdue the guard before he alerts others or they will have to face the consequences.
- Finding the artifact: they get lost because the castle layout is not like the plan they had or they bump into castle residents who strike up a conversation. They improv, making the resident suspicious until they find their way out of the situation
- Stealing the artifact: the location of the artifact is full of booby traps they must get past
- Exit of the castle: it is impossible to exit the way they entered because the gate has been raised while they were inside. They must find a new exit before the change of the guards.

- Example 2: one scene
The obstacle occurs only during the stealing of the artifact. Entry and exit into the castle is fairly smooth sailing ?

- Should a scene ALWAYS have conflict
- What is the difference between plot and structure

[KutWrite]

This is a nice refresher.

Were you taking a walk during part of it? I"m sure I heard a lawnmower!

I hate to yell "Fire!" but there's smoke on your stage!

Cool cameo by SIgmund Freud... haha!

Did you know there is about 4:30 of black at the end of your video?

[devcybiko]

I really liked this advice. I've been running the Agile Writer Workshop for 7 years and we've studied scenes and what makes a great one. This is a very clear set of "rules". However, I would have preferred a blog post. It would take less time to read and would be easier to file away for future reference.

Do you have a blog?

[CashCowz]

Following you?..so what you gonna call the cops now?...😂😂😂...a man cant simply be male and out and about?...geees