Writing Fiction: Anatomy of a Scene

Scenes are the building blocks of stories. Every scene in a novel contributes to the story in some way, whether through characterization, atmosphere, or plot progression. In examining the anatomy of a scene, we’ll start with the big-picture skeleton, then dive into the essential organs, and end with the skin—the outward appearance of the writing itself.

Introduction (0:00)
Skeleton (0:28)
Essential Organs (3:40)
Skin (6:57)
Overview & Writing Exercise (9:11)

[QuotidianWriter]

Hi there, viewers! You can read an adapted text version of this video on Medium:

[boswcheydoesart]

I love how her big analogy of a story is a human, then she calls the insides delicious and moves on

[Yours_sincerely_thedreamer]

I love how your videos are 100% education. No chitchat, no advertisements, no long introductions. They really help. And they are also entertaining, because you visualise your voice over quite professionally.

[deroll_sweet]

The serenity with which she said, " The appetizing flesh that covers your skeleton and oragans, " cracked me up.
I love this channel

[TheInFormer]

You are seriously underrated, most channels like Bookishpixie, Jenna Morecci, Kim Chance and Vivien Reis are making snarky comments to entertain the viewers and make a sort of shallow skin deep analysis of the how to of the craft. You remind me more of Chris Fox. With your in depth easy to understand deconstruction of the craft and make it into very useful chunks. Thank you for your videos you've earned a subscriber keep up the good work, i seriously hope you get more subscribers soon you've definately earned it!

[jasonchandlerart]

The image that appears with “but they accidentally insult their friend’s mom” 😂😂

[DTHRocket]

This was superduper helpful and made me realize why my scene was boring! There was no "but"! It seems so obvious now.

[ryanratchford]

And a good way to have an engaging plot scene to scene is to make sure your Next Scene’s “Goal” also acts as a “Therefore” to the Previous Scene’s “Question”

[geraldfrost]

<<A well-written scene is like a good lover—it keeps your interest throughout and, by the end, leaves you begging for more.>>
Decades ago I got to be a beta reader (though I didn't know the term at the time). It was toward the end of the story. The run-away girl was looking through the window at a party that her twin sister was having, and she was thinking about continuing running, or joining with her recently discovered sister, who seemed to have been adopted into such a loving family. It's complicated, which you'd expect after 100k words. The wondering went on for half a scene. "I loved when she was looking through the window!" I told the old lady that had written the story. "It builds the tension about whether she'll take the plunge, or keep living on her own." The author hadn't considered it to be an important scene, that to her it was more of a filler. Then I made my mistake. "It's like the build up to sex; you know where it's going, but the anticipation is half the fun!" Big mistake. The little old church lady was aghast! The scene was cut within the hour.
rule 1 grab the reader's attention
rule 2 keep the reader's attention
rule 3 (see rule two)

[pauline_f]

A scene I look forward to writing... This one character has been, for a whole part of the story, stuck somewhere and her primary goal has been trying to go home. After several years, she manages to do so. I'm very much looking forward to a family dinner scene with her family once she gets back - one in which she realizes the depth of the chasm that formed between the ethics she was taught as a child (that her family considers evident) and the ones that she was taught in the place she got stuck in, and that she took to while she was there. In that scene, she realizes she's changed permanently, and that if she stays she is going to hurt both herself and her family by trying to follow morals she no longer believes in...

[samanthas]

I agree with others I’ve watched several of your videos and I really enjoy them. Please keep going!

[amandacalling]

Thank you so much for using examples from dramas and internal conflicts—it seems like most videos about scene and/or plot structure use only action stories.

[ButterfliesfromBs]

OMG this was so helpful. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year and the scenes were just not gelling. I wrote almost 2500 words today and felt like I was just faffing, except from keyboard!!! I needed this. Thank you!

[ryanratchford]

You’re videos are so helpful, dense with content & great advice that they are so rewatchable & I need to still digest everything you’re getting across & how I can use it.
But while all still being incredibly zen & relaxing to listen to.
You’re seriously underrated.

[sarahmatthews]

You also have a career waiting for you in Audible. You're voice is perfect for reading books. I think so, anyways. Great video and amazing content. Thank you for sharing.

[kimberleeoneal]

Your advice is gold. Thank you so much.

I'm writing my first novel, and every time I get stuck you seem to pop up in my newsfeed with the solution.

Your channel is by far the most helpful for new writers.

[alyssabaquir]

Scenes are the building blocks of stories.

The Big Picture Skeleton:
*Goal - Obstacle - Change
*And - But - Therefore
*Good scenes end with a promise of future internal or external conflict.
*Character wants to [goal] - but [conflict] - therefore [therefore]

The Delicious Organs:
*In each successive scene, something must happen that has never happened before.
*Create questions in the readers' mind with each scene.
*Scenes should accomplish multiple objectives.

The Butt of the Scene:
*Avoid predictability.
*Add ticking clocks, violence, an uncomfortable setting or situation, disagreement between characters, clashing goals, the unexpectef arrival of another character, hightened stakes, any kind of surprise.

How a Scene Must Look Style Wise:
*Description of status quo - action - dialogue - internal reflection - dialogue/action - description
*Use chapters to mark setting changes or time jumps or perspective shifts.

[beyondstillness]

I love your idea of including exercises at the end! The concept of practicing right away gives a boost of inspiration and motivation, not to mention the improvement in skills themselves. I love it, please keep this section with a small task in your next videos. LIKE LIKE LIKE

[NS-pfzc]

I'm thoroughly impressed with your videos. I am someone who has wanted to write for over a decade, but has used every excuse in the book not to.
This provides some much needed structural advice that makes me feel that the goal of writing a good book is attainable, even for a rather new writer like myself.

[Beren]

You really get to the point explaining this. Thanks a lot for your thoughts and your videos.
I always wonder how a chase could be described in a book. I want to write a scene in which the hero and her companion are outnumbered by some crazy creatures. But i kind of miss the point in not just describing the chase but give it something meaningful for the characters to overcome in the matter of the plot.