How to structure a scene

A circle with the word Goal at the top. Then, going around the circle clockwise are the words disruption, choice, turning point, reaction, and new goal. Then, in the center of the circle, it says scene structure.

What is Good Scene Structure

You’re a writer, staring at a half-written scene on your screen. The characters are in place, and the setting is vivid, but something’s missing. The scene feels flat and lifeless, lacking the spark that turns a scene into a captivating moment. It’s a common struggle—transforming a good scene into a great one that will keep readers glued to the page. This guide to how to structure a scene is your key to unlocking that potential.

In novels, the power of a scene is paramount. A well-crafted scene can captivate an audience, evoke a spectrum of emotions, and drive your story forward with compelling force. But what makes a scene truly stand out? How do you ensure each scene in your story is memorable and impactful, not just functional?

Each element in a scene – goal, conflict, choice, turning point, reaction, and new goal – plays a crucial role in shaping a story that resonates with audiences. Let’s look into these components to understand how to structure a scene.

Scene Structure Element Number One: Goal

Why It’s Important: A clear goal is crucial in giving your scene direction and purpose. It motivates the characters’ actions, drives the plot forward, and keeps readers engaged by providing clarity and stakes.

Signs You Need to Adjust the Goal in Your Scene:

Lack of Direction or Purpose: If your scene seems to meander without a clear direction, it may be because the goal is not well-defined. Scenes without a clear goal often feel aimless and fail to engage the reader.
Character Actions Feel Random: When character actions and decisions don’t align with a clear objective, it’s a sign that the goal needs refinement. Characters should purposefully direct their actions towards achieving their goal.
Reader Disengagement: If readers or beta-readers mention that they’re losing interest or don’t understand the point of the scene, it’s often an indication that the goal is not compelling or clear enough.

Ensuring an Effective Goal in Your Scene

To ensure your scene has an effective goal, begin by clearly defining what your character wants to achieve or avoid in the scene. Ensure the goal is specific, relevant to the plot, and directly influences the character’s actions. For a detailed exploration of creating compelling goals, read: How to Add Character Goals to a Scene.

Scene Structure Element Number Two: Disruption

Why It’s Important: Disruption introduces tension and challenge, making a scene dynamic and engaging. Moreover, it’s the obstacle that prevents characters from easily achieving their goals, adding depth conflict.

Signs You Need to Adjust the Disruption in Your Scene:

Scene Lacks Tension: A scene that feels too easy or lacks excitement often suffers from insufficient conflict. Conflict results from a goal being disrupted, creating tension and keeping readers invested.
Conflict Feels Forced or Unnatural: If the disruption doesn’t naturally arise from the characters and the situation, or if it feels contrived just to create drama, it must be reworked to feel more organic.
Quick Resolution: If the disruption is resolved too quickly or easily, it might not be challenging enough. Conflicts should pose a significant challenge to the characters and the story.

Crafting Engaging Disruption

An engaging disruption is essential for a dynamic scene. Develop a disruption that directly challenges the character’s goal. It should be significant, stem naturally from the story or characters, and escalate the stakes. For more on developing rich, organic disruptions, visit: How to Use Disruption in Scene Structure.

Scene Structure Element Number Three: Choice

Why It’s Important: Choices are critical moments that reveal a character’s true nature, values, and development. They shape the narrative and have significant consequences on the plot.

Signs You Need to Adjust the Choices in Your Scene:

Choices Lack Impact: If the choices made by the characters don’t significantly affect the plot or character development, they may need to be more consequential.
Predictable Outcomes: If the choices and their outcomes are too predictable, they fail to create intrigue. Choices should sometimes lead to unexpected consequences to maintain reader interest.
Inconsistency with Character Development: If choices made by the characters seem out of line with their established traits and motivations, they need to be realigned to ensure consistency and believability.

Making Character Choices Impactful

Ensure the choices in your scene are impactful and reveal character depth. Choices should arise naturally from the conflict, have clear stakes, and lead to significant consequences in the story. To learn more about making character choices meaningful, see: How to Use Choice in Your Scene Structure.

Scene Structure Element Number Four: Turning Point

Why It’s Important: Turning points are essential for changing the narrative’s direction, increasing stakes, and adding surprise elements. Furthermore, they’re moments where something significant alters the course of the story.

Signs You Need to Adjust the Turning Point in Your Scene:

Lack of Surprise or Novelty: A turning point should be surprising or reveal something new. It may need to be reworked if it’s too predictable or doesn’t add new information or dynamics.
Minimal Effect on Story Progression: If the turning point doesn’t significantly alter the course of the story or the characters’ journey, it might not be impactful enough.
Confusion Among Readers: If readers are left confused or unclear about the significance of the turning point, it may not be well-integrated or explained within the scene’s context.

Creating Memorable Turning Points

A turning point should significantly change the direction or tone of your scene. It can be a revelation, a decision, or an event that alters the character’s journey. Make sure it’s surprising yet logical within the story’s context. For guidance on crafting turning points, read: How to Use a Turning Point in Your Scene Structure.

Scene Structure Element Number Five: Reaction

Why It’s Important: Reactions provide a window into a character’s inner world and help build an emotional connection with the audience. Additionally, they show how characters process events, impacting their development and the story.

Signs You Need to Adjust the Reaction in Your Scene:

Lack of Emotional Depth: If the character’s reaction to a major event or turning point feels flat or underwhelming, it may lack the necessary emotional depth or authenticity.
Inconsistency with Character Personality: Reactions that don’t align with what has been established about a character’s personality or backstory may need adjusting for consistency.
No Evolution or Change: Reactions should lead to some change in the character or their circumstances. If everything remains the same post-reaction, it might not effectively drive the narrative.

Writing Authentic Reactions

Character reactions should be genuine and reflect their personality and the scene’s events. Include emotional and practical aspects, showing how the character processes and responds to the turning point. For insights into writing authentic reactions, explore: How to Use Reaction in Your Scene Structure.

Scene Structure Element Number Six: New Goal

Why It’s Important: Establishing a new goal at the scene’s end ensures continuity and keeps the story moving. Also, it provides direction for subsequent scenes, maintaining momentum and interest.

Signs You Need to Adjust the New Goal in Your Scene:

Lack of Clear Direction Post-Scene: If the end of the scene leaves characters (and readers) without a clear sense of where the story is headed next, the new goal may need to be more explicitly defined.
Repetitiveness or Redundancy: If the new goal seems like it repeats previous goals without introducing anything new to the story, writers should revise it to ensure progression and variety.
Incompatibility with Overall Story Arc: A new goal that doesn’t align well with the overarching narrative or appears irrelevant to the main plot points might require realignment to ensure its meaningful contribution to the story.

Setting and Transitioning to New Goals

At the end of a scene, establish a new goal that propels the story into the next scene. This goal should stem from the events and reactions in the current scene and align with the overall narrative. Learn more about setting and transitioning to new goals: How to Use a New Goal in Scene Structure.

Common Questions to How to Structure a Scene

How long should each element be?

The length of each element in a scene can vary depending on the needs of your story, writing style, and the specific scene itself. It’s crucial to allow the story and characters to guide the length and emphasis of each element within the scene. So sometimes, an element can be several sentences or one word long.

Do all scenes need this structure?

No, not all chapters need to follow the same goal-disruption-choice-turning point-reaction-new goal structure. This structure is a guide to creating scenes but is not a rigid rule. But if too many scenes deviate from this structure, you will hurt the pacing of your story.

Do they need to be in this order?

While the presented order is common and often effective, writers can arrange these elements differently depending on the needs of the scene and the story. Writing is a creative process, and sometimes it requires flexibility.

Can you leave an element out?

While each of the six elements plays a crucial role in creating a compelling narrative, there may be instances where an element is not explicitly stated or described. In such cases, we can consider the element “left out” only if the reader can implicitly imply or infer it based on the context and other elements in the scene. Remember, the narrative’s flow and coherence should not be compromised. It’s essential that the reader can still understand and follow the progression of the scene.

What is a good place to stop a scene to leave a chapter on a cliffhanger?

A great place to stop for a cliffhanger is immediately after a turning point or reaction, leaving readers in suspense about the character’s reaction or new goal.

How do I know if my scene structure is working?

A well-structured scene propels your narrative forward, reveals something new about the character, and raises the stakes. If your scene is doing these, it’s likely working. But always pay attention to feedback from readers or critique partners.

What should I do if my scenes feel too repetitive?

Consider varying the intensity and type of goals, disruptions, and choices. The tension may lose its impact if the stakes are always life or death. Mix dramatic scenes with quieter, character-building ones for balance. Another way is to vary the way the elements are shown. For example, if you show a new goal through dialogue in a scene, make the next scene use action to show the new goal.