Sunday, May 6, 2012

Creating a Scene Outline for Your Novel

by Jodie Renner, editor, author, speaker   


First, what’s a scene?


        
Although most novels are divided up into chapters, the scene is the fundamental unit of fiction. Each scene is a mini-story, with a main character and a beginning, middle, and end of its own. Every scene needs tension or conflict, and at the end of each scene, at least one of the main characters must have gone through some sort of change. Otherwise, the scene isn’t pulling its weight and needs to be revised or cut. As Jessica Morrell says, each scene is a microcosm of the  plot, and every scene needs a mission (goal), an obstacle, and an outcome (usually a disaster). For more on scenes, see Jodie’s article “Every Scene Needs Conflict and a Change.”

A modern novel normally has several dozen scenes. Each scene can range in length from a few paragraphs to a dozen pages or more. A chapter can contain one scene or several. Occasionally, a scene may even run into the next chapter.


Using the Scene Outline:

The outline below will help you organize and your scenes and decide if any of them need to be moved, revised, amped up, or cut.

This is a great tool for both plotters and pantsers. Plotters/outliners can use it to outline your scenes early on in the process, and those of you who prefer to just let the words flow and write “by the seat of your pants” can use it later, to make sure the timeline makes sense and that the scene has conflict/tension and a change. 

Keep each scene description to a minimum. Don’t get carried away with too many details, or the task could become arduous. The most important thing is the POV (point of view) character’s goal for that scene, and what’s preventing him/her from reaching that goal, plus any new conflicts / problems / questions that arise.

And you can use a different font color or highlight color for each main character, for a quick reference on who was the POV character for each scene. Also, you can print it up and cut them out to rearrange the scenes, or use a writing software for that.

If in doubt as to who should be the viewpoint character for that scene, most often it’s your protagonist. Can also, less often, be your antagonist or another main character. Almost never a minor character. If you can’t decide who should be the POV character for a particular scene, go with the character who has the most invested emotionally or the most to lose.

SCENE OUTLINE FORM:

Scene 1: Chapter:1    Place:         

Date/Month/Season:                                 Year (approx.):

POV character for this scene:
                                 

Other main characters here:

POV character’s goal here:


Motivation for their goal (why do they want that?):

Main problem / conflict – Who/What is preventing MC from reaching his/her goal:

Outcome – Usually a setback / new problem:

(And/or new info, revelation, new question, resolution of problem [rarely]):



Scene 2: Chapter:            Place:                           


Date/Month/Season:                                     Year (approx.):

POV character:                                   


Other main characters:

POV character’s goal:


Motivation for their goal:

Main problem/conflict/question:


Outcome (most often a setback):


Scene 3: Chapter:            Place:                              


Date/Month/Season:                                      Year (approx.):

POV character:                      


Other main characters:

POV character’s goal:


Motivation:

Main problem/conflict/question:

Outcome (most often a setback):


Scene 4:


Etc. Continue for as many scenes as you have.

Fiction writers - Do you have any tips to add to this scene outline?

Copyright © Jodie Renner, April 2012



Jodie Renner is a freelance fiction editor and the award-winning author of threecraft-of-writing guides in her series An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction: Captivate Your Readers, Fire up Your Fiction, and Writing a Killer Thriller, as well as two clickable time-saving e-resources, Quick Clicks: Spelling List and Quick Clicks: Word Usage. She has also organized two anthologies for charity, incl. Childhood Regained – Stories of Hope for Asian Child Workers. You can find Jodie at www.JodieRenner.com, www.JodieRennerEditing.com, her blog, http://jodierennerediting.blogspot.com/, and on Facebook and Twitter

24 comments:

  1. Funny you should write about this now, Jodie, because I'm using this process right now with an early novel of mine, whose characters deserve to reap the fruits of the knowledge I've acquired since my first attempt at writing it.

    While re-reading I outlined, as you say here. I'm working with the restructuring at this outline level, as it's so much easier to chuck a "scene" if it's two sentences long than if you're looking at the ten pages you wrote. What's super is that you can visualize the whole book at once.

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  2. Thanks for your comment, Kathryn. Great to get affirmation from an accomplished developmental editor like yourself.

    Speaking of developmental editors, I just had the pleasure and privilege of attending four workshops by Jessica Morrell - man, is she good! And entertainiing, stimulating and inspiring!

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  3. Cool! I was Jessica's designated host when she came out to Pennwriters many years ago. I jumped at the chance because I love her book "Between the Lines: Master the subtle elements of fiction writing." She gave a couple of great sessions, and if I had one complaint, it was that they were too dense. She talked a mile a minute and gave out so much great info I could hardly take it all in!

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  4. I know what you mean, Kathryn! I'm exhausted and brain-dead now! By the way, I highly recommend Jessica's book Thanks, But This Isn't For Us - just excellent!


    P.S. I meant "like you," not "like yourself"! ;-)

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  5. I'm glad for the recommendation. It's on my shelf—I bought it when it came out because the cover was so clever!—but never have gotten around to it yet. So much to read, so little time!!

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  6. I used this scene outline master in my third novel Jodie is now editing. It was apparent to me as I went thru it what scenes could be collapsed into one, which were unnecessary, where I had committed the crime of head-hopping, what scenes were just dull.

    I used it on a mss that I thought was "finished" enough to show to an editor and ended up shifting whole blocks of scenes.

    It's a great technique. The work that goes into it pays off.

    Thank you, Jodie.

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  7. You'll love it, Kathryn. I highly recommend that book to both writers and editors -- as well as her workshops! It's true Jessica covers a lot of material (which is great!), but she also provides very detailed handouts, each one crammed with gems on how to write fiction that sells.

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  8. Thanks for your kind comments, Mar. I think I posted my last comment at the same time you posted yours. By the way, I'm really enjoying editing your mystery/crime fiction! Excellent characterization and dialogue, and a very intriguing plot! Wish I could figure out whodunnit!

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  9. Great post, Jodie. Over the years, I'd found myself gradually writing more and more in the scene-sequel methodology without realizing it. About a year ago, I read about the scenes and sequels and got the biggest smack on the side of the head...the concept just makes it so much clearer as to what needs to happen to keep a plot moving.
    As Kathryn pointed out in her first comment, it's much easier to chuck a couple of sentences than ten pages of drivel that aren't doing anything. Even if you only get close, you can always edit later.
    Nice summary of the concept!
    Terry

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  10. Thanks, Terry. The slower-paced, more thoughtful, analytic or reminiscing/rehashing sequels are pretty much "de rigeur" in romances, but much less prominent, and much shorter if used, in thrillers, action-adventure and other fast-paced fiction. There, short transitions from one action scene to another are more common than a sequel.

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  11. Jodie, good point about the different genres. In my mysteries, I use sequels composed of elements of emotion, thought, decision, and action. But, they're not very long. On the other hand, my scenes tend to be short also. And then there's the fact that I'm not not real big on traditional romance Maybe you've diagnosed my reading habits...oh, this is getting way too psychoanalytical!!! :D

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  12. This is fabulous! It takes my scene list and gives it some added oomph.

    I was wondering what book on craft I'll read after I finish the one I've been working through. Now I think I'll find one of Jessica's. Thanks, Jodie!

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  13. Thanks, Jodie, for a great post. Like Peg said, this will make my scene list more effective.

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  14. I'm glad you threw in 'after the fact' because although I might have a general idea of where a scene is going, it's a "as you write" process. I find that if I question myself as I write, and keep my characters' GMC in mind, I can write the scene, then analyze the plot points and other things you've mentioned afterward. I then jot the basics onto sticky notes and add them to my tracking board.

    Terry
    Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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  15. Thanks for your comments, everyone. I'm traveling home from the Tallahassee Writers' Conference, so only online sporadically. Right now I'm waiting for my next flight in the Atlanta airport. Glad you find this outline helpful.

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  17. I tend to work backwards when I write novels. My outlining is done later, in order to keep track of what I have. Then I go through and see what I'm missing, what should be added, and what needs to go. I guess we all have our own methods, but your advice works either way in providing a good checklist.

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  18. Yes, that's the idea, Drew -- the scene outline is useful for novelists like LJ who prefer to plan ahead, as well as writers like you who like to see where the characters take you and the events unfold.

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  19. Hey everyone,
    I still talk fast.
    Still have tons of information.
    Will keep trying to slow down the tongue in the future.
    Good writing to all...
    Jessica

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  20. Thanks for dropping by, Jessica! We'll have to do an interview of you here one of these days!

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  21. I'm a little embarrassed, Jessica, but when I first read your response I thought it was porn spam.

    Oy.

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  22. LOL! Jessica's comment about slowing down her tongue refers back to Kathryn's comment that Jessica talks too fast in her presentations! - At least I think that's what Jessica was referring to...? ;-) With Jessica, you never know!

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  23. yes, was referring to my proclivities for fast mouth motions.

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  24. Gee, not sure if that clarifies things, Jessica! ;)

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