Learn about 5 common scene issues in fiction writing, including lack of structure, POV character without agency, crowded scenes, not enough interiority, and inconsistent POV. Get tips on how to fix these issues and improve your storytelling skills.
Properly structuring a scene with a goal, conflict, and tough decisions is crucial for impact.
Giving the protagonist agency in scenes increases reader engagement and relatability.
Deep dives
Common Scene Issue: Lack of Proper Structure
One common issue in scenes is that they lack proper structure. This can be identified by scenes that feel aimless or lack impact. To fix this issue, it is important to ensure that the scene has a goal, conflict, and a tough decision for the protagonist. Building structure into existing scenes can be done by asking questions about the character's goal, the conflict they face, and the tough decisions they need to make. For more information on scene structure, check out episode number 40 of the podcast.
Common Scene Issue: Point of View Character Lacks Agency
Another common issue in scenes is when the point of view character lacks agency. This can lead to readers feeling disconnected or uninvested in the story. To address this issue, it is important to let the protagonist make the majority of the decisions in each scene and to show how they react and process the consequences of these decisions. Giving the protagonist agency makes the story more engaging and relatable. Episode number 63 of the podcast, titled 'Don't Start a Scene Without These Three Things,' provides helpful guidance on setting up scenes to maximize the protagonist's agency.
Common Scene Issue: Including Too Much Extra Stuff
One common mistake in scenes is including too much extra stuff that does not serve the overarching story. This includes random subplots, secondary characters, descriptions, info dumps, backstory explanations, and excessive word count. To address this issue, it is important to objectively assess each element in the scene and determine if it serves the scene or the story. Removing unnecessary elements and trimming down excessive details can make the scene more focused and impactful. Episode number 74 of the podcast, titled 'When Should You Write in Scene Versus Summary?' provides valuable insights on deciding what to include in a scene.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 of the most common “scene level” issues to look for when editing your draft. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[02:44] Issue #1: The scene isn’t properly structured and it feels flat.
[03:59] Issue #2: The POV character doesn’t have enough agency.
[05:57] Issue #3: There’s too much extra stuff crowding the scene.
[07:50] Issue #4: There’s not enough interiority on the page.
[09:35] Issue #5: The POV is inconsistent (aka there's head hopping)
[11:22] Final thoughts and episode recap.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
The 5-Day Unlock Your Story: A LIVE challenge designed to help you get your ideas out of your head and onto the page.