Writing Fiction: Anatomy of a Scene

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Diane Callahan - Quotidian Writer

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198,940 Views • Jun 29, 2017 • Click to toggle off description

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.

You can read a text version of this video on Medium: quotidianwriter.medium.com/the-anatomy-of-writing-…

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My Published Stories and Poems: www.quotidianwriter.com/my-writing

Twitter: twitter.com/QuotidianWriter

Music: "Clockwork" by Vindsvept - • Fantasy Music - Vindsvept - Clockwork

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

Metadata And Engagement

Views : 198,940
Genre: Education
Date of upload: Jun 29, 2017 ^^

Rating : 4.973 (61/8,994 LTDR)
RYD date created : 2022-04-01T22:48:41.801533Z
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YouTube Comments - 219 Comments

@QuotidianWriter
4 years ago

Hi there, viewers! You can read an adapted text version of this video on Medium: link.medium.com/ZvIqI9vME5

50 |

@boswcheydoesart1314
3 years ago

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

442 |

@marielediehl4246
3 years ago

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.

112 |

@deroll_sweet
2 years ago

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

36 |

@jasonchandlerart
5 years ago

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

66 |

@TheInFormer500
6 years ago

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!

529 |

@DTHRocket
5 years ago

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

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@ryanratchford2530
4 years ago

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”

38 |

@geraldfrost4710
4 years ago

<> 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)

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@pauline_f328
4 years ago

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...

128 |

@honzo1078
1 year ago

Best youtube writing advice I've come across yet.

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@operatorblack
1 year ago

This video changed my writing life. I can’t thank you enough.

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@alycreeper
3 years ago

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.

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@amandacalling
5 years ago

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.

19 |

@samanthas6073
6 years ago

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

72 |

@sarahmatthews5878
4 years ago

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.

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@ryanratchford2530
4 years ago

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.

31 |

@beyondstillness
1 month ago

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

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@chasehicks6520
8 months ago

I think i knew this subconciously, but couldn't describe it. The scenes I disliked the most were the ones that were lacking some part of the skeleton. You've probably saved me 100 hours of rereading with this video. thank you so much

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@ButterfliesfromBs
5 years ago

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!

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