Academy · Scene craft
What is a scene?
What is a scene in fiction?
Beginner
A scene is one continuous unit of action in your story. Same place, mostly the same characters, mostly the same stretch of time. Something happens that pushes the story forward, and either the situation changes or someone learns something. When the focus shifts hard (new place, big jump in time, different characters), that is usually a new scene.
Standard
A scene is the building block where most of your storytelling work happens. It has a goal (what the viewpoint character is trying to do or learn), conflict (what gets in the way), and an outcome (the change in the situation or in the character). When all three are present, the scene earns its place. When any one is missing, the scene tends to feel like setup or filler.
Example
Aldra walks into the chapel asking for shelter. The priest tells her she has to leave by sundown. She leaves angrier than she came in. Place stays the same. People stay the same. Something changed. That is a scene.
What to try
- Open the editor and start your first scene
- Try the scene-template starter
Related questions
- What is a scene turn?
- How do I know when to start a new scene?
- What is a chapter?