I’m going to be 49 next week and have wanted to write a book for decades. Many things have stopped me (mostly me). Have been watching your videos for a couple weeks now and I just have to say thank you *thank* you! Your guides are so helpful and inspiring. You share exactly the information I’ve been looking for (without knowing where to look or even what I needed to ask for). I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. 💛
Wow, way to go!! This comment brightened my day, thank you so much! I'm so happy my videos have been helpful and inspiring to you. Keep up the good work 🤘
I am a teenager and I am even not a native English speaker but I learning eng .. your channel is like the best guide ...I live in an environment where no one can guide me or advice me on writing ( in a detailed way ) but you came to my life in the perfect moment. I wanted someone to teach me so badly ..I really appreciate your hard work ..I am a huge fan of yours .. actually it's the beginning of my journey in this writing world and I needed exactly something like you .Boom 💥 I got you at the right moment ...you are my mentor or inspiration ..Thanks alot And also you use to say that you like stories which are more emotional and internal , same is the case with me . I am really grateful .. Thanks alot
Me too. I'm Southeast Asian, and one in my family or circle of friends are writers or even just readers. They don't teach this much in school as well. Videos like this are very helpful and it helps me analyze fiction books and learn from them.
Hey Abbie! Just an opinion I have: I personally love when you do case studies of movies in your videos, so could you possibly do more of those? Great video as always 💕
I’ve been waiting for an in-depth vid about scene cards because I didn’t understand what you were talking about in past vids. This helps a lot. I can’t wait for NaNoWriMo. I’m so ready.
I find this particularly important in fight scenes. It’s so easy to get lost in all the cool action, but if that doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a lot of posing. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also very useful to keep more relaxing scenes that focus more on casual interaction, humour, or waff more interesting.
One of the most useful things ever. I've used this for one of my short stories and so far this was the most helpful thing having around, to plan everything out and to keep track of the events while writing!
I love that you keep your methods evolving. In previous videos, the adaptation of Lisa Cron's scene cards were a huge deal for me. Currently, what's been working for me is Robert McKee's perspective of story. To him, a scene implies a change in the character's values (i.e. Justice, truth, curiosity, etc: a value can be anything that MATTERS to the character and therefore to the reader). Any scene should start with a high or low level of the value in stake and show a shift at the end. If there is no change, then the scene should be considered a NO EVENT and scrapped from the story (as most likely it'll just be an info dumping space, which is boring to the reader). Anyway, I really recommend any of his books as well :)
@@renelznicolas8659thanks! That's boos every author should read! I'd love to share a book that I find very helpful in writing scenes. It is Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story by K. M. Weiland. The arc is pretty similar to Abby's structure but the book gives fewer details and examples.
abbie, i have watched this video a billion times. i commented two months ago as well, when the video first came out. but i’m back, currently taking notes on the video to finally go start my own scene cards using this template, but i wanted to leave a comment on this video asking you to do a case study on some sequences from movies or books so that we can see this scene arc in action. :) also, just finished the best christmas ever the other day and it was so sweet thank you for giving us your stories ☺️
Wow, Abbie, Talk about internal and external conflict, worst fears and all the rest of the stuff in your coaching. I have been binging on Mr Selfridge and it's got everything. I'm started yesterday and now I'm up to Season 2 Ep2 and no doubt will be up long after my normal bedtime. In real life, Selfridge's wife Rose died during the influenza pandemic of 1918; his mother, who lived with them, died in 1924. My favourite character so far is Lady Loxely and Lord Loxley looks like an interesting case. I love it as entertainment.
The content you share with us is priceless Abbie! Your channel has been a game changer in my writing, I was so amazed at the sheer quality of your advice the first time I watched your videos. And it hasn't changed! Thanks a million for all the hard work you put in!
Abbie Emmons, you fill my heart with warmth and you give amazing advice, but seriously, do not buy scene cards when you can simply write these things down yourself.
Thank you so much Abbie. This video is so fantastic and I think you've finally unstuck a major scene that I've been staring at the last few days. I knew something was wrong with it but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was and I realized I didn't have enough setup for the payoff/crossroads moment to be satisfying. You're an angel!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS. Using this template, I was able to make my MC deciding what to do during her summer break from school engaging and important to getting to know my character (Its my second scene.) You are the best Abbie!❤🔥
I just wrote a scene, loved it and couldn’t figure out what I did right, and then I watched this video and discovered it was this! I used that exact structure. I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind and using it for everything
That is so cool! While I was developing this scene card I studied a bunch of my favorite scenes across different genres to see if it held up... it's always so cool to find examples in your own writing!
I was wondering and actually asked for your scene card video. Now I know why you took it down. This scene card is much more user friendly, in my opinion. Thanks for everything!
I started watching this channel today and I can’t get enough🤩thank you so much for your tips, they are very useful🫶although, I have only finished the outline of my story, I want to start writing soon and I already know that your videos will be helpful to me💜
Abbie, thank you so much. I’ve recently been struggling to actually write the scenes out and at times they have felt empty/even I’m not sure where a scene is going. So this is so helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and resources 💜
Abbie! Thank you so much for this! I've been in a rough spot with my novel for a while and I've been thinking it's partly a plot/pacing problem, plus me needing to reconnect with the characters and the theme. This totally solves one of those problems! I can't wait to get started with this scene card!
Its funny how i watched this video the first time and it didnt resonate so much, i came back and watched it after mentally analysing a good show and boy are you spitting facts. As always❤
Lol I'm 16 and have published 4-5 books on an online platform. I don't know if I want to be a writer but writing comes naturally to me and it's my biggest Passion. I can't help it, specially if I don't write for more than a few days. It doesn't just feels good... So I'm looking forward to improving my skills by every height. No matter what and where I'm in the future, I want to develop this skill because it calls for me :)) or so I feel like
“You might have some fantastic ideas and some conflicted characters, and a great world for them to exist in, but when it comes to the actual writing part, you have no sense of direction.” Me: *immediately starts frantically double, triple checking my pockets and tearing apart the walls of my room in search of the cameras. I love your videos btw, they’re a gift from the heavens.
I think it’s important to end each chapter with a cliffhanger, as long as that cliffhanger helps to move the story forward, instead of being used to create fake suspense only to trick the reader. Cliffhangers are what urge me to read the next chapter of a story or watch the next episode of a TV show, so I consider them to be extremely important to include. I would really love it if you make a video on how to write cliffhangers 🥰
My interpretation of a scene: pre-conflict, conflict, post-conflict. Pre-conflict is the mood/theme/setting/character who wants or conveys something. Conflict is obstacles stopping that want. Post-conflict is how has the above mentioned noun changed. (So that a sense of progress is felt by the reader. I feel like scenes that don’t offer much change feel…pointless? indistinguishable? when reading.) So if your character is upset that they want to save their bodyguard but, upon seeing their death, is afflicted with a strange sense of glee that scares even them…that’s a good scene.
I love writing and always have, but sometimes I can’t think of ways to hold off on getting to the climax of the story. Do you have any recommendations for ways to pace your story appropriately and not jump into the climax too quickly? Love your channel!
I'm great fan of videos and you. Your videos motivates me so much and I'm writing my own book and I write it everyday. Your tips are so powerful. Thanks love you ❤
What about the old, time-tested definition of scene taught at the University of Oklahoma? Specifically, that taught by Dwight V. Swain in his book _Techniques of the Selling Writer_ (1965), reiterated by his student Jack M. Bickham, who also taught at UO, in his book _Scene & Structure_ (1993), and continued in _The Fantasy Fiction Formula_ (2016), a book by Bickham’s successor at UO, Deborah Chester. A definition used by writers as successful as - oh, I don’t know - Jim Butcher, the author of the _Dresden Files_ urban fantasy series (Butcher was Chester’s student). If that definition has worked so well for so long, why ignore it? Scene Pattern: statement of scene GOAL by the scene's MC > intro & development of CONFLICT > tactical DISASTER (which must be inevitable, yet a surprise to the reader). Yup, there's your three-act structure. With respect to the scene goal, the disaster can give one of four different answers: (1) yes (this should never happen, except at the end of the story, since the story would be over, or it is only permissible for the antagonist, since a success for that character is a threat to the protagonist), (2) no, (3) yes, but…, or (4) no, and furthermore… But the disaster should feel/be (1) inevitable, (2) logical, and (3) unexpected to the reader. And this leads to sequel… Sequel Pattern: emotion > thought > decision > action. But the emotion, thought, and decision can be short and sweet, or lengthy, or maybe even a bit jumbled as the character struggles to recover from the scene disaster, but finally does decide and takes action. The pattern of thought within the sequel, when expanded upon, is review (of what just happened), analysis, and planning, which leads to the decision to take action. And that action leads us to the next scene. Sequels, Bickham points out, are what a writer uses to control a story's pace - when scene after scene after scene are followed by short sequel after short sequel after short sequel, the story just flies, but can leave the reader breathless. So, sometimes, especially if a disaster warrants it, it helps to have a lengthier sequel from time to time, giving the reader a break. When it comes to cliffhangers, though, and how many of today's indie writers use them, it just makes me sick. Overused and cliché. Especially when they end a novel with a cliffhanger. Cliffhangers belong at the end of a scene, or the end of a chapter - but not every bloody chapter or scene, as you said - or, maybe, the end of the final episode of a TV show's season (especially if the show sucks and they want to use a cheap trick to try to keep you watching). But if a writer puts a cliffhanger at the end of their book, I'll toss that book in the trash and that writer will never see another ridiculously inflated red cent of my money. “And that's a promise, not a threat,” as my mum used to say.
exactly! if your story can only be read by cliffhangers, you aren’t doing a good job as a writer. as long as you keep the reader expecting something good/bad, you don’t need to overly rely on cliffhangers!
To clarify on the four possible answers I gave above, I should have said that they are the answers to the question formed in the reader’s mind when the MC states their scene goal. Namely, will they achieve that scene goal? (The same caveats and notes apply, as I said above.) Those answers can be (1) yes, the goal is achieved, (2) no, it is not achieved, (3) yes, it is achieved,… BUT…, and (4) no, it is not achieved, and furthermore… These four answers are how each scene disaster unfolds. Some say #2 should never occur except at the end of a story. Their argument is that if that's the result of a scene disaster, then the story is over. Really? It seems to me that if the disaster at the end of a scene is simply a failure to achieve the _scene_ goal (which is not the overarching _story_ goal), and that means the story has just ended, then that protag can't be a very motivated character, can they? How many in life fail, only to let that failure motivate them to continue on, more motivated than ever? If that is true, then why can't it be true in fiction? So, no. I say that scene disaster #2 does not _necessarily_ result in the end of the story (but it can - as seen in the third possible way a story can end, as noted below). Think of any movie you've seen and you'll see scene disasters 2, 3, and 4 all throughout the story, for protag and antag alike. In fact, #4 always stands out, since you see the antagonist really giving it to the protag and enjoying it. You'll also see #1 in the middle of a movie, but that only happens for the antag; #1 only happens for the protag at the end, if it is a happy ending. But, technically, there are, generally speaking, only four possible endings to any story: (1) protag achieves their goal, and it is a good thing (happy ending); (2) protag achieves their goal, but it is a bad thing (rather bitter sweet); (3) protag does not achieve their goal, and it is a bad thing (your classic tragedy); and (4) protag does not achieve their goal and it is a good thing (also bitter sweet, but in the other direction). The trick is to make whichever one happens feel inevitable, logical, and unexpected. Sure, some stories can be ambiguous with their endings, but they’re usually and frequently too “literary” for most readers/movie-goers to care. That’s not what they want in a story. But inserting the notion of ambiguity about who is good or evil, as in Game of Thrones, simply throws more exquisite unpredictability into a story, without it actually being ambiguous. And we know how readers/viewers reacted to that. The principles are simple, but executing them well is _HARD!_ Just as Abbie notes at the beginning of this vid.
so i have a question on tension, when you refer to tension build up. what is tension, what does it look like in writing, and how on earth does one add it lol? I feel like I reveal to much when trying to add tension and I cant strike a balance at making a scene feel important due to lack of tension. what kind are the different types of tension I could use?
I also started to focus more on splitting my story into small scenes. I already split it into scenes for some time, when I structure my story. I knew what has to happen in a specific part of the story. But for the most time, it was just part of a continuum. A scene didn't have a purpose on their own but to advance the plot. And after a scene, the next scene just began without a break. Now I try to do it this way: - almost every scene is a small story, which should be interesting on its own in some way. It could just be a small joke. - a scene normally shouldn't have skips (there are exceptions, I'm not sure about yet) - when it should be clear to the reader, how the scene ends, I just end the scene there, so the reader can interpret , what would happen next themselves - the next scene might start after skipping some obvious stuff, normally when the next interesting thing starts to happen, maybe explaining what happened before in one sentence Example: - first scene is about someone going to the city to buy some stuff, and the scene just ends before he decides what to buy - next scene begins after he uses the thing he bought
I'm trying to use this to analyze movies, to help get a better grasp on the process. Is it possible that during the Hook, we don't know what the character motivations are? Imagine a spy thriller. The external motivations may be "stay alive" or "steal the thing" but what if the Viewpoint Character doesn't really show any internal motivations. What if it's supposed to be a mystery? Are we allowed to not have all of the answers? or is that just a distinction between experiencing a story and writing one? Should the author know all these motivations even if they don't intend to show it in the scene?
Could we get some examples of this in use? I get the principles, but you make it sound very dramatic and I’m having trouble wrapping my head around how it would properly apply to smaller, less pivotal scenes…
I am watching this video for the third time this month, I am currently writing the first draft of my first novel and, as I’m watching what you’re saying about the scenes, I wondered if this can be used to edit the novel 🤔
The scene card looks awesome - - thank you - - but I'm unsure what's meant by *goal of the scene.* Does it mean the protagonist's (or pov character's) goal, or the writer's goal for the scene, like "Plot Pont 1" or " get hint of larger conspiracy"?
If i have a chapter which has a lot of content in it, does it make more sense to break it down into scenes and put it in one big chapter, or every scene as a completed chapter?
Abbie, are these new scene cards meant to replace the scene card template you've made available before? I have both templates now and feel a bit unsure if I should be using both. 😅
I think so, because iirc the Story Genius author asked her to take those down. This scene card is more intuitive to me (although Story Genius is pretty brilliant) but I would love to see a well known scene broken down using this card, sort of to see an example.
Watch the recently released Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It uses a *lot* of flashbacks in its story and could provide some pointers on how to implement flashbacks and when to use them
Hi Abbie can you please provide some writing tips for young writers? I can't ask you on patreon but it would be really helpful if you answered this question. Love from india
Hey Abbie! my name is Joel. I am 12 years old and I am writing my first story. I am trying my best but I have struggled to find inspiration. how do you find inspiration for your books? This has been such a struggle for a while now… if you could include this in #askabbie that would help so much. thank you! By the way this is my moms iPad because I don’t have a phone.
Your protagists loved one(s) about to leave on a trip, a journey. They're expected to come back in a week or so because it's a typical little voyage. "Do you have to go?" - protagonist "You'll be fine, *insert characters name here* " - The loved one(s) Next scene, we know we're never going to see them again.
Yeah took her old videos showing how to use scene cards from story genius offline sadly. Now she just tries to sell her stuff and it feels like like she's trying to help you become a writer and more like she is trying just to get rich
Why can't the scene card Abby posts be a community resource that isn't worth $7.00. I mean I could just make my own. Making products out of tools is not the best way to go. Also, the video is lacking. It's not a how to. Very discouraging
8:20 "I will leave the printable template below this video. You can download it and print out as many scene cards as your heart desires." For $7. Ahem cough. I see how it is. Seriously, I just bought an entire novel on my Kindle for $1.99 and you want $7 for three pages?
omg I literally just started doing this with my chapters, after realizing that the first draft had chapters that were going nowhere. I restructured each chapter with the 3 acts and now everything seems to have it’s own place in the volume and feel like they have actual depth and progress. I feel very vindicated by the fact that others use this too.
![State of Play | September 24, 2024 [ENGLISH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVs0suPHAX8/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m going to be 49 next week and have wanted to write a book for decades. Many things have stopped me (mostly me). Have been watching your videos for a couple weeks now and I just have to say thank you *thank* you! Your guides are so helpful and inspiring. You share exactly the information I’ve been looking for (without knowing where to look or even what I needed to ask for). I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. 💛
Good luck and achieve your dream!
Good luck! With this knowledge, I'm sure you'll do great! Keep going at it!
Wow, way to go!! This comment brightened my day, thank you so much! I'm so happy my videos have been helpful and inspiring to you. Keep up the good work 🤘
You echo my sentiments exactly.
good luck! Abbie, you did the same for me girl... thank you really.
I am a teenager and I am even not a native English speaker but I learning eng .. your channel is like the best guide ...I live in an environment where no one can guide me or advice me on writing ( in a detailed way ) but you came to my life in the perfect moment. I wanted someone to teach me so badly ..I really appreciate your hard work ..I am a huge fan of yours .. actually it's the beginning of my journey in this writing world and I needed exactly something like you .Boom 💥 I got you at the right moment ...you are my mentor or inspiration ..Thanks alot
And also you use to say that you like stories which are more emotional and internal , same is the case with me . I am really grateful ..
Thanks alot
Thats the same for me!
Me too. I'm Southeast Asian, and one in my family or circle of friends are writers or even just readers. They don't teach this much in school as well. Videos like this are very helpful and it helps me analyze fiction books and learn from them.
I was
So..its been a year, have you started writing?
Your contribution to writing community deserves a special award. Well done. I think, ig my daughter did what you're doing ― I would be proud of her.
Hey Abbie! Just an opinion I have: I personally love when you do case studies of movies in your videos, so could you possibly do more of those? Great video as always 💕
I love doing case studies too! ;) More of those videos coming soon.
@@AbbieEmmons thanks!
I’ve been waiting for an in-depth vid about scene cards because I didn’t understand what you were talking about in past vids. This helps a lot. I can’t wait for NaNoWriMo. I’m so ready.
I'm so glad this video helped you! Good luck with NaNoWriMo 😍
I find this particularly important in fight scenes. It’s so easy to get lost in all the cool action, but if that doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a lot of posing. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also very useful to keep more relaxing scenes that focus more on casual interaction, humour, or waff more interesting.
One of the most useful things ever. I've used this for one of my short stories and so far this was the most helpful thing having around, to plan everything out and to keep track of the events while writing!
I love that you keep your methods evolving. In previous videos, the adaptation of Lisa Cron's scene cards were a huge deal for me. Currently, what's been working for me is Robert McKee's perspective of story. To him, a scene implies a change in the character's values (i.e. Justice, truth, curiosity, etc: a value can be anything that MATTERS to the character and therefore to the reader). Any scene should start with a high or low level of the value in stake and show a shift at the end. If there is no change, then the scene should be considered a NO EVENT and scrapped from the story (as most likely it'll just be an info dumping space, which is boring to the reader). Anyway, I really recommend any of his books as well :)
Hi Reme! Thanks for explaining Robert McKee's method. Could you share the name of his book that consists of more details of this method?
@@ІраПавле sure! It's "Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting"
@@renelznicolas8659thanks! That's boos every author should read! I'd love to share a book that I find very helpful in writing scenes. It is Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story by K. M. Weiland. The arc is pretty similar to Abby's structure but the book gives fewer details and examples.
that color looks so good on you!!!
also thank you for the new scene cards! game changers!!! you’re a queen
Aw, thanks! :) I'm so glad this video helped you!
Ahh I needed this today! Thank you thank you thank YOU for posting this, Abbie! ❤️
you are most welcome 😉
Abbie nearly at 150k subs already!
Good stuff 👏
Thank you, Tom! :D
We meet once again scene cards!
When you’re knee deep in writing screenplays, scene cards become one of your best buds.
abbie, i have watched this video a billion times. i commented two months ago as well, when the video first came out. but i’m back, currently taking notes on the video to finally go start my own scene cards using this template, but i wanted to leave a comment on this video asking you to do a case study on some sequences from movies or books so that we can see this scene arc in action. :) also, just finished the best christmas ever the other day and it was so sweet thank you for giving us your stories ☺️
The quality of information in these videos is outstanding. Abbie is an expert in the science of storytelling.
Wow, Abbie, Talk about internal and external conflict, worst fears and all the rest of the stuff in your coaching. I have been binging on Mr Selfridge and it's got everything. I'm started yesterday and now I'm up to Season 2 Ep2 and no doubt will be up long after my normal bedtime. In real life, Selfridge's wife Rose died during the influenza pandemic of 1918; his mother, who lived with them, died in 1924. My favourite character so far is Lady Loxely and Lord Loxley looks like an interesting case. I love it as entertainment.
The content you share with us is priceless Abbie! Your channel has been a game changer in my writing, I was so amazed at the sheer quality of your advice the first time I watched your videos. And it hasn't changed! Thanks a million for all the hard work you put in!
Abbie Emmons, you fill my heart with warmth and you give amazing advice, but seriously, do not buy scene cards when you can simply write these things down yourself.
I love that you had that shirt made!!
This is exactly what I needed this week! Thanks for all the great content!
Thank you so much Abbie. This video is so fantastic and I think you've finally unstuck a major scene that I've been staring at the last few days. I knew something was wrong with it but I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was and I realized I didn't have enough setup for the payoff/crossroads moment to be satisfying. You're an angel!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS. Using this template, I was able to make my MC deciding what to do during her summer break from school engaging and important to getting to know my character (Its my second scene.) You are the best Abbie!❤🔥
I just wrote a scene, loved it and couldn’t figure out what I did right, and then I watched this video and discovered it was this! I used that exact structure. I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind and using it for everything
That is so cool! While I was developing this scene card I studied a bunch of my favorite scenes across different genres to see if it held up... it's always so cool to find examples in your own writing!
@@AbbieEmmons Yes!!!!! I’m so touched you replied to my comment❤️ you’ve been a huge inspiration to me
I was wondering and actually asked for your scene card video. Now I know why you took it down. This scene card is much more user friendly, in my opinion. Thanks for everything!
I'm so glad you like this scene card! I hope it helps :)
I started watching this channel today and I can’t get enough🤩thank you so much for your tips, they are very useful🫶although, I have only finished the outline of my story, I want to start writing soon and I already know that your videos will be helpful to me💜
You are a godsend! Im amazed of the simple yet deep informational videos like this! AND provide resources… thank you so much
Abbie, thank you so much. I’ve recently been struggling to actually write the scenes out and at times they have felt empty/even I’m not sure where a scene is going. So this is so helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and resources 💜
Abbie! Thank you so much for this! I've been in a rough spot with my novel for a while and I've been thinking it's partly a plot/pacing problem, plus me needing to reconnect with the characters and the theme. This totally solves one of those problems! I can't wait to get started with this scene card!
Can't wait to use this!!!
Its funny how i watched this video the first time and it didnt resonate so much, i came back and watched it after mentally analysing a good show and boy are you spitting facts. As always❤
Been waiting for this one!
Lol I'm 16 and have published 4-5 books on an online platform. I don't know if I want to be a writer but writing comes naturally to me and it's my biggest Passion. I can't help it, specially if I don't write for more than a few days. It doesn't just feels good... So I'm looking forward to improving my skills by every height. No matter what and where I'm in the future, I want to develop this skill because it calls for me :)) or so I feel like
“You might have some fantastic ideas and some conflicted characters, and a great world for them to exist in, but when it comes to the actual writing part, you have no sense of direction.”
Me: *immediately starts frantically double, triple checking my pockets and tearing apart the walls of my room in search of the cameras.
I love your videos btw, they’re a gift from the heavens.
I've been using the Story Genius method for a while that uses this idea exactly. It works really well.
Between this and the three act page, you've set me up for success.
I think it’s important to end each chapter with a cliffhanger, as long as that cliffhanger helps to move the story forward, instead of being used to create fake suspense only to trick the reader. Cliffhangers are what urge me to read the next chapter of a story or watch the next episode of a TV show, so I consider them to be extremely important to include. I would really love it if you make a video on how to write cliffhangers 🥰
Thank you, this is sooo helpful.
My interpretation of a scene: pre-conflict, conflict, post-conflict.
Pre-conflict is the mood/theme/setting/character who wants or conveys something.
Conflict is obstacles stopping that want.
Post-conflict is how has the above mentioned noun changed.
(So that a sense of progress is felt by the reader. I feel like scenes that don’t offer much change feel…pointless? indistinguishable? when reading.)
So if your character is upset that they want to save their bodyguard but, upon seeing their death, is afflicted with a strange sense of glee that scares even them…that’s a good scene.
I love writing and always have, but sometimes I can’t think of ways to hold off on getting to the climax of the story. Do you have any recommendations for ways to pace your story appropriately and not jump into the climax too quickly? Love your channel!
3 act story structure
I'm great fan of videos and you.
Your videos motivates me so much and I'm writing my own book and I write it everyday. Your tips are so powerful. Thanks love you ❤
This one was incredible!!!
What about the old, time-tested definition of scene taught at the University of Oklahoma?
Specifically, that taught by Dwight V. Swain in his book _Techniques of the Selling Writer_ (1965), reiterated by his student Jack M. Bickham, who also taught at UO, in his book _Scene & Structure_ (1993), and continued in _The Fantasy Fiction Formula_ (2016), a book by Bickham’s successor at UO, Deborah Chester. A definition used by writers as successful as - oh, I don’t know - Jim Butcher, the author of the _Dresden Files_ urban fantasy series (Butcher was Chester’s student). If that definition has worked so well for so long, why ignore it?
Scene Pattern: statement of scene GOAL by the scene's MC > intro & development of CONFLICT > tactical DISASTER (which must be inevitable, yet a surprise to the reader). Yup, there's your three-act structure. With respect to the scene goal, the disaster can give one of four different answers: (1) yes (this should never happen, except at the end of the story, since the story would be over, or it is only permissible for the antagonist, since a success for that character is a threat to the protagonist), (2) no, (3) yes, but…, or (4) no, and furthermore… But the disaster should feel/be (1) inevitable, (2) logical, and (3) unexpected to the reader. And this leads to sequel…
Sequel Pattern: emotion > thought > decision > action. But the emotion, thought, and decision can be short and sweet, or lengthy, or maybe even a bit jumbled as the character struggles to recover from the scene disaster, but finally does decide and takes action. The pattern of thought within the sequel, when expanded upon, is review (of what just happened), analysis, and planning, which leads to the decision to take action. And that action leads us to the next scene. Sequels, Bickham points out, are what a writer uses to control a story's pace - when scene after scene after scene are followed by short sequel after short sequel after short sequel, the story just flies, but can leave the reader breathless. So, sometimes, especially if a disaster warrants it, it helps to have a lengthier sequel from time to time, giving the reader a break.
When it comes to cliffhangers, though, and how many of today's indie writers use them, it just makes me sick. Overused and cliché. Especially when they end a novel with a cliffhanger. Cliffhangers belong at the end of a scene, or the end of a chapter - but not every bloody chapter or scene, as you said - or, maybe, the end of the final episode of a TV show's season (especially if the show sucks and they want to use a cheap trick to try to keep you watching). But if a writer puts a cliffhanger at the end of their book, I'll toss that book in the trash and that writer will never see another ridiculously inflated red cent of my money. “And that's a promise, not a threat,” as my mum used to say.
exactly! if your story can only be read by cliffhangers, you aren’t doing a good job as a writer. as long as you keep the reader expecting something good/bad, you don’t need to overly rely on cliffhangers!
To clarify on the four possible answers I gave above, I should have said that they are the answers to the question formed in the reader’s mind when the MC states their scene goal. Namely, will they achieve that scene goal? (The same caveats and notes apply, as I said above.) Those answers can be (1) yes, the goal is achieved, (2) no, it is not achieved, (3) yes, it is achieved,… BUT…, and (4) no, it is not achieved, and furthermore… These four answers are how each scene disaster unfolds.
Some say #2 should never occur except at the end of a story. Their argument is that if that's the result of a scene disaster, then the story is over. Really? It seems to me that if the disaster at the end of a scene is simply a failure to achieve the _scene_ goal (which is not the overarching _story_ goal), and that means the story has just ended, then that protag can't be a very motivated character, can they? How many in life fail, only to let that failure motivate them to continue on, more motivated than ever? If that is true, then why can't it be true in fiction? So, no. I say that scene disaster #2 does not _necessarily_ result in the end of the story (but it can - as seen in the third possible way a story can end, as noted below).
Think of any movie you've seen and you'll see scene disasters 2, 3, and 4 all throughout the story, for protag and antag alike. In fact, #4 always stands out, since you see the antagonist really giving it to the protag and enjoying it. You'll also see #1 in the middle of a movie, but that only happens for the antag; #1 only happens for the protag at the end, if it is a happy ending.
But, technically, there are, generally speaking, only four possible endings to any story: (1) protag achieves their goal, and it is a good thing (happy ending); (2) protag achieves their goal, but it is a bad thing (rather bitter sweet); (3) protag does not achieve their goal, and it is a bad thing (your classic tragedy); and (4) protag does not achieve their goal and it is a good thing (also bitter sweet, but in the other direction). The trick is to make whichever one happens feel inevitable, logical, and unexpected.
Sure, some stories can be ambiguous with their endings, but they’re usually and frequently too “literary” for most readers/movie-goers to care. That’s not what they want in a story. But inserting the notion of ambiguity about who is good or evil, as in Game of Thrones, simply throws more exquisite unpredictability into a story, without it actually being ambiguous. And we know how readers/viewers reacted to that.
The principles are simple, but executing them well is _HARD!_ Just as Abbie notes at the beginning of this vid.
Ron Howard was the ginger dude in The Fonz! 💯👍
I consider multiple scenes to be the makeup of a chapter as a whole.
Thanks!
Just started to want to get into writing and your videos are a great help!
so i have a question on tension, when you refer to tension build up. what is tension, what does it look like in writing, and how on earth does one add it lol? I feel like I reveal to much when trying to add tension and I cant strike a balance at making a scene feel important due to lack of tension. what kind are the different types of tension I could use?
You never cease to amaze me with ideas I need to know. .. Thank you very much . Your follower from the United States of Iraq.. Sorry Republic of Iraq
Thank you so much Abbie! I add it to my cart, but I'll wait until I start writing my novel hehehe (I'm still creating the characters) :)
Abbie you have inspired me so much to write my first book. I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year because of you!!
You’re really awesome. Thanks for this amazing vid.
Thanks
Abbie your advice and tools are invaluable as I begin my journey from pantser to planner. #preptober2021 y'all!
I also started to focus more on splitting my story into small scenes.
I already split it into scenes for some time, when I structure my story.
I knew what has to happen in a specific part of the story.
But for the most time, it was just part of a continuum. A scene didn't have a purpose on their own but to advance the plot. And after a scene, the next scene just began without a break.
Now I try to do it this way:
- almost every scene is a small story, which should be interesting on its own in some way. It could just be a small joke.
- a scene normally shouldn't have skips (there are exceptions, I'm not sure about yet)
- when it should be clear to the reader, how the scene ends, I just end the scene there, so the reader can interpret , what would happen next themselves
- the next scene might start after skipping some obvious stuff, normally when the next interesting thing starts to happen, maybe explaining what happened before in one sentence
Example:
- first scene is about someone going to the city to buy some stuff, and the scene just ends before he decides what to buy
- next scene begins after he uses the thing he bought
The announcement for your new book is coming in October, right? (I’m so excited!)
Yes! October 1st... :D
@@AbbieEmmons sdftgyhujiko
@@AbbieEmmons Yay! Can’t wait!
you can use them for like... Narrative summary as well?
I'm trying to use this to analyze movies, to help get a better grasp on the process. Is it possible that during the Hook, we don't know what the character motivations are? Imagine a spy thriller. The external motivations may be "stay alive" or "steal the thing" but what if the Viewpoint Character doesn't really show any internal motivations. What if it's supposed to be a mystery? Are we allowed to not have all of the answers? or is that just a distinction between experiencing a story and writing one? Should the author know all these motivations even if they don't intend to show it in the scene?
Like the video !!!! Thank you for the tips !!
Okay this is kind of unrelated but is anyone going to mention how Abbie is literally so pretty!? ^w^
If I shift POV's in middle of my novel, would it be okay?
I appreciate the help
Can you please make a video about backstory and how to plan for them 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Could we get some examples of this in use? I get the principles, but you make it sound very dramatic and I’m having trouble wrapping my head around how it would properly apply to smaller, less pivotal scenes…
I like what it says on your t-shirt.
I like this version of scene cards even more than cards from Lisa Cron. I'll use them for NaNoWrimo this year. Thank you :)
Abbie could you please tell me in sequence where do I have to start like which thing should I learn or focus at first and then carry on in writing
I am watching this video for the third time this month, I am currently writing the first draft of my first novel and, as I’m watching what you’re saying about the scenes, I wondered if this can be used to edit the novel 🤔
LOVED IT!
Thank you, this is awesome information!
The scene card looks awesome - - thank you - - but I'm unsure what's meant by *goal of the scene.* Does it mean the protagonist's (or pov character's) goal, or the writer's goal for the scene, like "Plot Pont 1" or " get hint of larger conspiracy"?
I love the background music in this video! How many scenes did would you say you put in your book One hundred days of sunlight?
If i have a chapter which has a lot of content in it, does it make more sense to break it down into scenes and put it in one big chapter, or every scene as a completed chapter?
I think I've been doing scene cards by accident while trying to do my chapter summaries..... whoops. Lol whatever. Either way it works.
Heyyy! So far I haven't seen this on your page. how to chose the right publisher or what to look for in a publisher???
Do you think you could make a video about this?m
Let’s gooo!
Abbie, what episode of your sister podcast did you tease at the end of this video? I must find it!
Abbie, are these new scene cards meant to replace the scene card template you've made available before? I have both templates now and feel a bit unsure if I should be using both. 😅
I think so, because iirc the Story Genius author asked her to take those down.
This scene card is more intuitive to me (although Story Genius is pretty brilliant) but I would love to see a well known scene broken down using this card, sort of to see an example.
I felt a little bit sad that is not for free
I'm broke 💔
YESSSSSSSS
Is this something you do in every chapter or in every act?
Is it just me or is anyone else completely addicted to this channel??
Cool
Still wondering how to place flashbacks
Watch the recently released Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It uses a *lot* of flashbacks in its story and could provide some pointers on how to implement flashbacks and when to use them
I actually made a whole video about this: ruclips.net/video/Ppi-G_X_UXI/видео.html
Hi Abbie can you please provide some writing tips for young writers? I can't ask you on patreon but it would be really helpful if you answered this question.
Love from india
I like your red manicure
Hey Abbie! my name is Joel. I am 12 years old and I am writing my first story. I am trying my best but I have struggled to find inspiration. how do you find inspiration for your books? This has been such a struggle for a while now… if you could include this in #askabbie that would help so much. thank you!
By the way this is my moms iPad because I don’t have a phone.
no example?
Goal, Conflict, Disaster, followed by in the next chapter, Reaction, Dilemma, Decision
👍 Nice!
Is the book she wrote, 100 Days of Sunlight, appropriate for 13-year-olds? And what is the GENERAL plot of the book? NO SPOILERS pls.
Your protagists loved one(s) about to leave on a trip, a journey. They're expected to come back in a week or so because it's a typical little voyage.
"Do you have to go?" - protagonist
"You'll be fine, *insert characters name here* " - The loved one(s)
Next scene, we know we're never going to see them again.
Hoi abbie i've been writing a long story for a while now, only i'm still hesitating a lot about my writing style. Would you mind giving me feetback ?
She kinda looks like nancy wheeler!
Awed at the scene card material here...and very turned off at the paywall😢
I m Netflix writer
This is a 10 minute ad.
Yeah took her old videos showing how to use scene cards from story genius offline sadly. Now she just tries to sell her stuff and it feels like like she's trying to help you become a writer and more like she is trying just to get rich
Why can't the scene card Abby posts be a community resource that isn't worth $7.00. I mean I could just make my own. Making products out of tools is not the best way to go. Also, the video is lacking. It's not a how to. Very discouraging
She use to use story genius scene cards you can find that online for free.
8:20 "I will leave the printable template below this video. You can download it and print out as many scene cards as your heart desires." For $7. Ahem cough. I see how it is. Seriously, I just bought an entire novel on my Kindle for $1.99 and you want $7 for three pages?
Great video and resource thank you so much! How does this compare to your old scene cards? I noticed they’re a little different
omg I literally just started doing this with my chapters, after realizing that the first draft had chapters that were going nowhere. I restructured each chapter with the 3 acts and now everything seems to have it’s own place in the volume and feel like they have actual depth and progress. I feel very vindicated by the fact that others use this too.
Thanks!