The Elements of Scene A Writer's Workbook for Planning Better Scenes and Dialogue

The Elements of Scene is a dynamic approach to brainstorming, conceiving, planning, analyzing, and even prompting engaging scenes and dialogue between story characters. Trying to write a scene or dialogue but it just doesn't seem to be working out? Have an idea for a scene but writer's block is preventing you from moving it forward? Know how you want to start or end a scene but can't sort out the rest? Want to set up writing prompts and challenges with your own characters and setting? Want to study and analyze scenes or dialogue that you or others have written? This 8.5" x 11" workbook is applicable to long fiction, short stories, flash fiction, screenplays, teleplays, theatre scripts, graphic novels, and comic books, regardless of genre. An introductory chapter explains a set of the elements of scene and how to use them when planning a scene and guiding its dialogue. It's followed by 60 two-page worksheets: a sandbox in which you can play, problem-solve, and experiment in pursuit of better and more engaging interactions between characters, whether in love scenes, action scenes, fight scenes, horror scenes, or scenes of everyday human drama. Each two-page worksheet prompts you to consider and explore your scene's: Point of view Characters (roles, goals, starting states, ending states) Setting (time and place, including a grid for a floorplan or map and characters' position changes) Scene arc (the shape of how the scene vascilates between positive and negative values) Backstory reveals (important context you may want to disclose in the scene) Characters' actions and reactions or dialogue summaries in storyboard style Concluding statement of the scene's main conflict, resolutions, cost to characters, and resulting change Fill-in the various sections on a worksheet to help you conceive what happens between characters at a scene's particular time and place. Outline essential dialogue and exchanges. Plan how and where the scene turns, climaxes, and resolves. The Elements of Scene: A Writer's Workbook for Planning Memorable Scenes and Dialogue is a tool to help you think more deeply about the story you're trying to tell. And because the focus is on thinking instead of writing, it may just help you successfully confront episodes of writer's block by encouraging you to get the overall story on paper before fretting about the exact words you use to tell it.