The sun tugged at the irises peeking from the dirt edging the coffee shop. Another month in the northland and spring might actually arrive, cascade into summer. I found Sally at our table, grinning at me.
“What?”
“Now that I know my characters, and my story structure, I think we’re coming to the best part – the scenes.”
“You’re right. At least, that’s my favorite part about writing. Because we can talk big picture and characters all day long, but when you create scenes, you are bringing the story to life. Think of every book as live action that we can observe, like a movie. In fact, for me, writing is not unlike viewing a movie…I close my eyes, see the scene and walk through it with the reader.”
“That’s what I see too. A movie in my head.”
“And people laugh when we say we hear voices. They’re real people talking to us.” I winked at her, and she laughed.
“There is a rhythm to storytelling with scenes, however, that is important to learn that will help you craft a book with the right motivation and pacing. And that rhythm is achieved by the right combination of Action and Reaction Scenes.
“See, an Action scene is something with activity, a scene where something happens. A Reaction scene is just that – the reaction to what just happened. I often use the example of the shootout at the OK Corral. The shootout is the action – the reaction is the part where they hide behind the haystack, reload and figure out what to do next. Then, after they figure it out, they jump out and start another action scene.”
“An Action scene has three parts – a goal, conflict and a disaster. For every SCENE, the pov character will have a goal (as will the other characters,). It must be specific and clearly definable, and it must be a proactive goal, something that makes our character alive and interesting.
“However, standing in front of that goal are obstacles your POV character faces on the way to reaching his goal, which causes conflict. You must have conflict in order to make the scene interesting, and ultimately to help your character grow.
“Your Action scene must end with a disaster that contributes to the overall black moment, and causes them to have to make a decision about their next course of action. We often call this the Y in the road.”
Sally nodded, her gaze past me, as if she might be thinking. “So, falling in love with the hero in the beginning of the book might be a disaster because we know he has a secret that will break her heart.”
“Exactly. Which bring us to the Reaction scene, or the emotional and physical follow through to the disaster. A reaction scene has three parts also – a reaction, a dilemma and a decision.
“Your POV character, and the other characters affected by the disaster, are reeling and will need to process and hurt and panic and be afraid. This scene gives your reader a chance to react to the situation along with your character.
“Then, your character must take stock of his situation, look at his options, worry and think through the what-ifs. This is the dilemma. Eventually, the character will come up with a decision.
“Once he makes a decision about what he will do next, your character establishes a new goal – one based on his values and his motivations, and most of all his Noble Cause. A Reaction scene ensures that you have the right motivation for every proactive decision and action your character makes.”
“Now, you’re back to a scene. This is the rhythm of a well-knit story, and is a powerful tool in creating a page turner. Think about your book as a collection of scenes, and you will be able to draw your reader into the moment and create a book that will imprint on a reader’s mind.”
“So, would you suggest that I go through my first scenes and make sure they are Action or Reaction scenes?”
“Yes. Up until now, you’ve been writing by instinct. But if you want to make sure your pacing is right, you need to build the right rhythm into the story. Next week I’ll teach you a combination Action/Reaction scene, something you’ll use as you get into Act 2. But for now, identify each scene and make sure you have the basic components.
“As you start writing your scene, being with the question: Is this an Action or Reaction scene? Once you know this, you’ll know what components to build into the scene. In later weeks, we’ll add to these components to help you build tension in either kind of scene.”
Sally closed her notebook. “I’m a knitter. And when I start a project all I need to know is how to knit or purl. Then I start looking at the blueprint and begin to knit. Pretty soon I have knit an entire slipper. I feel like I’ve finally figured out how I might write this story all the way to the end.”
Truth: The rhythm of Action and Reaction scenes ensures that you have the right motivation for every proactive decision and action your character makes, and keeps your story moving along at a consistent pace.
Dare: Can you identify the Action and Reaction scenes of your novel? Do they have the three components necessary in each scene? If you story lacks the right pace, or your characters lack the right motivation for their actions, try identifying the scene and do a realignment.
Tomorrow, in Quick Skills, we’ll touch on tips on how to build the three components in each scene as well as ideas on how to end your scene with a disaster.
Have a great writing day!
Susie May
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