PRIEST: Novelist | Astonishing Scenes

The Scene Studio exists to assist you in designing marvelous and memorable scenes -- or, at least, good ones that serve their purpose. The Studio form asks pertinent questions regarding the "why" of your scene as well as the "what" of it. It addresses what writer and professor Raymond Obstfeld refers to as the promise and the payoff, two types of scenes critical to the writing process. The "promise" scene is the scene that creates the suspense and anticipation. The "payoff scene" is where the writer delivers and makes good on that promise scene.

Definition of Terms

Scene Name: This is the descriptor you will use to refer to this scene.

Purpose: This should be simple enough -- what the scene is supposed to accomplish.

Chapter: Just in case you have a chapter in mind for the scene already, this is where you can remind yourself of it.

Setting: This is, of course, where the scene is taking place.

The Promise: If this is a Promise Scene, you would write out that promise. If the scene creates anticipation for a future scene, this should be noted here. Similarly, if this is a Payoff Scene, you might want to type in the promise this scene seeks to fulfill. This keeps track of your obligations, rather like an invoice. It tells you what you "owe" the readers and what you've "borrowed" from them in time and interest.

The Payoff: The Payoff Scene is where you deliver on the Promise Scene. Here, you describe the Payoff. If the scene you're describing is the Promise Scene, note here what the Payoff is expected to be. If the scene you're describing is the Payoff Scene itself, type in a brief description of what the payoff is.

Scene Focus: A scene should focus on furthering some aspect of a story: Plot, Character, Theme or Suspense. By defining this feature you select how the scene should be written. A scene with a Character Focus will be written differently from one written with a focus on Theme.

Description: Now is the time for a brief synopsis of what takes place in the scene. Originally, this text area was smaller -- I wanted to express that you shouldn't actually write the scene here by limiting the space. Give yourself an idea of what will happen, as opposed to what should happen (as we did above.)

Effects: What should the reader feel or think after this scene is completed? How should she feel about the characters? What should she think about the theme? This is the point where you determine the mission's objectives. We've discussed the purpose briefly before, but here's where you can develop some specific goals to be achieved.

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