Yay for two videos this week! Our scenes series continues, and I think this might be the most helpful video so far for anyone who struggles with outlining scenes or filling out notecards. Let me know in the comments and give this video a "like" if you find it helpful! Happy weekend!!
Yes to the multiple POV series! I cannot tell you how much this series is helping me to shape and improve my novel! Loving every second. So much so, that I've watched each video multiple times!
00:01 Intro - Scenes are micro stories - A scene is a step on the path of the character's overall goal 02:05 Beginning - Hook in opening sentence or paragraph - action, interesting dialog, character's fear - Grounds reader with who, what, where - Character's goal, desire (can be implied) - Stakes - consequences of failure 04:25 Middle - Longest part of the scene, the meat - Focused on conflict - obstacle to character's goal - Conflict can be physical struggle or something more subtle - Conflict has cause and effect, ripple effect into subsequent scenes 06:00 End - Outcome of the conflict - "the disaster" - K.M. Weiland's book, Structuring Your Novel - Conflict is solved, results in disaster, or causes another problem - Can be dramatic or subtle - Character is off balance, what am I going to do next? - Character changes, or plans change 08:05 Cymbal crash - At end of, the end of the scene - Libby Hawker's book on plotting for pantsers, Take off Your Pants - Keeps readers turning pages - Single sentence or phrase that hits you in the gut, has a moment of resonance - Makes the reader go, What? Now I have to know what happens next. - Works in many genres - Pairs up with how you want your reader to feel (suspense, romance, loss, longing) - AKA the dun dun dun moment. 10:40 Example, The Witch's Key 17:35 The Sequel - A beat at the end of a scene where your character processes what happened and makes a new choice - A moment of resonance, reflection, recalibration, introspection, oh my gosh what just happened? - Jack Bickham's book, Scene and Structure - Emotional internal beat for your character and reader - Reaction scene, a moment between scenes - Can be a sentence, scene, or chapter - Not always necessary, especially for multi POV stories (switching to another POV can have a similar calming effect) - A bridge between action scenes - Look at how good writers keep the tension up in sequels - home in on character's fear, worry, knowing they need to change but is difficult, dread of character not knowing what to do and are going to make a bad decision 22:35 Wrap up Structure of a scene - goal, conflict, outcome/disaster Structure of a sequel - reaction, dilemma, decision 23:20 Scene cards 1. Scene overview 2. POV character, what they want, what happens if they fail 3. Conflict - obstacles, point of tension 4. Outcome - what goes wrong, what changes in character or story world, impact on next scene
Hi Sarra! I LOVE THIS SERIES There's nothing like it on UA-cam. Thank you so much! I've never felt so optimistic as an author to get my work out there in a structured, smart, and doable way. I'm writing 1,500 words a day to be sure I can produce consistently with your lessons in mid for when I publish.
What you do with multiple POV characters sounds like what I've done sometimes with my WIP. Sometimes I can't figure out what to write for a sequel so I'll move to another character and go back when I have a better idea. I can't tell you how much your videos help me as a new writer. Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend. 💖
I would love to hear more of your plotting process and all the steps. And of course multiple POV series too. I'm definitely trying to be more of a plotter than a pantser, but baby steps. :P
Scene card info is so helpful, plus the info on sequel/reflection. I am reading the Weiland book now. Really good stuff Sweet Sarra, you always overdeliver, thanks!
Yes! I'd love for you to do another video on splitting the scene in half. I do this sometimes to make it a cymbal crash moment at the end of a chapter, but would love your take on it.
I love how you break it all down here. I would also really like to see a video on working out the scenes for more than one pov. Thanks for all the work you are putting into this series xx
This structure is what I was taught in my first critique group. They said every chapter should have this, in this order -goal -conflict -disaster -reaction -dilemma -decision I tried searching for this for a while and found little about this structure. So I was excited to hear you explaining on writing like this. Although not sure if this is the exact method you follow. And I know now where they got it from. Great video! 🤓
I’m thoroughly enjoying and learning from this video series, and am thankful for this ‘beefy’ video with the scene example form The Witches Key! I’d love to see more examples and also learn about your process and why you do all three plotting applications (wall chart, happy planner and scene cards). Multiple POV is also fascinating. Looking forward to the next video.
Bursting with information and I think you left us on a dun dun dun moment. Yes to all the questions! I would love to see more videos about the topics you asked about. Everything you suggested might seem somewhat intuitive but having you lay it all out is like OH Yeah! Okay! I gotcha and brings it to a more conscious level (at least for me...) thanks 💖 💖
This was exactly what I needed to hear! I was kind of stuck, and have been trying to put my chapters and scenes together in a way that flows naturally, but I didn't have A PROCESS! Your explanation is a perfect roadmap for me. My thought processes are very similar, so I'm ready to get back in the driver's seat and start moving again. Thank you!
I really appreciate your video about POV. In my book I’m trying to write third person omniscient. Any type of comment that you have would be greatly appreciated as well as Any pointers about staying in writing space. I’ve learned how to be there because it’s so easy to slide into another POV in the process of writing. I hope to hear from you about my question that I put onto the website.
I would love to see how someone handles multiple POV. it makes the novel so much more interesting when you see other character's thoughts or perceptions.
Yay for two videos this week! Our scenes series continues, and I think this might be the most helpful video so far for anyone who struggles with outlining scenes or filling out notecards. Let me know in the comments and give this video a "like" if you find it helpful! Happy weekend!!
Yes to the multiple POV series! I cannot tell you how much this series is helping me to shape and improve my novel! Loving every second. So much so, that I've watched each video multiple times!
00:01 Intro
- Scenes are micro stories
- A scene is a step on the path of the character's overall goal
02:05 Beginning
- Hook in opening sentence or paragraph - action, interesting dialog, character's fear
- Grounds reader with who, what, where
- Character's goal, desire (can be implied)
- Stakes - consequences of failure
04:25 Middle
- Longest part of the scene, the meat
- Focused on conflict - obstacle to character's goal
- Conflict can be physical struggle or something more subtle
- Conflict has cause and effect, ripple effect into subsequent scenes
06:00 End
- Outcome of the conflict - "the disaster"
- K.M. Weiland's book, Structuring Your Novel
- Conflict is solved, results in disaster, or causes another problem
- Can be dramatic or subtle
- Character is off balance, what am I going to do next?
- Character changes, or plans change
08:05 Cymbal crash
- At end of, the end of the scene
- Libby Hawker's book on plotting for pantsers, Take off Your Pants
- Keeps readers turning pages
- Single sentence or phrase that hits you in the gut, has a moment of resonance
- Makes the reader go, What? Now I have to know what happens next.
- Works in many genres
- Pairs up with how you want your reader to feel (suspense, romance, loss, longing)
- AKA the dun dun dun moment.
10:40 Example, The Witch's Key
17:35 The Sequel
- A beat at the end of a scene where your character processes what happened and makes a new choice
- A moment of resonance, reflection, recalibration, introspection, oh my gosh what just happened?
- Jack Bickham's book, Scene and Structure
- Emotional internal beat for your character and reader
- Reaction scene, a moment between scenes
- Can be a sentence, scene, or chapter
- Not always necessary, especially for multi POV stories (switching to another POV can have a similar calming effect)
- A bridge between action scenes
- Look at how good writers keep the tension up in sequels - home in on character's fear, worry, knowing they need to change but is difficult, dread of character not knowing what to do and are going to make a bad decision
22:35 Wrap up
Structure of a scene - goal, conflict, outcome/disaster
Structure of a sequel - reaction, dilemma, decision
23:20 Scene cards
1. Scene overview
2. POV character, what they want, what happens if they fail
3. Conflict - obstacles, point of tension
4. Outcome - what goes wrong, what changes in character or story world, impact on next scene
Yes please! More on multi pov and your plot walls! My WiP is a Multi Pov Series......
Yes, would love videos about multiple POVs, splitting scenes, and nots cards!!! Loved this video... thanks, Sarra!
you’re hair looks beautiful Sarra !! love this series
Thank you so much!
Hi Sarra! I LOVE THIS SERIES
There's nothing like it on UA-cam. Thank you so much!
I've never felt so optimistic as an author to get my work out there in a structured, smart, and doable way.
I'm writing 1,500 words a day to be sure I can produce consistently with your lessons in mid for when I publish.
Awesome, thank you for letting me know you are finding it helpful!!!
Awesome work Sarra
Yes to video about filling out plotting walls, pages, etc.☺
What you do with multiple POV characters sounds like what I've done sometimes with my WIP. Sometimes I can't figure out what to write for a sequel so I'll move to another character and go back when I have a better idea. I can't tell you how much your videos help me as a new writer. Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend. 💖
So happy to hear that!
I would love to hear more about how you plot on the planner versus the notecards versus plotting wall! ❤
I would love to hear more of your plotting process and all the steps. And of course multiple POV series too. I'm definitely trying to be more of a plotter than a pantser, but baby steps. :P
Scene card info is so helpful, plus the info on sequel/reflection. I am reading the Weiland book now. Really good stuff Sweet Sarra, you always overdeliver, thanks!
Would love to learn more about multiple POV! 💜
Definitely!
Another great video, such great examples as well! Thank you! This is where I needed the help to move in the right direction!
Yes to multiple POV series. And thank you for this one!
Yes! I'd love for you to do another video on splitting the scene in half. I do this sometimes to make it a cymbal crash moment at the end of a chapter, but would love your take on it.
I would LOOOOVE to see the relationship between page flag, post it etc. It really helps my brain
Oh! Yes, please! Multiple POV information would be so great!
I love how you break it all down here. I would also really like to see a video on working out the scenes for more than one pov. Thanks for all the work you are putting into this series xx
This structure is what I was taught in my first critique group. They said every chapter should have this, in this order
-goal
-conflict
-disaster
-reaction
-dilemma
-decision
I tried searching for this for a while and found little about this structure. So I was excited to hear you explaining on writing like this. Although not sure if this is the exact method you follow. And I know now where they got it from. Great video! 🤓
PLEASE do the multi-POV videos! It's the one thing there aren't any books on
Loved this! Thank you so much for making these videos Sarra!!! 💙💙💙
I am so excited for this series! Just started my 3rd novel so this is keeping me inspired. Thank you!!
Yay for 3rd novel!!
Writer twins! I’m also on my 3rd! 🥰 congrats and bon courage
Great series, Sarra! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. You’re a great teacher!
I’m thoroughly enjoying and learning from this video series, and am thankful for this ‘beefy’ video with the scene example form The Witches Key! I’d love to see more examples and also learn about your process and why you do all three plotting applications (wall chart, happy planner and scene cards). Multiple POV is also fascinating. Looking forward to the next video.
Yes, please! A series on multiple pov scene structure
This series has been so helpful. Thank you for bringing us this valuable information.
I always enjoy watching these kind of videos from you. So glad to see you back at it. Hope the writing is going well!!!
Thank you for the encouragement. I'm excited to be back at them, too!
Fantastic video series! Love it when you do this type of content--crazy helpful!
Grabbing my pen to rewatch and make notes! 😎
I loved this video! So informational! Now I'm heading to listen to The Witch's Key again! 😍
🗝 Yay!
Bursting with information and I think you left us on a dun dun dun moment. Yes to all the questions! I would love to see more videos about the topics you asked about. Everything you suggested might seem somewhat intuitive but having you lay it all out is like OH Yeah! Okay! I gotcha and brings it to a more conscious level (at least for me...) thanks 💖 💖
I was struggling with my novel cause I was sure my plot structure was fine, but I still didnt know what to do. This series helps ❤
YES! Please do some vids on multi pov! I would also love to see duel pov, and not just the love interest.
Superb explanation. Thank you.
This was exactly what I needed to hear! I was kind of stuck, and have been trying to put my chapters and scenes together in a way that flows naturally, but I didn't have A PROCESS! Your explanation is a perfect roadmap for me. My thought processes are very similar, so I'm ready to get back in the driver's seat and start moving again. Thank you!
Loving this series, Sarra! Thanks so much for sharing all this
I really appreciate your video about POV. In my book I’m trying to write third person omniscient. Any type of comment that you have would be greatly appreciated as well as Any pointers about staying in writing space. I’ve learned how to be there because it’s so easy to slide into another POV in the process of writing. I hope to hear from you about my question that I put onto the website.
I would love to see how someone handles multiple POV. it makes the novel so much more interesting when you see other character's thoughts or perceptions.
I wanted you to keep reading from your book haha. I'm off to get to start this series now.
Hannah Sarra reads it on the channel. Just look up Witch's key
@@BonnieDragonKat Oh thank you! Haha
i know everything about this topc
How about 1 hour writing license session?!? ;? 😜😜😜😜
I’m sorry if I’m sounding so anxious.
This was great