How to write Scenes? Choices

You have a Story.
You have Characters.
And you have Settings.

How do you Write a Scene?

The Situation

• What’s the Issue?
• Is there an Issue?
• What kind of Issue is it?
• Why is it an Issue?
• What makes it problematic?
• How could it become graver?

• What are the Stakes?
• Who is involved?
• What’s their Goal?
• Are there intermediates?
• Are they all Essential?
• Which Character is Unnecessary?
• What are the Relationships between all the Characters?

• What are the Options?
• How do the Issue Unfolds?
• How can it be solved?
• Is there a way for a non-violent resolution?
• Is there a way for a peaceful resolution?
• What is demanded by the other party?
• Is the demand acceptable?
• Should it be accepted?
• Have they started to be Violent?
• What will make them stop?
• How should they be stopped?
• Where should they be stopped?

Continuity

• Before the Scene
• Where were the Characters before this Scene?
• What was the Precedent Issue?
• Were there Clues that the actual event would happen?
• What were these Clues?
• Could the Character imagine an issue on their way to the actual event?
• What seems odd to the Character?
• Which Paradoxes can she discern?
• Is there anything Stark?
• Is there anything Dangerous to her?

• During the Scene
• Continuity will help you to Get rid of the Dullness.
• By Creating Investment.
• How do we Create Implication?
• What is Remarkable in the Scene?
• What makes us think there will be more?
• What are the Clues?
• What could the follow-up be?
• Where does this scene lead us?
• How does it give us the direction of the rest of the Story?
• How does it make the Characters Change?

• After the Scene
• What has been Triggered in the precedent Scene?
• Which Answers are given in this new Scene?
• How Intricate are they to this Scene?
• To which Story correspond them?
• How Intricate are they to this Story?
• What are the Consequences of this Scene?
• What Repercussions will it have on the Story?
• Is there a sense of Fatality?
• Did the Scene fell Inevitable?
• What creates Confusion in the Character’s mind?
• Can she explain the Event?
• Can she accept the Event?

Diversity of Issues

Diversity will instil a Rhythm to your Story.

• Game
• What’s peculiar with this type of Issue?
• Are there any enemies?
• Are there any people watching us?
• What is this Game blocking us?
• Is it a Puzzle?
• Is it a Riddle?
• How is it a Game?
• Can it be solved?
• How can it be solved?
• What are the Rules?
• Where are they Written?
• Are they understandable?
• Does it have a Reward?
• Does it lock a Door?
• Does it protect anything?
  • Information?
  • Another type of Resource?

• Trap
• Where are we?
• Is there any danger visible?
• Is there any danger perceivable?
• What’s that contraption?
• What does it activate?
• Did we activate it?
• What will become of us?
• Is it a Trap?
• What kind of Trap is it?
• What will it release on us?
  • Acid?
  • Fire?
  • A Creature?
  • Weapons?
  • …

• Enemy
• Are there any living Threats?
• Are there Sentient Threats?
• Are they moving?
• Do they have a Goal?
• Can they respond to the Characters’ assaults?
• How can they respond?
• Can they retaliate?
• Who are there enemies?
• Why are they here?

Diversity of Encounters

Diversity will create a sense of Realism.

• Unusual Encounters
• What does a Typical Encounter look like?
• You can use Typical Encounter to create a sense of Familiarity.
• Then break this Familiarity with an Unusual Encounter.
• What makes an Encounter Unusual?
• Is it the Appearance?
• Is it the Behavior?
• What makes a Creature Unusual?
• Is it a Speaking creature which shouldn’t be able to?
• Is it a Peaceful Creature which suddenly attacks?
• Unusual originates from Paradoxes.
• Which Paradoxes can you Create?

• Stronger Enemy
• What makes an enemy Peculiar?
• What makes her impressive?
• How fast is she?
• How elaborate is she?
• How meticulous is she?
• Does she precipitate herself?
• Does she taunt the Characters?
• Does she interact with them?
• Does she ignore them?
• How do the Characters react?
• Do they face her?
• Do they deal with her?
• Do they try to flee?
  • Do they succeed?

• Enemies Alliances
• What makes an Enemy’s Alliance?
• What makes 2 enemies ally?
• Were they Enemies?
• Or were they the Character’s Enemies?
• Are they from Different Species?
• Are they from Different Organizations?
• How do they relate to each other?
• Why did they Ally?
• What do they win from forming an Alliance?
• What would they Risk?
• What is the Character’s Initial perception of these Enemies?
• How does it change?

• Peaceful Encounters
• What makes an Antagonist?
• Is the Character facing us is an Antagonist?
• Is it Difficult to define?
• Where does the Ambiguity come from?
• Her Behavior?
• Her Appearance?
• Does she look Reassuring?
• Does she look Comforting?

Atmosphere & Expectations

• Environment & Expectations
• How is the Setting like?
• What’s its Function?
• What are its Resources?
• Who frequents it?
• Which Event could Occur there?
• Which Event is supposed to Occur?
• Which Event is supposed never to Occur?
• How Would it impact the Environment?
• What is the Character’s Initial perception of this Environment?
• What is the Character’s Initial perception of its Inhabitants?
• What is the Character’s Initial perception of the other Characters present?
• Which new piece of Information would your Perception of a Character?
• Which new piece of Information would your Perception of a Setting?

• Setting & Consistency
• How do you preserve Consistency?
• Which Environment needs to be used?
• Which Character is supposed to achieve her Goal?
• Which Character is supposed to find what she was looking for?
• How will she find it?
• What else could wait her here?
• What is Expected in the Story?
• What is Expected in each Chapter?
• What would break the Story?
• How do the Characters react to an Unexpected event?
• Are they Defiant?
• Are they in Denial?
• Which Extreme Reactions do they display?
• What is the Event?
• Why shouldn’t it Happen in this Location?

• The Unexpected
• What is the Public not expecting?
• An antagonist that suddenly change sides?
  • Because she was forced to collaborate?
  • Because she was betrayed by her side?
• The Revelation of an Antagonist?
  • She seemed menacing since the beginning and now she ridiculously small?
• The Behavior of the Antagonist?
  • They seemed relentless when you met them at 1st.
  • And now they run away when you enter the room with your Legendary Weapon.
• How Will the Scene End?
  • Who are the Characters involved in this Scene?
  • Should they meet a satisfying end?
  • Why would this end be satisfying for them?