Scenes

The term "Scene" is used for convenience. Throughout the program you could exchange the use of that word with "chapter." "Scene" is just used as a term to designate a small piece of a story. It has no bearing on whether you're working with a Novel, Screenplay, or Short Story.

Here's a full screen picture of the Scene screen.

Scenes are easy to set up. Before you can create one, though, you need to have an all ready made a Story entry. Your Story

doesn't need to be completely filled in. It only needs to be put into the system. Just entering a Story title and hitting the Save button is enough.

The first you need to do to start creating a new scene is to hit the Add button on the toolbar. This button creates space for a new scene. Then hit the down arrow to the right of the Story Title section of Scenes, then select the story who's scenes you'd like to add to. If you'd like to change a scene from being in one Story to another Story, simply go to the Story title area for the scene and select from the drop down list the story you'd like it to be a part of now. It's done.

As you'd probably imagine, hitting the Delete button, removes the current scene.

At your convenience you may want to print out your story/stories. If you'd like to print your currently selected scenes simply press the Print button on the toolbar.

If you would like to select one particular story who's scenes you'd like to work on, press the Find button. This will take you to a lookup screen. Here, double click, or select the story who's scenes you'd like to see alone then press the OK button. This will set the program to have only the selected story's scenes displayed. If you'd like to go back and see all your scenes, simply repeat the before mentioned tasks to get to the Lookup Screen, then hit the 'Select All' checkbox, then hit OK.

This program is put together so you rarely need to hit the Save button. Usually, after you enter information into a section and move into another section, your work is saved. Also, if you find things aren't staying like you expect, feel free to hit the Save button at your convenience.

To go to Characters, hit the Character button, or select it from the menu under 'View', then under that at 'Character'.

To go to Stories, hit the Story button, or select it from the menu under 'View', then under that at 'Story'.

To get through your entries use the following buttons: . If you'd like to see the first scene in the system, depending on which group you have currently selected, hit the First button. if you'd like to see back one scene hit the Back button. If you'd like to see the next scene in the system hit the Next button. And, if you'd like to see the last scene hit the Last button.

Below is an explanation of most of the available scene items the system can keep track of for you. Only the most nonobvious ones are listed and explained here.

Scene Piece Description

Scene Number What scene/chapter number is this? Don't worry if you don't know exactly where it will end up when you are done with your story. Simply keep the scenes in the correct numerical order. First, you must make sure you only have the story who's scenes/chapters you are working on loaded into the system. To do this, hit the Find button. Then double click on or select your story choice then hit the OK button to select the story you'd like to work on. Then, when you'd like the program to automatically renumber your scenes/chapters in order with one number between each scene/chapter, simply hit the Renumber Scripts button. The program will do the rest. You must have your story selected alone, though, for this feature to work. If you'd like to go back to seeing all your scenes/chapters simply hit the Find button, check "Select All" then hit OK.

Hint: If you'd like to put a scene/chapter between two numbers, such as 2 and 3, simply for example give the scene/chapter the Scene number of '2.5'. The system will correctly interpret it when it comes time to renumbering. Feel free to use other 'x.x' numbers to further put in Scene numbers between two whole numbers.

Time What time does the scene/chapter take place?

Description Give a brief description of what happens in the scene.

Scene Goal What are you, or your characters, trying to accomplish in the scene/chapter?

Scene Result How does the scene/chapter end up turning out?

Who Between Who is the scene's conflict fought, argued, or otherwise, between?

Where Where does the scene take place?

Superior Position What does the audience know in this scene that the character's don't? This is a way to increase anticipation in the audience.

Curiosity What in the scene happens/is happening that the audience can be curious about?

Anticipation How or what is happening in the scene to cause the audience to get excited or anxious?

Threat To Character What is happending to the character(s) to put them in danger? This is a way to increase audience excitement.

Teach Audience Is there anything the audience learns in the scene that they probably didn't all ready know. For instance, a character could be jewel thief and discuss with another character how they steal the finest of gems.

Identification What about the character is there that the audience can relate to? Such as someone who's hard working but unnoticed, etc?

Humor What happens in the scene that is funny? Anything?

Foreshadowing What happens in the scene to give us a clue as to future events? For instance, a child steals something and enjoys doing it. Is this the start of a life of crime and stealing?

Surprise What happens in the scene that is a surprise to the audience?

Why Read? Why does the audience want to go through this scene, and what about it will they like?

Notes/Scene Outline This is an area where you can go into fairly good detail go over what you would like to do in the scene.

These are merely available areas for you to fill in for your scene. Each is an option but hoped to help you turn the dream of your story into a reality.

Copyright 1999 by C Solutions, Inc

Send mail to admin@writers-toolbox.com with questions or comments about this web site.

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Scene Piece	Description
Scene Number	What scene/chapter number is this? Don't worry if you don't know exactly where it will end up when you are done with your story. Simply keep the scenes in the correct numerical order. First, you must make sure you only have the story who's scenes/chapters you are working on loaded into the system. To do this, hit the Find button. Then double click on or select your story choice then hit the OK button to select the story you'd like to work on. Then, when you'd like the program to automatically renumber your scenes/chapters in order with one number between each scene/chapter, simply hit the Renumber Scripts button. The program will do the rest. You must have your story selected alone, though, for this feature to work. If you'd like to go back to seeing all your scenes/chapters simply hit the Find button, check "Select All" then hit OK. Hint: If you'd like to put a scene/chapter between two numbers, such as 2 and 3, simply for example give the scene/chapter the Scene number of '2.5'. The system will correctly interpret it when it comes time to renumbering. Feel free to use other 'x.x' numbers to further put in Scene numbers between two whole numbers.
Time	What time does the scene/chapter take place?
Description	Give a brief description of what happens in the scene.
Scene Goal	What are you, or your characters, trying to accomplish in the scene/chapter?
Scene Result	How does the scene/chapter end up turning out?
Who Between	Who is the scene's conflict fought, argued, or otherwise, between?
Where	Where does the scene take place?
Superior Position	What does the audience know in this scene that the character's don't? This is a way to increase anticipation in the audience.
Curiosity	What in the scene happens/is happening that the audience can be curious about?
Anticipation	How or what is happening in the scene to cause the audience to get excited or anxious?
Threat To Character	What is happending to the character(s) to put them in danger? This is a way to increase audience excitement.
Teach Audience	Is there anything the audience learns in the scene that they probably didn't all ready know. For instance, a character could be jewel thief and discuss with another character how they steal the finest of gems.
Identification	What about the character is there that the audience can relate to? Such as someone who's hard working but unnoticed, etc?
Humor	What happens in the scene that is funny? Anything?
Foreshadowing	What happens in the scene to give us a clue as to future events? For instance, a child steals something and enjoys doing it. Is this the start of a life of crime and stealing?
Surprise	What happens in the scene that is a surprise to the audience?
Why Read?	Why does the audience want to go through this scene, and what about it will they like?
Notes/Scene Outline	This is an area where you can go into fairly good detail go over what you would like to do in the scene.


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