Month: March 2025

Scene Name: Discovering the Purpose of Every Scene

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

What’s really happening in this scene? That’s the first question we ask when we arrive at the Scene Name element in Fictionary’s StoryCoach—and it’s a powerful one.

Scene names might seem like a minor detail, but in reality, they’re one of the most revealing tools for understanding the flow and structure of a novel.

📌 Why Naming Your Scenes Matters

When you name a scene, you’re distilling its essence. You’re identifying the main action, event, or emotional turning point that defines the scene. If you can’t name it clearly and concisely, that’s often a red flag:

  • The scene may lack focus
  • The scene’s goal may be unclear
  • The scene may not actually belong in the story

Naming a scene is like giving it an identity. It makes it easier to track, organize, and evaluate every moment in your manuscript.

✍️ How to Use the Scene Name Element

Here’s how to approach this story element effectively:

🔹 Keep it short – Limit your scene name to three words or fewer.

🔹 Capture the core – Choose something that immediately tells you what the scene is about.

🔹 Use it as a guide – The collection of scene names becomes an outline you can use to evaluate structure, pacing, and chapter themes.

🔹 Struggling to name it? – That may mean the scene is trying to do too much, lacks purpose, or needs to be broken up.

Pro Tip: Use the Word Cloud in StoryCoach for inspiration. Sometimes the right phrase jumps out when you see the most-used terms in the scene.

🧩 Scene Names = Story Map

When you name each scene, your Story Map becomes even more powerful. You can visually scan the list to:

✔ Spot pacing issues

✔ Evaluate story progression

✔ Find chapter themes

✔ Reorder scenes for maximum tension

This process isn’t just editorial—it’s visionary. You’re stepping back and asking, “Is my story doing what I want it to do?”

💬 When to Reevaluate a Scene

If you find yourself stuck trying to name a scene, here are a few possibilities:

  • The scene is unfocused and needs tightening
  • It contains multiple turning points and should be split
  • It’s not connected to the plot or character arc
  • It might just not belong in the manuscript

Scene names can help you spot these issues early—before you get too deep into revisions.

🧠 Advice for Writers

As you revise, ask yourself:

  • What is this scene really about?
  • What’s the dominant action or emotion?
  • If I skimmed the list of scene names, would I grasp the arc of the story?

If not, consider tweaking the names—or even the scenes themselves.

💡 Remember: The scene name is your headline. If the headline doesn’t mean anything, the content probably isn’t hitting its mark.

✏️ Editor’s Insight

As a story coach or editor, I may suggest:

  • Renaming scenes to clarify their purpose
  • Flagging scenes that feel unfocused or overly complex
  • Recommending scene splits based on tangled events
  • Suggesting chapter reshuffling based on thematic unity revealed through scene names

Scene names give you and your editor a shared vocabulary for discussing your story.

🔄 Final Thought

Think of naming your scenes as reverse-engineering your story’s intention. It’s not just about labeling—it’s about clarity, control, and creativity.

A well-named scene helps you:

  • See your story clearly
  • Edit with purpose
  • And build a stronger connection between your scenes and your reader

So before you move on to the next revision step, ask yourself:

👉 Can I name this scene in three words or less?

If not, it might be time to dig a little deeper.

Characters in Motion: Bringing Scenes to Life

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

Every great story moves—not just in plot, but within the scenes themselves. Motion breathes life into characters, making their emotions tangible and their conversations dynamic. Without movement, even the best dialogue can feel static and lifeless.

In today’s post, we’re exploring Characters in Motion, a Fictionary Story Element that helps writers ensure their characters are engaging not just through words, but through actions.

Why Is This Element Important?

A scene may feel flat if the characters aren’t physically moving. Two people sitting and talking, even with great dialogue, lacks the energy of a scene where body language, small actions, and setting interactions enhance the conversation.

Consider how motion can influence storytelling:
✔ Adds Tension – If one character is distracted, pacing, or fidgeting, it can heighten tension.
✔ Reveals Emotion – Instead of saying, “I’m angry,” a character can slam a glass onto a table.
✔ Enhances Personality – How a character moves reveals who they are—graceful, clumsy, anxious, confident.
✔ Engages the Reader – Action breaks up dialogue, preventing long blocks of talking heads.

If the Characters in Motion element is set to “No” in too many scenes, it may indicate a lack of energy, tension, or depth.

Using This Story Element

When analyzing a scene, ask:

  • Are the characters actively engaging with their surroundings?
  • Does motion enhance the dialogue or tension?
  • Is movement showing instead of telling emotions?

💡 Pro Tip: If the characters are sitting and talking for too long, add movement to highlight their mood or relationships.

For example:

🚶‍♂️ Building Tension – A detective interrogating a suspect doesn’t just sit still. He leans forward, taps his fingers, stands abruptly, or paces to unnerve the suspect.

🎭 Revealing Personality – A nervous character may fidget with their sleeves, avoid eye contact, or bite their lip, while a confident one may stand tall and gesture boldly.

😠 Creating Conflict – Instead of saying, “Stop ignoring me!” a frustrated character might slam a door, knock over a chair, or throw a book to demand attention.

When to Give Advice

As an editor (or self-editor), use the Story Map to track motion in scenes. Here’s when to step in:

1. Characters Are Too Still

  • If too many scenes have “No” marked for Characters in Motion, the story may feel static.
  • Suggest adding physical movement to enrich the scene.

2. Dialogue Feels Stagnant

  • If characters talk without movement, dialogue can become monotonous.
  • Recommend subtle actions (sipping coffee, folding laundry, fixing a watch) to add texture.

3. Missed Opportunities for Tension

  • If a scene has emotional weight, but characters aren’t physically reacting, tension diminishes.
  • Suggest actions that intensify emotions (clenched fists, pacing, sudden stillness before an outburst).

Advice for Writers

When revising your manuscript, look at scenes where characters aren’t moving. Ask:

✔ How can I add physical movement to reflect their emotions?
✔ Is the scene more engaging with motion, or is the stillness intentional?
✔ Does the motion add subtext to the conversation?

💡 Editor’s Tip: Use motion to add conflict—one character’s actions can frustrate, distract, or challenge another.

For example:

  • A character trying to confess something urgent is ignored by someone checking their phone, tidying up, or walking away.
  • A teacher scolding a student might drum their fingers on a desk while the student stares at their shoes, shifting from foot to foot.

Final Review: Is Your Story in Motion?

Check your Story Map to see which scenes lack movement. If too many are marked “No”, consider:
✔ Adding body language to enhance dialogue.
✔ Using motion to escalate conflict or tension.
✔ Rewriting static scenes to incorporate more dynamic actions.

By tracking Characters in Motion, you ensure that scenes feel real, immersive, and emotionally charged—keeping your readers hooked from start to finish.

🚀 Next Up: We’ll explore Scene Name and how naming scenes helps sharpen focus and clarity. Stay tuned!

Scene Impact on Protagonist: Tracking the Emotional Journey

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

Every story is driven by the protagonist’s transformation—whether they grow, break, or hold firm against life’s challenges. To keep readers invested in this journey, each scene must impact the protagonist in a meaningful way. In today’s post, we’ll explore Scene Impact on Protagonist, a Fictionary Story Element that helps writers track their protagonist’s emotional arc throughout the novel.

Why Is This Element Important?

A protagonist should never feel static. Even in scenes where they are not physically present, the events of the story should be moving them forward or pushing them back in their external and internal arcs.

The Scene Impact on Protagonist element ensures that every scene contributes to their growth, struggles, or setbacks—ultimately shaping who they become by the story’s end.

Without these emotional shifts, the protagonist risks feeling flat, predictable, or unconvincing, which can weaken the reader’s connection to them.

Using This Story Element

When evaluating each scene, ask:

  1. How does this scene affect the protagonist?
  2. Is the impact positive, negative, or neutral?
    • Positive Impact (+): The protagonist moves closer to achieving their story goal or experiences an emotional win.
    • Negative Impact (−): The protagonist faces a setback, an emotional blow, or a new obstacle.
    • Neutral Impact (0): The scene has no real effect on the protagonist’s journey—this can signal a weak or unnecessary scene.

💡 Pro Tip: Even if the protagonist isn’t in a scene, their story goal should still be affected by what happens. If a scene has zero impact on the protagonist, it may not be necessary.

When to Give Advice

As an editor (or self-editor), use the Story Map to track how the protagonist’s emotional arc unfolds. Here’s when to step in:

1. The Protagonist Feels Flat or Unbelievable

  • If a character seems emotionally disengaged, check whether they are reacting to the events around them.
  • If they never struggle, doubt themselves, or show vulnerability, they might not feel relatable.

2. Too Many Similar Emotions in a Row

  • If a protagonist has a series of “+” scenes, they may not be facing enough conflict or obstacles.
  • If they have a string of “−” scenes, the story may feel too heavy or repetitive.
  • A mix of highs and lows creates a compelling emotional arc.

3. Neutral Impact (Too Many ‘0’s)

  • If a scene does not affect the protagonist in any way, question whether it belongs in the story.
  • Every scene should either challenge the protagonist or give them momentum toward their goal.

Advice for Writers

When revising your manuscript, consider:

  • Does the protagonist’s emotional arc match your original vision?
  • Have they experienced incremental growth, setbacks, or breakthroughs?
  • Are their emotional reactions appropriately timed?
    • Example: If your protagonist starts off afraid of commitment, don’t have them suddenly embrace love too soon. Let them struggle with their fear before overcoming it at the right moment.

Final Review: Is the Emotional Journey Balanced?

Use the Story Map to check your protagonist’s emotional trajectory. A well-structured novel will have a mix of victories, failures, and moments of reflection to create a realistic and engaging character arc.

💡 Editor’s Tip: If the protagonist’s emotional journey feels off, consider adjusting the order of scenes or strengthening their reactions to key events.

By tracking Scene Impact on Protagonist, writers ensure that their protagonist’s journey is compelling, believable, and emotionally engaging—keeping readers invested until the very last page.

🚀 Next Up: We’ll dive into Characters in Motion, exploring how action and movement influence storytelling. Stay tuned!

Scene Impact on POV Character: Tracking the Emotional Arc

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge!

Every scene in a novel should have an impact on the Point of View (POV) character. Whether it’s a moment of triumph, a devastating loss, or a shift in perspective, these emotional beats create a dynamic character arc that keeps readers engaged. In today’s post, we’ll explore Scene Impact on POV Character—a crucial Fictionary Story Element that helps writers track how each scene affects their characters emotionally.

Why Is This Element Important?

It’s impossible to track a character’s emotional journey without analyzing how each scene affects them. Readers connect with characters who grow, struggle, and change, and that emotional depth is built scene by scene. If a character’s emotions remain static or inconsistent, they can come across as flat or unconvincing.

The Scene Impact on POV Character element ensures that every scene moves the story forward—not just in terms of plot, but in terms of character growth.

Using This Story Element

When reading a scene, ask yourself:

  • By the end of the scene, has the emotional impact on the POV character been positive or negative?
  • If it’s positive, mark it as “+” in your story analysis.
  • If it’s negative, mark it as “-”.
  • If the scene has no emotional impact, mark it as “0” (but beware—neutral scenes often slow the story down).

For a first-person novel, this element may overlap with Impact on Protagonist, so you may not need to track it separately.

💡 Pro Tip: If your story has multiple POV characters, track each one separately to ensure their emotional journeys are distinct and well-paced.

When to Give Advice

As an editor (or self-editor), use the Story Map to analyze emotional consistency across scenes. Here’s when to step in:

  1. Characters Feel Flat – If a character seems emotionally detached or their reactions feel generic, the story might not be diving deep enough into their perspective.
  2. Too Many Similar Emotions in a Row – If multiple scenes have the same emotional impact (e.g., a string of + or – scenes), the story may lack emotional variation, making it predictable or draining.
  3. No Emotional Impact (Too Many ‘0’s) – If a scene doesn’t affect the POV character in any way, it might not belong in the story. Every scene should move the plot forward or shape the character.

Advice for Writers

When evaluating each scene, ask: Does this emotion match my character’s arc?

  • If the character flaw at the start of the story is fear of commitment, don’t let them suddenly embrace love halfway through. Growth should be incremental—small wins, small setbacks.
  • If a scene unexpectedly shifts a character’s emotions, make sure it’s earned. Does the change feel natural based on previous events?
  • If the protagonist’s arc lacks variation, add emotional highs and lows to keep the reader engaged.

Final Review: Are the Emotions Balanced?

Use the Story Map to check the emotional trajectory of each POV character. A well-paced novel will have positive and negative impacts interwoven, ensuring a compelling emotional arc.

🔎 Editor’s Tip: If too many scenes are marked +, consider adding tension, obstacles, or moments of self-doubt. If too many scenes are marked –, consider adding moments of relief or small victories.

By tracking Scene Impact on POV Character, writers can create characters that feel real—characters who react, struggle, and grow in ways that keep readers turning the pages.

🚀 Next Up: We’ll explore how Scene Impact on Protagonist takes character tracking to the next level. Stay tuned!