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.
The Pencil Driven Life 