The Pencil-Driven Life

Molly Anderson: A Voice That Refuses to Be Silenced

Here’s more about my latest novel–Millie’s Daughter.

Every once in a while, a character walks into a story and surprises you.

You think you know what role they’ll play. You think they’re just the daughter, just the sidekick, just the kid.

And then they start speaking.

And you realize: they’re the soul of the story.

That’s who Molly Anderson is in Millie’s Daughter.

She’s more than the girl Millie is trying to protect. She’s more than a victim of circumstance. She’s more than her age.

She’s the reason Millie runs. She’s the reason the reader stays. She’s the one whose quiet observations and buried questions ripple through the entire novel.

Writing a Child Who Sees Too Much

Molly is twelve when Millie’s Daughter begins—but life has forced her to grow up early.

She doesn’t have the language for everything she’s witnessed. She doesn’t always know how to express what she’s feeling. But she knows.

She knows something is deeply wrong in their home. She knows her mother is afraid but trying to hide it. She knows to stay quiet when Colton is drinking and to disappear when voices rise.

And yet, she is not broken.

Molly reads. She writes. She thinks in metaphors and keeps a small notebook where she sketches her thoughts—little stories, reflections, lists of questions she’s too scared to ask out loud.

In a way, Molly is the novelist inside the novel.

Why Molly Matters So Much

For me, Molly represents what survives.

When everything else is stripped away—safety, comfort, normalcy—what remains is this irrepressible spirit. This fire.

She challenges Millie without even realizing it. She grounds the story when the danger escalates. And in the end, she’s the one who carries it forward.

Molly isn’t perfect. She’s impulsive. She’s scared. She sometimes retreats into silence or fantasy. But that’s what makes her real. And it’s also what makes her brave.

A Glimpse of Molly

Here’s a moment from early in the novel, just after she and Millie have left Chicago behind and are waiting at a rundown bus station:

“You think he’ll find us?” Millie looked at her, startled. “No. No, honey. We’re safe.” Molly nodded and turned her gaze back to the vending machines. She didn’t believe her. But she didn’t want her to lie better. She just wanted to get on the bus.

This line always gets me. Because in it, Molly does what so many children do: she sees the truth, understands the stakes, and chooses—out of love—not to press any further.

Looking Ahead

Molly’s voice deepens as the novel unfolds. And though Millie’s Daughter is told in third person, it’s Molly’s emotional growth that quietly steals the show.

In the next post, I’ll be sharing more about the novel’s upcoming release—what you can expect, where it will be available, and what kind of experience I hope it gives you as a reader.

But for now, I’d love to know:

Have you ever read a novel where the child wasn’t just present—but essential? One whose voice stuck with you long after the story ended?

Let me know in the comments—or just hit reply if you’re receiving this via email.

Until next time, —Richard

Scene Opening Type: Hooking the Reader from Line One

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

What’s the first thing your reader sees when they start a new scene?

If your answer is “uh… description, probably?”—you might be missing a key opportunity to grab their attention.

The Scene Opening Type is one of the most underrated elements in storytelling, yet it plays a huge role in pacing, tone, and reader engagement. With Fictionary’s StoryCoach, this becomes a trackable—and improvable—element of your craft.

🧩 What Is Scene Opening Type?

Every scene in your novel begins one of four ways:

Dialogue – A character speaks
Thought – A character reflects or reacts internally
Description – The setting or surroundings are introduced
Action – Something physical happens

Each of these has its strengths, and a well-written novel uses a variety of them to keep the storytelling dynamic and engaging.

💡 Why It Matters

Readers subconsciously look for momentum. The first line of a scene tells them whether they’re about to plunge into conflict, reflect on emotion, or learn something new about the setting.

If every scene starts the same way—especially with description—the story starts to feel static. Predictable. Easy to skim. And for writers, that’s dangerous territory.

A good balance of scene openings ensures:

Tighter pacing
Better engagement
Clearer shifts in tone and purpose

✍️ How to Use This Element in Fictionary

In StoryCoach, you’ll tag each scene’s opening type using the drop-down menu under the Plot tab on the Evaluate page.

Here’s how to identify the opening:

✅ Dialogue

“Don’t touch my dog,” Susan said.
💬 If the first sentence includes speech—even with a tag—it’s dialogue.

✅ Thought

Since Lance didn’t like personal messages on his cell, Shannon wrote a note.
🧠 If it starts in a character’s head, it’s thought.

✅ Description

The sun rose over the Atlantic, the waves breaking like glass.
🌅 Any narrative that sets the scene visually is description.

✅ Action

Jake scrambled forward and pulled Shannon’s tether.
🏃 Movement without speech or internal commentary = action.

Once you’ve tagged each scene, visit the Scene Opening Types insight on the Visualize page to see your balance. Is it weighted heavily toward one type? Could that type be used more strategically?

⚠️ When to Reconsider a Scene Opening

If you notice:

A string of scenes starting with the same type (especially description)
Your genre demands more motion or tension early
Readers may be confused about who’s speaking or acting
The opening doesn’t match the tone or purpose of the scene

…it’s time to revise.

Example:
If your protagonist just experienced a traumatic loss and the next scene begins with a scenic panorama of the beach, you might be dulling the emotional impact. Try opening with thought or action to keep the emotional momentum.

🧠 Advice for Writers

Here’s a quick guide based on scene intent:

Scene Purpose	Recommended Opening Type
Emotional Reaction	Thought
Conflict or Danger	Action
Revelation or Conversation	Dialogue
Grounding in New Setting	Description

🎯 Tip: When using thought or dialogue, don’t delay revealing who else is in the scene. Readers need quick grounding to stay oriented.

📖 Genre Matters:

A thriller might rely more on action and thought.
A literary novel may favor description and internal reflection.
A romance could open scenes with emotional thought or interpersonal dialogue.
A YA mystery might benefit from rapid alternation between action and clues.

🔄 Final Thought

You’ve got one line to hook your reader—use it well.

The Scene Opening Type doesn’t just set the tone—it determines whether your scene surges forward or stumbles at the gate. With Fictionary, you can track, balance, and refine this element until every opening hits just right.

Millie Anderson: Strength in Silence

If you passed her on the street, you might not notice her.

She doesn’t beg for attention. She doesn’t command the room. She doesn’t crack jokes to make you like her.

But Millie Anderson doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful.

She is the heartbeat of Millie’s Daughter. And if you let her in, she just might stay with you forever.

The Woman Behind the Escape

When readers first meet Millie, she’s not in the middle of some grand transformation. She’s in survival mode. She’s hiding bruises under makeup. She’s quietly transferring money into a hidden account. She’s tucking her daughter into bed at night while watching the door.

What struck me while writing her is that strength doesn’t always look like strength.

Sometimes it looks like folding laundry while planning an escape. Sometimes it looks like applying for a job in another city while pretending everything’s fine. Sometimes it looks like protecting your child at the cost of your sanity.

Millie is doing all of that—and more.

Writing a Woman Who Refused to Break

Writing Millie wasn’t easy.

She’s guarded. She keeps her thoughts close. She doesn’t want to be pitied. And she doesn’t always make “perfect” decisions—because no one in real danger ever does.

But she’s also:

Brilliant in her planning
Fierce in her loyalty
Unflinchingly honest with herself, even when it hurts

Millie also lives with bipolar II disorder, something she never uses as an excuse—but never hides either. Her highs and lows are real. They color her judgment, complicate her escape, and challenge her recovery. But they also add to her humanity.

She is not her diagnosis. She is not her trauma. She is a mother who refuses to let her daughter grow up afraid.

My Favorite Line from Millie (So Far)

“I don’t care if the judge believes me. I don’t care if the world believes me. I just care that Molly never has to see his face again.”

It’s lines like that—raw, simple, protective—that remind me why I had to write this book.

Want a Glimpse into Her World?

Here’s a short excerpt from early in the novel, when Millie has just made the final decision to flee:

Millie stood at the edge of the bed, watching Molly sleep. Her chest rose and fell, slow and steady, and Millie imagined time freezing right there—no Colton, no deadlines, no fear. Just a child, safe under blankets she didn’t know were packed for leaving. She swallowed hard, knowing what came next. Once they walked out that door, nothing would ever be the same. But staying? That wasn’t an option anymore. “I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered. “We’re running because I love you. And someday, you’ll understand what that means.”

Coming Up Next

In the next post, I’ll introduce you to Molly—the daughter at the center of it all. She’s wise beyond her years, carries a fierce sense of justice, and has a gift for seeing through people’s masks.

If Millie is the novel’s heart, Molly is its voice.

Thanks for reading—and if Millie has already left a mark on you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

—Richard

Fictionary Story Elements: Purpose

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

Why Every Scene Must Pull Its Weight

In fiction, there’s no room for fluff. Readers are sharp. They expect every scene to mean something—and when one doesn’t, they feel it. That’s why Fictionary’s “Purpose” story element is so essential.

If a scene doesn’t drive the plot or develop characters, it’s not just a missed opportunity—it might be a story-stopper.

🎯 What Is the “Purpose” of a Scene?

The Purpose refers to the reason a scene exists. It answers this question:

Why is this scene in the story at all?

A well-structured novel has a clear purpose behind every scene, whether it’s introducing a new character, building tension, establishing a setting, or dropping a vital clue. A purposeless scene might wander or feel disconnected. Worse—it might bore the reader.

That’s why we ask:
Does this scene earn its place?

🛠 How Fictionary Helps You Identify Scene Purpose

In StoryCoach, you can assign a purpose to each scene via a dropdown menu on the Evaluate page. Choose from common options like:

Develop Character
Move the Plot Forward
Build Suspense
Establish Mood or Setting
Introduce or Develop Conflict
Reveal a Clue or Red Herring

Can’t figure out the purpose? Choose “Don’t Know Yet.” This doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’ve identified a potential problem. And that’s progress.

On the Story Map, you can sort by Scene Name and Purpose to visualize whether your scenes are balanced and purposeful—or whether some need attention.

⚠️ When to Revisit a Scene’s Purpose

Here are red flags that a scene needs reworking:

You can’t name it in three words or fewer.
You don’t know its purpose after reading.
It contains multiple competing purposes.
It doesn’t advance the plot, character arc, or theme.
It feels like filler—even if the writing is good.

Sometimes, the solution is to split a bloated scene into two. Other times, you might combine two weaker scenes into one with a clearer, stronger purpose. And occasionally, yes—cutting the scene is the best move.

Pro tip: Don’t delete it forever. Save it in a “deleted scenes” file. You may use it in another novel or repurpose it later.

✍️ Writer’s Takeaway

When you revise your manuscript, ask yourself:

Can I name this scene in three words or fewer?
What job is this scene doing for my story?
Is every element—from setting to dialogue—working toward that goal?

If the answer isn’t clear, take a closer look. Strong scenes have a focused, intentional purpose—and when you link that purpose to other story elements like Tension, Conflict, and POV Goal, you create a story that feels tight, immersive, and hard to put down.

🔍 Editor’s Insight

As editors, we flag any scene with unclear purpose using “Don’t Know Yet” in StoryCoach. When three or more scenes lack purpose, that’s a structural issue we’ll address in the summary letter. When it’s just one or two, we’ll leave notes directly on the scene for guidance.

Purpose isn’t just one element among many—it’s the glue that holds the rest of the scene together.

Why Millie Had to Run – And Why I Had to Write Her Story

There are stories we tell because they’re fun.

There are stories we tell because they won’t leave us alone.

And then there are stories like Millie’s Daughter—stories we tell because, if we don’t, we’re not being honest. Not with ourselves, not with the world, and not with the people we write for.

This is one of those stories.

Millie Anderson didn’t arrive in my imagination all at once. She crept in gradually, quiet and guarded, much like the way she moves through the first pages of this novel. I didn’t set out to write about domestic abuse. I didn’t plan to write a novel with a knife pressed against the throat of a mother’s love. But once Millie appeared—scarred, brilliant, determined—I couldn’t look away.

She had to leave. She had to run. And I had to follow.

What Millie’s Daughter Is About—And What It’s Really About

On the surface, Millie’s Daughter is a suspenseful story about escape: a mother and daughter flee an abusive partner and try to rebuild their lives in New York. But at its core, this book is about something deeper—something more haunting.

It’s about what happens after the escape. It’s about what courage looks like when you’re still afraid. It’s about a mother’s quiet resolve, a child’s growing awareness, and the brutal cost of breaking free from someone who refuses to let go.

Millie is intelligent. She’s resourceful. She’s a dedicated mother. But she’s also a woman with bipolar II disorder navigating trauma, guilt, and uncertainty. That duality is what drew me in—and what made writing her story so important.

Why This Story Matters to Me

I’ve spent much of my life in the world of law and logic—working as a CPA, then as an attorney, and now as a story coach and novelist. But no amount of logic prepares you for the emotional terrain of writing about a woman trying to keep herself and her child alive, both physically and emotionally.

In some ways, Millie’s Daughter is the most emotionally honest book I’ve written. It carries within it not just suspense and heartbreak, but also flickers of grace—tiny moments of tenderness and light that keep Millie and Molly moving forward.

And maybe that’s the real story here: the refusal to surrender to darkness, even when it’s all around you.

One Final Thought

As I prepare to release Millie’s Daughter in just a couple of weeks, I’m inviting you to walk this road with me. In the next few blog posts, I’ll be introducing you to Millie, to her daughter Molly, and to the world they’re fighting to survive in.

But for today, I want to leave you with a question:

What fictional character’s escape story has stayed with you the longest—and why?

Leave a comment below if you’d like. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we begin this journey together.

—Richard

Story Arc: Crafting a Structure That Keeps Readers Turning Pages

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge.

We’ve all read stories that hook us early, build suspense through the middle, and deliver an unforgettable ending. That kind of pacing doesn’t happen by accident—it’s a product of solid structure, and in the world of story coaching, that means understanding the Story Arc.

Fictionary’s Story Arc isn’t a formula—it’s a framework. A way to make sure your story delivers what readers crave: forward momentum, rising tension, and meaningful change.

🧭 Why the Story Arc Matters

The Fictionary Story Arc draws from thousands of years of storytelling tradition. It helps writers and editors evaluate a manuscript’s shape, ensuring the key events happen in a sequence—and at a pace—that keeps readers invested.

A compelling story arc includes five pivotal scenes:

Inciting Incident
Plot Point One
Middle Event
Plot Point Two
Climax

Each event plays a distinct and necessary role in your protagonist’s journey. When one is missing—or out of place—readers may not know why, but they’ll feel something’s off.

📊 Using the Story Arc Element in Fictionary

When you import your manuscript into StoryCoach, it takes a first pass at identifying these key events. But ultimately, it’s up to you—the writer or editor—to decide which scenes truly anchor the story.

If the automatically tagged key scenes make sense, great! But if not, you can revise:

Use the Evaluate Page to update scene purposes
Adjust scene positioning to bring major events into the right ranges
Use the Visualize Page to track the Story Arc and see how your story flows

⏱ Ideal Placement of Key Scenes

Here’s a quick reference for where your five key scenes should generally land:

Scene Type	Ideal Range
Inciting Incident	0–15%
Plot Point One	~25%
Middle	~50%
Plot Point Two	~75%
Climax	85–95%

These aren’t rigid rules—they’re guideposts. But straying too far from them without purpose can slow your story or confuse readers.

🔍 Let’s Look at Each Scene in Detail

1️⃣ Inciting Incident

This is the moment that disrupts your protagonist’s ordinary world and introduces the central problem. 📍 Should occur in the first 15% 💡 Tip: Let readers experience it—don’t just summarize it in backstory.

2️⃣ Plot Point One

The point of no return. Your protagonist decides to engage with the conflict. 📍 Should occur around 25% 💡 Example: Luke Skywalker chooses to leave Tatooine. He’s all in.

3️⃣ Middle (Midpoint Shift)

The story shifts. Your protagonist stops reacting and starts acting. 📍 Occurs around the 50% mark 💡 Example: Dorothy discovers the Wizard is just a man behind a curtain—and changes course.

4️⃣ Plot Point Two

Your protagonist hits a low point. They’ve tried, and things just got worse. 📍 Usually around 75% 💡 Sometimes called: “Dark Night of the Soul” or “All Is Lost”

5️⃣ Climax

The ultimate test. Your protagonist must face their biggest obstacle and determine their own fate. 📍 Typically occurs at 90% 💡 Must Include: The protagonist. This is their moment.

🎯 Resolution

Everything that happens after the climax. Tie up loose ends. Offer payoff. Show change.

📌 When to Reevaluate Your Arc

Your story may need attention if:

A key event is missing
A key event happens too early or late
A key event feels emotionally flat
The protagonist isn’t present during pivotal moments

The Story Arc isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about building an emotional journey that lands.

🧠 Advice for Writers

As you revise your manuscript:

Map the five key scenes using Fictionary’s Story Arc insight
Ask: Is my protagonist at the center of each one?
Consider pacing: Do these events escalate tension and raise the stakes?
Use scene names and purpose tags to double-check placement and focus

If a scene doesn’t move the arc forward, ask yourself—does it really belong?

🔄 Final Thought

A great story doesn’t just wander—it builds. It compels. It climaxes. The Story Arc is the narrative engine that makes that possible.

Structure your novel with intention—and give readers a story they’ll feel in their bones.

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:

How does this scene affect the protagonist?
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:

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.
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.
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!