Scene change vs. goal

scribbler1382 · Nov 28, 2007

Okay, I think I've been doing too much Tech Writing today. Somebody defibrillate the cheese in my head.

What's the difference between a scene goal and the change you want to see come about in every scene. Wouldn't the goal BE the change?

Hep me....pease.

ACEnders · Nov 28, 2007

Wouldn't the goal be what you want to occur because of the change? I'm not sure, but that's my guess.

scribbler1382 · Nov 28, 2007

"I think some cobwebs shook loose on that last jolt, Dr. Frankenstein."

I'm mixing up what the writer sees as a goal for a scene and what the POV character's goal is. I think. For example, the POV character is being interviewed by the cops but all he wants is to get to the track in time to make a bet on a sure thing. The change, I guess, would be by the end of the interview, making a bet is the last thing he wants to do.

Or something like that. Jeez. I think I need more fish in my diet.

TheIT · Nov 28, 2007

Jim Butcher's LiveJournal entries discuss this. Read it from the bottom up, but the section I'm thinking about is where he talks about getting out of the wolverine pits:

http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/

The goal a character has when entering the scene can change upon exiting the scene.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 28, 2007

Wait. Every scene is supposed to have a goal?

TheIT · Nov 28, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
Wait. Every scene is supposed to have a goal?

A character has a goal which drives the scene. Results are 1) goal achieved, 2) goal achieved, but..., 3) goal failed, or 4) goal failed, and something else happens.

Scene change vs. goal

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

ACEnders

Self-Banned

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical