The creative world of books with their wild imaginings, insightful commentaries, and lavish escapes extends a measure of seduction to those it calls to that isn’t quite matched by anything else. But what exactly is it about the literary world that draws us into those stories? Is it the development of the characters? Yes, maybe. Or the scenic descriptions of faraway lands and shifts in time? They’re definitely in the running. Or, just maybe, it’s the plot that truly reels us in? I can certainly see why one might go there. All of these aspects of stories are essential and invaluable. Yet, there is another duo that proves itself to be just as essential, if not more so—scene and structure.
What exactly are scene and structure? Jack M. Bickham defines them in his book Scene & Structure, a part of the Elements of Fiction Writing series, as “a segment of story action, written moment-by-moment, without summary, presented onstage in the story ‘now’” and “a way of looking at your story material so that it’s organized in a way that’s both logical and dramatic” (Bickham 1993, 1, 23), respectively. In layman’s terms, a scene is the equivalent of a room in a house and structure is essentially the layout applied to that room, the two things working together to yield order and organization.
This article is not by any means intended to provide you with a detailed instruction on scene and structure—their purpose, use, and common forms of expression—as Bickham’s book does a more than satisfactory job of covering that. The focus here is on providing you with my take on Bickham’s book, so let’s jump right in.
Bickham pulls no punches by starting his text with a brief history of the structure of modern fiction, rounded out by a detailed foray into cause and effect and stimulus and response, followed by a journey through the ins and outs of scenes and sequels—the foundational basics and the ways in which those rules can be bent and restructured once mastered. He encourages novices to adhere to the rules as they gain their bearings and become more comfortable with the process, while also admonishing them to not hold so tightly to the rules once they become second nature that they sacrifice opportunities to adapt in ways that will grossly benefit their specific manuscript because of a fear of deviating from set literary expectations. He touts the benefits of taking the time to first get to know how to properly construct scenes and sequels, with sequels being the literary tools that link scenes together in a manuscript, and then discovering how to manipulate those scenes and sequels so that they help you tell the best version of your story, one that satisfies both the writer and the reader.
He continues to aid writers of fiction, novices and experts alike, with their adventure in formatting their manuscript by providing helpful tips and processes to follow to reduce the likelihood of neglecting to include key elements for fiction manuscripts. In this vein, he shares tools such as a game plan that is intended to assist writers with practically organizing and developing their story, effectively putting them in the driver’s seat of their manuscript’s destiny while also equipping them with the resources that they need to ensure that fatal accidents are avoided.
One of the many benefits of Bickham’s approach to the subject matter of this book is the relatable language that he uses. He certainly makes use of a number of words that novice readers might need to consult with a dictionary or Google to learn the meaning of them, but he wholly leans on diction and phrasing that is relatable, straightforward, and clear. Applicable and realistic examples further make the material reachable by the reader, showing the reader that not only is what he is sharing with them something that is achievable by him, but it’s also something that they, too, can achieve. He uses language that is relatable and professional, yet not snooty. The content is within the scope of what is necessary and appropriate for the book’s subject matter. And his years of experience and abundance of skill are evident in the quality of the information that he provides and the conciseness and preciseness that he incorporates in his delivery.
The skinny of it is that Scene & Structure is overall well-written and highly approachable, a beneficial resource for any writer of fiction. I’ve had the privilege of grappling with its content and working my way through its application to my own work, and both my work and I are the better for it. And I think Bickham’s book just might work wonders for you too. Why not give it a read and let me know what you think? I must admit that I’m already intrigued. Be blessed. #sanguinemango
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References
Bickham, Jack M. 1993. Scene & Structure. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.
Sanguine Mango 