You’ll learn epic techniques that most writers don’t use when writing scenes.
Forget everything everyone tells you about writing scenes. For example, “Your protagonist must always have a goal in a scene against a powerful opponent.”
As we’ve already discussed in our article why most advice on how to write scenes is wrong, this isn’t always the case.
We wish we had known how to write a scene years ago…
One of the biggest problems we have when writing scenes is that they don’t “turn.” This means there are no emotional or dramatic “reversals” from bad to good in the scene. Or vice versa.
Most scenarios don’t start with a positive value and end with a positive value. Or start with a negative value and end with a negative value. Instead, most scenes “transform.” That is, from:
positive (+) is a negative number (-)
or negative number (-) to positive (+)
What if Jim starts kissing Brenda? (+) Then things could end in a negative way, like him being dumped (-).
Or if it started with Jim arguing with Brenda because he forgot their anniversary (-) Then it’s better to end with something positive, like them making out (+).
End the scene opposite the starting position.
When writing a scene, it’s usually best to end it in the opposite position from where it starts. Otherwise, its purpose may be seriously questioned. This transition from positive to negative or vice versa is called Scene reversal.
A major scene twist is a surprising turn of events that leads directly to the scene’s climax. It’s “Wow, I didn’t see that That The coming moment” right at the end completely changes the course of the scene, both in a large way and in a subtle way.
So far, everything is going in one direction, and then BAM! On reversal, it goes in the exact opposite direction.
When writing a scene, Reversal is necessary Help keep the reader’s interest by changing the fate of the scene’s protagonist from good to bad, or vice versa.
The key to writing a shocking scene is: reversal.
For example, here’s one of our favorite scene reversals in the movie American Beauty. Near the end of the film, the Colonel visits Lester in his garage.
We know the Colonel is a violent thug who treats his home like a boot camp. We expect him to lash out at Lester for what he sees as his seduction of his son Ricky.
Things get tense when the Colonel asks Lester about his marriage, but then… he grabs Lester and kisses him. Now, that is reverse.
Writing a scene with a twist makes things interesting.
Many aspiring screenwriters fail to take advantage of such reversals when writing their scenes. But without them, they tend to fail.
Know what you want the outcome of the scene to be and start it exactly the opposite way. This way, you can add a reversal near the end, flipping the scene to the desired position.
reason for doing this American Beauty The reason why the example is so strong is that it is a major character reveal also Scenario reversed. It would be even better if you could write the scene to take advantage of both reversals and reversals of character development.
Use “external forces” to write a scene.
Often, but not always, reversals in a scenario occur in the following form: force from outside. In this case, a reversal is when another character (usually) or thing suddenly enters the scene. This takes things in a completely different direction.
An example comes from Annie Hall.
One of our favorite “outside force” reversals comes from Woody Allen’s, Annie Hall. It takes place in a scene near the beginning of a movie theater.
Alvey and Anne got into an argument while waiting in line to buy tickets. Alvey ended up scolding a man behind him for pontificating on Marshall McLuhan’s work when he knew nothing about it.
When Alvi walks out of the line to produce real Marshall McLuhan immediately put the man in his place. Alvey then turns to the camera and exclaims: “Kid, if only this was what life was like.”
An example comes from pulp Fiction.
Another example is in a scene near the beginning pulp Fiction Jules and Vincent interrogate three people about the whereabouts of a suitcase. Tensions escalate when Jules eats burgers, quotes the Bible, and then suddenly shoots one of them dead. But this is not a reversal of the scene.
Tarantino could have just had Jules and Vincent end the scene, find the case and leave. Instead, he added a reversal of “power from outside”: a man hiding in another room bursts in and shoots. But every bullet missed. This is the reversal of the “external force” that ends the scene.
In both scenarios we have a Conflict escalates and a reversal that leads directly to the climax. And then we’re done. You will be very surprised when you first see these two examples, right?
This level of surprise is what you need to strive for when writing a scene.
always looking for a way Surprise your readers Reversal like this, IIntroducing “external forces” is a good way.
Micro-inversions when writing scenes.
Let’s look at some other screenwriting tips for writing scenes. “Microreversal” It’s those little back-and-forths that make up each scene. It’s a good idea to include these in every scene you write, too.
It doesn’t make sense to have a scene where there’s not much give and take between the protagonist and the villain and then insist on a big twist at the end and call it a day.
Instead, the scene is composed of A series of microscopic reversalssending the audience back and forth, leaving them wondering which side of the coin it would fall.
You may have seen the following example or something similar before:
A man jumps out of a plane…
• sitting alone on a plane (+)
• The plane starts to descend (-)
• The pilot regained control and leveled the aircraft (+)
• The plane suddenly dived sharply (-)
• Man found parachute (+)
• The door cannot be opened (-)
• He opened the door and jumped up (+)
• Parachute won’t open (-)
etc.
In scenarios like this, we move from one micro-reversal to the next, wondering what will happen. If you want to learn how to write dialogue between two characters, watch as the protagonist seems to win at each moment, then lose, and then win the argument.
This series of reversals again make things interesting.
A macro reversal in the script.
Reversals should not be limited to writing just one scene. A well-written script is actually a series of twists and turns All levels——From macro to micro. In other words, from the entire script to individual scenes.
The entire script flipped.
• Entire script: Start with a “down” beat and end with an “up” beat, and vice versa
• Each act: Start with a “negative” beat and end with a “positive” beat, and vice versa
• Each sequence: Start with a “negative” beat and end with a “positive” beat, and vice versa
• Each scene: Start with a “negative” beat and end with a “positive” beat, and vice versa
By having every act, sequence, and scene end the opposite of how it started, you ensure that your protagonist’s fate goes from good to bad and back again.
It’s this back-and-forth action that gives a good script the “emotional rollercoaster” feel it has and helps keep the reader guessing.
Writers who fail to master these screenwriting skills when writing scenes, sequences, or performances will most likely not be able to get anyone interested in their script.
Unfortunately, it’s just that simple. This is because the protagonist’s journey in the script is too fair, and there are no reversals that change his/her fate along the way. Overall, the above must be kept in mind when writing a scene.
Checklist for writing scenarios.
Go back all aspects And make sure the cost of each element changes.
• Does the entire script start with a positive and end with a negative, or vice versa?
• Does every action start in a positive way and end in a negative way, or vice versa?
• Does each sequence start with a positive number and end with a negative number, or vice versa?
• Does each scene start on a positive note and end on a negative note, or vice versa?
Conclusion: Write scenes like a pro.
Don’t settle for writing a scene if it doesn’t “shift.” you won’t stand it In a movie, if you see everything running smoothly and harmoniously, don’t tolerate it in your script.
Apply these screenwriting tips as you write your scene and watch how it comes to life.
###
Do you use inversion when writing scenes? Do you want to apply them now? Let us know in the comments section below.
Like this article? Read more about writing scenarios like a pro…
8 out of 10 writers are told how to write scenes the wrong way
How to write a unique script in 6 steps
16 Screenwriting Tips to Improve Your Screenplay Today
[© Photo credits: Unsplash]
