Definition
In craft terms, a scene is a unit of story that unfolds in more or less continuous time and place, usually built from action, dialogue, and concrete detail. Something changes by the end: a goal shifts, information arrives, or emotion turns.
Example
Instead of writing "They fought about the will," a scene shows the lawyer opening the folder and the sister refusing to sit down.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Writing scenes that start and end in the same emotional and strategic place.
- Padding scenes with description that does not affect what characters want or do next.