Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files and other works, has some great advice on writing. Key to his writing is the action/response or punch/counter-punch. You use this in story pacing as well. Each scene has a specific structural elements such as Point of View, Character Goal, and Setback. Each Scene is followed by a Sequel which describes the characters reaction to a scene. Key to the sequel is the decision the character makes which leads to another scene. Action/Response/Action/ and so on.
I decided to give the method a try. I used Scrivener’s cork board and broke my current WIP into pieces. It looked something like this when I was finished.
I used the Document Notes window to fill out the template and set a custom status to either Scene or Sequel for easy visual representation. This method pointed out some obvious structural flaws in the story. Using Scrivener I was able add Sequels as needed and organize the whole thing for better pacing. This tool is awesome!
For forum readers not yet familiar with these ideas, I gather that the canonical references for the scene structure ideas that Butcher was sketching are the work of Dwight Swain and Jack Bickham. Some might want to check them out for further insight.
P.S. I once analysed a chapter from an old Nancy Drew novel (“Left to Starve” in Nancy Drew #1, The Secret of the Old Clock). It was shocking how well it could be seen to fit the pattern of Swain’s scene analysis. One solid MRU after another. Go figure!
Back in the late 80’s or early 90’s Mr. Bickham had a short booklet advertized in Writer’s Digest called “The Writer’s Digest Short Story Blueprint” in which he laid out his index card system using scene/sequel cards for the plot.
