I will be making a post today and tomorrow, to account for not doing one last week.

In the spirit of beginnings, March’s posts will focus on the ways to start various parts of literature. Zooming in from last week, we know look at scenes.

Kicking off a scene functions differently from opening a short story or novel, as the latter two involve creating a first impression of a literary work. For this reason, this post will focus more on beginning a scene independently of whether it is the first one of the narrative.

Thus, this advice is more for after you have determined where in the story it occurs.

The initial step is understanding what type of scene it is. Like novels and movies, scenes have genres. There are action scenes, comedy scenes, romantic scenes, horror scenes, dramatic scenes – and these can occur regardless of the genre of the work in which it takes place.

For instance, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a dark tragedy, but it still has comedic moments like the drunken porter (who I remember), and Lady Macduff arguing with her son. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a satire, but has actions scenes such as the Black Knight and Lancelot vs. Swamp Castle.

Once the type of scene is determined, you can answer the journalistic questions about it. Each one of these add to the stakes.

For example, an argument scene can have a multitude of effects on the reader based on these facts. An argument between strangers has different risks compared to one between a boss and an employee, or to a newlywed couple. If it takes place in a house with just them, it creates different environmental factors than happening in the middle of a restaurant, and even presents a physical threat if it occurs on a balcony high above the ground.

Establishing the stakes gives the readers a reason to engage with the scene.

With all of this in mind, here are some of the more common ways to begin a scene:

  1. Describe the setting. Detailing the unique aspects of the ‘where,’ especially with rich sensory imagery, can create interest. This usually applies to the first time a scene occurs at this place, not repeated for the same location unless it undergoes change between scenes.
    1. Example: much of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
  2. Dialogue. This helps if the scene is more conversational, and can set the rhythm of the communication. Others details of the where can be unfolded at whatever pace is necessary.
    1. Example: the interrogation room in The Dark Knight.
  3. In media res. An oldy but a goody. A character is taking action, and the narration drops in as it occurs. The reader is often thrown abruptly into the change of pace, creating wonder to what has happened and what will.
    1. Example: the guard chase (“One Jump Ahead”) in Disney’s Aladdin.
  4. Direct hook. An opening line, sentence, or passage that grips the reader’s attention. This immediately sets up the stakes, dropping the severity of the situation right on the reader.
    1. Example: the first line of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
  5. Anecdote. Narration or storytelling to add context or set the tone.
    1. Example: the text openings in the Star Wars films.

Each of these are descriptions, with plenty of bleeding through between them. This is more to help give structure to one’s thought process, as there are too many possible scene openings to list.

Ultimately, every scene should have a purpose. The beginning should help show what some of that purpose is, and let the rest of it fulfill that reason. And like all good writing, not every question should be answered too early. Knowing what not to put right at the start is as valuable as knowing what to put.

The first impression of many scenes does not have to equal that of larger works, though each one adds up for a better experience for the reader. For the scenes are the bricks that build the story, and a house made of bricks is better than a brick the size of a house.

Unless you need to load a trebuchet. Or if you’re Quentin Tarantino.

What are some of your favorite scenes, and what about them draws you in from their beginnings?

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