How to Outline an Irresistible Story Using Scene Cards
One of the easiest ways to outline a gripping story is through the use of scene cards.
Why? Well, kinda like your body is made up of cells, your novel is made up of scenes. One scene bumping into the next. A set of dominos that knock together until the whole picture is laid out.
But just like we need healthy cells to have a healthy, thriving body, each of the scenes in your novel needs to be:
Relevant (to the overarching story goal and character transformation)
Necessary (no way around this piece of the story - forward momentum in plot or character)
Well-placed (immovable based on the scene before and after)
So before we get into the components of a scene card and how to outline a story using them, let’s go over those 3 requirements.
In order to demonstrate these requirements, I'm going to use the party scene that takes place about a third of the way into the 1995 film, Clueless.
Assessing the Party Scene in Clueless
In this scene, Cher, Dion, Murray, and Tai head to a party in the valley. While there, shenanigans ensue, including a game of suck and blow, a heated argument, lots of dancing, and an injury to the head.
Is This Scene Relevant?
Yes.
Cher’s conversation with Elton after the party is critical to her character development. (During this later conversation, Cher learns that Elton does not have feelings for Tai (whom Cher is trying to set him up with), but for Cher. Also, that he's a huge jerk.)
Cher’s major character transformation includes overcoming her narcissism in order to open her own heart to love and to have the humility to allow her friends to make their own decisions (for their betterment) without her interference.
It's not until she sees that her ego can sometimes get in the way of a happy ending that her transformation is complete. This is her first glimpse into that Truth.
Her overarching story goal is to set Tai up with a proper match. But again, it's not until she re-evaluates her definition of a "proper match" that she can achieve this goal. This scene sets the stage for her to realize that her instincts are not necessarily right, because it allows Tai time alone with Elton, and sets the stage for Cher's conversation with Elton after the party.
Is This Scene Necessary?
Yes.
This scene is necessary because it brings Tai closer to Elton.
When Tai learns that Elton doesn’t actually have feelings for her, she references their dance at the party as one of the moments when she fell for him. This plays into Cher’s character transformation: she sees her friend in pain and realizes that it is a direct result of her interference.
Is This Scene Well-Placed?
Yes.
The dominos are definitely in effect in this section of the story. We hear about the party, Dion informs Cher they should go to the party, they go, Elton and Tai dance, Elton drives Cher home, they get into a fight, Elton strands Cher in the middle of nowhere.
Without detailing every scene after this, Cher begin stranded by Elton helps clear the way for Tai to fall for Josh, which brings Cher's Truth to the surface.
The point is, I could easily stretch this cause-and-effect chain of events both before and after this scene, which tells you how well-placed it is.
The most basic question you can ask yourself is: If I took this scene out of my story, would anything change?
If the answer is no, the scene probably needs to go.
But while these are useful questions for assessment once a scene has been sketched out, what about before? What if you just have a seed of an idea in mind for a scene?
This is where a scene card can be even more useful.
How to Use Scene Cards
Scene cards can allow you to flesh out a single point in your story so that you have all of the necessary pieces in mind before you go actually to write the scene.
Even better, scene cards are great building blocks for an outline. In Outline Your Novel, the bulk of the outline template is taken up by scene cards. I love this because scene cards can be specific, but when they are all filled out they are still relatively short.
So by using scene cards to outline, when I inevitably find a plot hole or have to move pieces of the story around, I'm re-writing dozens of words, not thousands.
Then, when all of my scene cards are filled out and in the right order, I can take a look at my story from a bird's eye view and make sure that:
the cause-and-effect chain of events in my story makes sense
there are no missing pieces or plot holes
my character transformation is unfolding in a believable and satisfying way
Components of Scene Cards
1. Goal
What is the character’s main objective for this scene?
The character with the goal doesn’t necessarily have to be the protagonist. For example, if it is a scene that takes place outside of the protagonist’s POV.
In the party scene, the main goal for Cher is to find an opportunity to push Tai and Elton closer together.
2. Problem
What is the main problem of the scene? What’s getting in the way of the character’s goal?
This is likely a problem that was already in place. For example, an existing problem that could derail Cher’s goal to get to the party and bring Tai and Elton closer together is Travis’s (Travis is Tai's crush) presence at the party.
3. Escalating Conflict
All great scenes have a point where things escalate.
In the Outline Your Novel program and template, I talk about “escalating conflict” simply being an unexpected emotion. An event or action that causes the character to feel something they weren't feeling before.
For example, an escalating conflict could be an added external problem, another character that comes in and causes drama, or even a small revelation. As long as the result of that escalating conflict is an unexpected emotion that the character was not already feeling.
This emotion does NOT have to be negative. In addition to feelings like shock, anger, outrage, or embarrassment, an unexpected emotion might be sudden happiness, gratitude, connection, or excitement.
The party scene in Clueless, being such a long scene, has several instances where the conflict escalates.
When Travis spills a drink on Cher's shoes (Cher suddenly feels angry)
When Travis repeatedly tries to talk to Tai (Cher suddenly feels irritated)
When Elton kisses Cher (Cher suddenly feels embarrassed and outraged)
When Dion screams (Cher suddenly feels worried)
When Tai gets hit in the head with a shoe (Cher suddenly feels anxious and concerned)
You can see these escalating conflicts are a mixture of external conflict (a fight between Dion and Murray; an injury for Tai) and internal conflicts (Cher’s frustration at having Travis get in the way of her matchmaking, as well as her outrage at being kissed by Elton - this conflict is especially good because it complicates Cher’s goal for the scene).
4. Resolution
What has changed by the end of a scene?
If nothing has changed/no new information (plot or character) has been introduced in the scene, it’s likely better to either pull it out of the story or beef it up with relevancy.
By the time Cher gets a call from her father to come home, she has successfully pushed Tai and Elton together. Even more importantly, she has created an opening for a conversation with Elton about Tai (in which he reveals he actually has feelings for Cher).
5. And So
What is the natural next scene? Something must happen within every scene that sets up the scene after that.
At the very end of the party scene, Cher gets a call from her father telling her to come home. So, naturally, that’s what she will do next.
6. Lie/Truth
Is the character’s Lie and/or Truth touched on?
This is, in my opinion, the MOST important component of a scene. Story is character transformation, so a scene with absolutely no relevance to the protagonist’s Lie (assuming it’s from their POV) and their journey to casting off that Lie in favor of a healthier Truth, probably ought to be cut.
These 6 pieces of information comprise the bulk of the scene, but I sometimes like to sketch out other information.
Additional Information for Scene Cards
Setting: Where does the scene take place?
Characters: What characters are present in this scene?
Stakes: What is on the line in this scene?
For example, Cher’s main story goal finding a love interest for Tai is at stake in this scene. Will she pull it off? And at the end of the scene, her own wellbeing (in the form of punishment/anger from her father) is at stake. When he calls, she lies about where she is and must figure out a way home quickly in order to avoid trouble.
Examples of Scene Cards
Here are a few examples from the opening scenes of Clueless. They don’t include every component of a scene card as demonstrated above, but I wanted to show different ways to escalate the conflict.
Scene One
Cher’s Goal: Get ready for school.
Problem: Cher is mismatching outfits on the computer. Soon after, she has an argument with her father.
Escalating Conflict: Cher’s father informs her Josh (Cher’s ex-stepbrother) will be coming for dinner, angering Cher.
Resolution: We have been introduced to Cher’s father. Setup of Cher’s relationship with her ex-stepbrother.
Scene Two
Cher’s Goal: Get to school.
Problem: Cher does not drive well.
Escalating Conflict: Cher runs a stop sign.
Resolution: We have been introduced to Dion.
Scene Three
Cher’s Goal: Get to class.
Problem: Dion complains about her boyfriend, then he shows up and they argue.
Escalating Conflict: A boy (Cher has established she greatly dislikes high school boys) puts his arm around Cher.
Resolution: We’ve learned more about her character and Lie by the end of this scene.
Scene Four
Cher’s Goal: Complete her debate assignment.
Problem: Amber won’t respond to Cher’s argument, complaining it was irrelevant
Escalating Conflict: Mr. Hall passes out their report cards. Cher learns she received a D in the class.
Resolution: Cher now has a goal: to raise her grade (this is a subplot, as well as another establishment of Cher’s character and Lie).
The fastest way to write a strong story is with an effective outline that plots your novel’s beating heart.
In Outline Your Novel, you’ll learn exactly what these beats are, why they matter, and how to outline them effectively to make your story sing.
