A Checklist to Ensure Your Story’s Scenes are Clear and Complete

Some writers aren’t as clear as they should be about what a story or a sequence or a scene is about, so readers get lost in the murk. Other writers have problems with order, logic, or extra prose that hides their stories or creates too many distractions. My biggest problem is not including enough description, pointers, and reminders. So I’m using a new approach to help solve that problem.

Recently, I got an expert analysis of one of my fiction podcasts scripts. It had an emphasis on clarity with specific critiques that inspired me (with reference to recent post on orienting readers) to create the checklist below. I’ve been putting it to work, and I think it’s a useful addendum to the recent posts, so here it is. Note: While I created it for audio-only scripts, some of it seems to provide guidance for other works of fiction. It will get some tweaks, but I hope it provides valuable pointers.

Podcast Clarity Checklist

    1.    Mark scenes (——) and French scenes* (…..); list dramatic personae.
    2.    Describe the essence of the scene or sequence (e.g.,”In which Harold kills Maximillian”).
    3.    Where it makes sense, write the goal of each character.
    4.    Make sure each new location is presented (space, light, texture).
    5.    Identify the time, according to what the readers (or audience) needs to be oriented.
    6.    Check for cues to transition from one scene to the next.
    7.    Make sure all the characters in the scene are presented at the beginning.
    8.    Mark character descriptions and tentatively add at least one word of description for each.
    9.    Review dialogue, one character at a time, and tentatively add words to reflect intentions and situations.
    10.    Review dialogue to include character-specific phrasing.
    11.    Mark visuals and tentatively add at least one word of description for each.
    12.    Reflect on the story situation (important predicates, facts, risks and relative powers of characters) and remind or inform readers of each, tentatively adding at least one point.
    13.    Explore each scene to see if there are opportunities to present characters in motion.
    14.    Explore each scene to see if there are opportunities to make the locale active (engines running, rain falling, animals crying out, temperature dropping).
    15.    Mark location descriptions and tentatively add at least one word of description for each.
    16.    Review dialogue to include reactions to changes (new location, changes to location, changes to situation, changes in relationships to other characters).
    17.    Comb through this clarity draft to challenge added words, but lean toward keeping them.

Among the things I’m finding most useful are brainstorming additional words (where they don’t initially feel necessary), presenting more information though reactions and impact, and using a fresh approach to ensuring that the purpose of each scene or sequence isn’t missed by readers.

The order may be different for you or your specific work or may vary with your audience.

As said above, I’m still developing this list, but it is showing promise. That’s why I’m sharing it. I welcome any comments, including additions and your own experiences.  

*French scenes occur within scenes when a new character enters or leaves.