Loop
Scene and sequel
You might say: goal, conflict, disaster, reaction, dilemma, decision
Ingermanson’s two-part rhythm. A scene runs goal, conflict, disaster; a sequel runs reaction, dilemma, decision, and the decision sets the next goal.
- What it does
- Alternates action and recovery, so each scene feeds the next.
- Ask
- What is her goal at the start of this scene, and what does she decide at the end of the sequel?
- Trouble
- Scenes stop with no consequence, or the character never pauses to react.
What to look for
- Goal, conflict and disaster in one movement
- Reaction, dilemma and decision in the next
- A new goal following the decision
Parts
- Goal: What the viewpoint character wants in this scene.
- Conflict: The obstacles between the character and her goal.
- Disaster: She fails to reach the goal, or wins and makes things worse.
- Reaction: Her emotional follow-through after the disaster.
- Dilemma: A situation with no good options.
- Decision: She chooses what to do.
Loop: cycle
Goal → Conflict → Disaster → Reaction → Dilemma → Decision ↺
Sources
- Randy Ingermanson, “Writing The Perfect Scene”, Large-Scale Structure of a Scene; Motivation-Reaction Units
A Scene has the following three-part pattern: Goal Conflict Disaster. A Sequel has the following three-part pattern: Reaction Dilemma Decision
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