Motivation-Reaction Units, or MRUs

The small-scale structure of a scene involves a sequence of “Motivation-Reaction Units” or MRUs.

• Motivation: something happens that the POV character can see or hear or taste or smell or feel. External. Objective.
• Reaction: how the POV character responds to the Motivation. Internal and subjective.

see also

• The Two Types of Scenes and their Structure
• The Snowflake Method

references

1. Ingermanson, Randy. `Writing The Perfect Scene.` Advanced Fiction Writing, www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/writing-the-perfect-scene/.