---
title: Scene Metric Shape
category: Story Health
tags: story health, scene metrics, pacing, charts
contextKey: storyHealth.sceneMetricShape
micro: Compare scene metric values across narrative order.
quickTitle: Scene metric shape
quickSummary: Scene Metric Shape visualises peaks and rests in metrics such as tension, romance, darkness, hope or mystery.
screenshot:
---

# Overview

Scene Metric Shape shows how selected scene metrics rise and fall across the story. It can reveal pacing patterns, tonal runs and places where the draft may need contrast.

# When Should I Use This?

Use it when reviewing emotional intensity, tension, mystery, romance, violence, darkness, hope, comedy or other genre-specific metrics.

# How To Use It

Compare the graph to your intention. A flat line may be right for a quiet sequence, or it may show that a chapter needs a turn.

# Example

If mystery stays low for several chapters in a mystery novel, the chart asks whether clues, questions or uncertainty need more presence.

# Writer Tip

Metrics describe emphasis. They do not score quality.

# Common Mistakes

- Assuming every chapter needs the same shape.
- Making every metric high.
- Forgetting that missing values may mean scenes have not been reviewed.

# Related Guides

- [Scene Metrics](/Help/Article/sceneMetrics.overview)
- [Story Health](/Help/Article/storyHealth.overview)