Writing Compelling Scenes

Scenes are the smallest dramatic units in a narrative, yet remain the most fundamental. In this hands-on workshop, we will examine what makes a compelling scene: a clear event, its structure, function, and pulse, while critically analyzing excerpts from the work of acclaimed writers including ‘Pemi Aguda, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Anthony Doerr, and Victoria Lancelotta. We will also draw on Anton Chekhov’s well-known craft principle: “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Using this lens, we explore scene-building through specificity and sensory detail, attending to how images, textures, sounds, etc., create an immersive narrative dream.

Each participant will generate a short, focused scene in response to creative prompts that strike the right balance between sensory and concrete details, interiority, dialogue, and action, all while sharing their writing in a supportive community of fellow writers. This workshop is ideal for writers at any stage working in fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid forms, who are seeking a stronger understanding of how to make scenes do meaningful narrative work.