Live workshop for authors:
Write way better scenes
Write better scenes for the rest of your life with these three 90-minute live sessions
Good scenes are the building blocks of great books
Too often, writers settle for subjective opinions about what makes a scene “work.” They don’t know that there are actually objective criteria you can apply to a scene to ensure it’s riveting and know how to fix it when it’s not.
LEARN THE SKILLS
In three 90-minute sessions, developmental editors Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez will lead you through the practical steps it takes to write amazing scenes that will have readers hungry to turn the page.
The Workshop
Anne and Rachelle will illuminate what makes a great scene. Using movie clips, examples of master scenes and analysis of scenes that need work, you’ll learn how to analyze a scene and get practical and applicable tips for diagnosing and editing your own scenes. There will be plenty of time in each session for Q&A.
february 2o - 21 - 22, 2024
12 - 1:30 PM PACIFIC / 3 - 4:30 PM EASTERN
online VIA ZOOM
Recordings will be made available after each session
meet your instructors
anne hawley
Developmental Editor
When she's not editing stories, Anne is writing them, reading them, researching them, or analyzing them. She specializes in helping writers discover the heart of the story they’re trying to tell so that they can tell it more beautifully. She can often be seen riding her Dutch bike Eleanor around Portland. She's the author of Restraint, a love story set in 19th Century London.
Rachelle Ramirez
Developmental Editor
Rachelle helps writers develop their stories and believes stories are our most important catalyst for change. She has an MA in psychology from Goddard College and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's Masters in Creative Writing Program on a merit scholarship. Before becoming a developmental editor, she served as a mental health counselor and as the executive director of a national writing community.
The sessions
In three 90-minute sessions, you'll learn what a working scene is made of, how to spot problems in your own scenes and how to fix them.
Day 1, February 20: The Five Scene Essentials. Anne will explain the backbone of a working scene and you'll limber up your scene-analysis skills by watching and analyzing clips from three films.
Day 2, February 21: Working Scenes. Anne and Rachelle will take you through example scenes from published stories as you learn to spot the five essential elements in written form.
Day 3, February 22: Scenes That Don't Work and How to Fix Them. Rachelle will introduce the three main rookie mistakes in writing a scene. You'll read non-working scenes by unpublished writers and figure out how to fix them.
What to Expect
Once your payment is received, you’ll be sent to a confirmation page that will allow you to add the workshop (including log-in details) to your calendar. You’ll also get an email confirmation within a few hours that also contains log-in details for the workshop sessions.
A few days before the workshop, you’ll get an email with links to a few scenes to read in advance of the workshop.
We’ll meet via Zoom. Make sure to download and install the Zoom app prior to the meeting if you don’t already have it.
After the workshop, you’ll get access to recordings of all three sessions as well as the slide deck of the presentations.
have a question about this workshop?
Send an email and we’ll get you an answer right away.
What writers are saying
"That was fucking great! Today, I returned to drafting—and found that I'm feeling more comfortable with the process, and enjoying it more. I especially appreciate the repeated advice to leave shit out! And dispense with unnecessary exposition. I've found both ideas freeing."
—Helen Zuman, author of Mating in Captivity
"This is an incredibly thoughtful AND useful workshop, and well worth the price... Thank you—I know my story is going to be greatly improved by listening to all you had to share."
—Sherri Wynn, Ed.D.
"Your advice is clear, concise and easily applied. Thank you for the tools."
—Blair Mader
"I really enjoyed the course, especially the interactive analysis, and the Q&A sessions were great. This webinar has real value and is well organized, unlike so many I've attended. Great work!"
—Bob Mueller
"I loved this course. I think I've been looking for guidance like this and it is a way to approach my writing after my initial draft. I'm excited to apply what I've learned to my own writing... Honestly, thanks so much—I'm thrilled that I chose to join this course."
—Elizabeth Dial
Register Now
Please note: Investing real dollars in growing your career strengthens your commitment and gets you better results. therefore, no refunds will be issued. For full terms and conditions, click here.
have a question about this workshop?
Send an email and we’ll get you an answer right away.