How to Write Riveting Scenes [Steve Almond]

This is a Workshop for Democracy. The instructor will be contributing 100% of his teaching pay to the organization Black Votes Matter [https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/donate/]. The instructor asks that students pay Hugo House a discounted fee for the class, and contribute the balance of your fee to a candidate or cause of your choosing. The suggested donation is $100, though students are free to contribute more if they wish. Before class, we will briefly discuss our contributions, and how to be citizens of good faith in this vital moment.

The key to any unforgettable work of prose resides in the quality of its scenes. In this class, we’ll look at some of the best scenes ever written and investigate what it takes to write a scene that keeps readers on the edges of their seats. We’ll also do an in-class exercise (or two) to see if we can improve the tension and emotional impact of our own scenes.