Scene Building Basics
Scenes are the Lego blocks that help you build your book. In this workshop, learn the basic elements of scene building and practice fine-tuning your scene-building so the focus is on what matters to the story you write. Whether fiction or nonfiction (like memoir, biography or other forms of narrative nonfiction) your book is a composition of scenes, and those scenes should move the story forward. Be prepared to write and share. Work with a current project or one of the suggested scenarios that will be given. Scenes must have a purpose, a high point, conflict (inner or outer), texture, sensory
details and a change as a result, whether in the character’s perspective, actions or emotions. Think of each scene as a mini-story within a story. If done well, your scenes will pull the reader forward and keep them wanting to turn the pages of your book. All levels welcome.
Cathleen O’Connor, PhD is an author, developmental editor, writing teacher and coach. She is also an experienced book designer who does layout and cover design for self- published book clients.
Her notable publications include The Collection: Flash Fiction for Flash Memory (Anchala Press, 2018), High Heels on the Hamster Wheel: A Fable for the Modern Woman (Balboa Press, 2013), and The Everything Law of Attraction Dream Dictionary (Adams Media, 2010).
The rights to her 2014 anthology, 365 Days of Angel Prayers,
were sold in 2016. As a book designer, she did the layout and design for IWWG’s 2023 publication Arrows of Light: The Journeys of Afghan Women.
Her first romantic suspense novel is in the query process.
