The document provides advice on writing effective scenes by keeping them grounded in dialogue, action, and setting. It then provides examples of strong and weak scenes. The strong scenes include dialogue between characters, clear actions, and descriptions of settings. The weaker scenes are missing one or more of these elements. The document encourages readers to analyze scenes based on whether they contain dialogue, action, and setting.

2. Good writers “stay in scene” by
making sure scenes are grounded
in dialogue, action, and setting.

3. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t know
what to say. “Um . . . “
“Just apologize,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You’re forgiven,” she said.

4. I was so embarrassed. I didn’t know what to say. “Um . . .” I
kicked some rocks on the sidewalk. My face felt like it was so
hot it would melt.
A breeze wooshed by, reminding me that summer was long
gone. “Just apologize,” she said. She put her hood on and
adjusted her backpack.
The smell of tomato sauce and garlic wafted in the cool late
October air. My stomach growled. My heart pounded. What
if I apologized and she didn’t forgive me? What if I didn’t and
she never spoke to me again. I had so many thoughts. “I’m
sorry,” I said.
She turned her head and smiled. “You’re forgiven,” she said.
She touched her shoulder to mine and we walked down the
street together.

5. Now you try it - read each of the
following scenes, and think to
yourself, “What does this scene
have? What is this scene missing?
Does it have dialogue, action, and
setting?”
Then, turn and tell your neighbor,
and we’ll share out.

6. “What are you doing?” the peasant asked.
“I’m getting ready for battle,” the knight
said. He picked up his shield and held it in
his hand.
“Do you have everything you need?” the
peasant asked.
“I hope so,” the knight said.

7. The king walked into his large living
room and put on his crown. He
walked over to the table and picked up
a ring. He placed it on his ring finger.
The queen walked in. She noticed what
the king was doing. She sat down on
her throne.

8. “What am I doing here?” the peasant
thought to himself. He wondered if he
would ever be able to become
something else. His field was large
and green with plants.
He hoped that he would be able to
become a knight someday, although
he knew deep down that he was stuck
being a peasant.

9. Take out a piece of paper.
Using a character that you have developed,
create a scene for your character about the
bubonic plaque. Make sure to include:
- Dialogue
- Action
- Setting
- Make sure it is at least 6 sentences.