Show and Tell in Fiction

Class Description

The fully-realized dramatic scene is an essential building block of fiction. Contrary to the well-known dictum, however, most fiction writers find that they must use both showing and telling to create a clear and emotionally gripping experience for their readers. So how do you decide what to dramatize and what to summarize? How do you “tell” in an interesting way, and what are the characteristics of truly immersive “showing”? In this text-based seminar we’ll consult passages selected from writers such as Edith Wharton, Colson Whitehead, Jim Harrison, John le Carré, Kasuo Ishiguro, Stephen Graham Jones, Junot Díaz, Hilary Mantel, Aravind Adiga, and many others to draw a few useful conclusions, paying special attention to such topics as lively narration, “crowding and leaping,” and writing dramatic scenes that advance the story while offering direct access to your core characters.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.