Playwriting and Screenwriting: Show Don't Tell (ages 13-18)

Have you ever received the note, “Show Don’t Tell,” only to find yourself asking, “What the heck does that even mean?” “How does one show when I have so much backstory to explain?!” In this workshop, you will learn tools, tips, and tricks to get away with laying down the facts of the given circumstances in your story in order to create visually stunning moments. This class will be taught from a character driven, playwriting lens, but well suited across all genres. This workshop is ideal for writers of stories who want to enhance their show v.s. tell skills. Excerpts will be pulled from plays like “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen (writer of Disney’s Rya and the Last Dragon), “The Wolves” by Sarah DeLappe, and “Black Super Hero Magic Mama,” by India Craig-Galvan (writer for ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder).

Students will learn craft elements that enhance their storytelling and practical options when approaching exposition. They’ll have fun weaving in backstory and grow in confidence with how they activate their characters. For writers age 13 – 18 ONLY.