Workshop
Write Death and Grief Scenes
$15
Write impactful, emotional death scenes that push the plot forward and maximize character development. Discover how to convey the stages of grief and the loss of a loved one with sensitivity and power.
Barbara Vance
Instructor
13
lessons
1h 57m
video runtime
4
downloads
Course Description
Death scenes are challenging to write. It can be easy for them to become too emotional or for the death to not resonate with the reader. A great death scene, however, as a profound impact on the story and the characters in it.
This workshop dives deep into the emotion of grief and how one responds to a loss. While it focuses on death, it can be used for any character going through serious pain. Learning the nuances of emotion is one of the best ways to inspire you and bring your stories to life.
This workshop addresses:
- Incorporating the stages of grief into a character’s reaction tot loss
- Writing thoughtful, nuanced character reactions to the death
- Altering character relationships to increase impact of the death
- Building up to the death so it is powerful
- How writing characters who want things that are not good or good for them can heighten drama
- And more!
This course includes
- An class outline to follow along with the video lessons
- A grief scene exercise to help you design your story
- A Plot-a-Death-Scene Chart that helps you chart each character’s numerous response to a death
Students have course access for 365 days. All worksheets and notes are downloadable.
What's Inside
This workshop includes class notes so you can follow along with the video lectures a Grief-Scene-Design exercise, literary excerpts, and an editable Plot-a-Death-Scene chart.
Course Content
What People Are Saying
“Barbara, I’ve just finished going through this course. You have given me a fresh look at ways to describe my daughter’s death in ways I never thought possible. I never considered I went through the 5 stages of grief until you opened my eyes, then I knew why I did certain things. Thank you. A valuable gift you share with the author world!”
Jake
Student
“Really happy to see this class. Death scenes are some of the most important parts in a story and Barbara does an amazing job of teaching how to best handle them.”
Alexandros
Student
“A wonderful course on a delicate and often horrible topic. The examples and grounding in psychological concepts was very helpful.”
Matthew
Student
“This was really helpful and gave me a ton of ideas!”
Larissa
Student
“Thanks so much for providing great material to work with. Describing death scenes can be very challenging emotionally so we appreciate it! Informative class, great examples as always. Thank you.”
Ara
Student
“Ms. Vance delivered an informative and insightful class about writing a death scene. I look forward to attending her next class.”
Ronald
Student
“I enjoyed the course. Thanks for offering it.”
Carney
Student
“This course is useful for anyone who wants to write a novel/novella”
Kris
Student
Barbara Vance, PhD
I am a writer and instructor who has been blessed to help thousands of writers bring their stories to life.
My degrees include a B.A. in literature, an MA in Literature and Creative Writing, and a PhD in storytelling and media. Prior to launching my own company, I taught writing and storytelling at a tier-one university.
Over the past sixteen years I have developed a widely acclaimed collection of courses designed to help writers develop their stories, stay on track, and finish what they start . . . even while juggling busy careers and a family.
I am also the author of a multi-award-winning poetry collection, and my poems are licensed for use in anthologies and curricula around the world.
No Risk 7-day, Money-back Guarantee
If you take the course and don’t feel like it helped, simply reach out to us, show us you have made an effort, and we will refund your full investment.
