In Anatomy of a Story, we explored what really makes a story work.
In Building Memorable Characters, we looked at how to make readers care.
In Conflict, Story Beats & Character Archetypes, we understood how to keep readers hooked.
Then in Worldbuilding, we saw how to make our stories feel real.
And in POV & Voice, we understood the lense from which we show the story to the reader.
Now comes the smallest working units of storytelling: Scenes. They are where characters want something, face resistance, make decisions, and change.

If your writing ever feels flat, slow, or like something is “missing,” chances are, the problem isn’t your language or your ideas, it’s your scenes.

When scenes work, readers stay hooked. When they don’t, even the most beautifully written prose can feel directionless.

In Live #6 of the Writing Fundamentals series, we did a deep dive into Anatomy of a Scene, breaking down exactly how powerful scenes are constructed and how you can start writing them with clarity and intention.

You can watch the full lecture here 👇

Here’s What This Session Covers

This session is designed for beginner to intermediate writers who want to understand how scenes actually work, not just what scenes are supposed to look like. Here’s what we explored in detail:

1. What a Scene Really Is
2. The 8 Elements Every Strong Scene Must Have
3. Scene Structure: Action Units & Reaction Units
4. Setting & Sensory Layering
5. Common Scene Mistakes Writers Make

Free Download: Anatomy of a Scene Workbook

To help you apply everything taught in the session, I’ve created a free, printable workbook that walks you through building or revising any scene step by step.

📘 Download the Anatomy of a Scene Workbook (FREE)

What’s Inside the Workbook

• Scene purpose clarifier
• Character goal worksheet
• Stakes and conflict checks
• Turning point finder
• Action Unit & Reaction Unit structure
• Setting & sensory hierarchy guide
• Expanded scene checklist
• Common mistakes spotter
• Space to write or rewrite your scene

This workbook is designed to be used:

• before drafting a scene
• during revisions
• when a scene feels “off” and you can’t tell why

Print it out, write by hand if you can, and keep it beside your manuscript.

Who This Session Is For

This live (and workbook) is perfect for:

• Writers working on their first novel
• Intermediate writers revising a manuscript
• Self-publishing authors
• Anyone struggling with pacing or flat chapters
• Writers who want structure without killing creativity

The concepts apply across genres like fantasy, romance, horror, literary fiction, YA, thrillers, and more.

What’s Coming Next

The next live in the Writing Fundamentals series is:

Dialogue That Works

Where we’ll break down:

• how to write natural but purposeful dialogue
• subtext and tension
• avoiding info-dumps
• making dialogue reveal character and advance story

If scenes are the body of your story, dialogue is its voice.

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Pre-Book The Art of Storytelling NOW!!

Many of the principles and frameworks I share in these live sessions come from my upcoming book, The Art of Storytelling: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Novel, a comprehensive, practical guide for writers who want to understand storycraft at a deeper level.

The book breaks down storytelling into its essential layers, from structure and conflict to character psychology and theme, with actionable exercises and insights drawn from my decade of work as an award-winning author, developmental editor of bestselling titles, and writing mentor.

Pre-order your copy now and win a chance to get the book for free!

If you’ve been following this series, The Art of Storytelling will serve as your complete companion, turning theory into practice, and ideas into finished stories.

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Join the Conversation

If you’d like to be part of a small but growing community of writers who are learning and building together, join our Writing Fundamentals WhatsApp group.

It’s a cozy, supportive space where we discuss writing prompts, share weekly insights, and help each other stay accountable.

A Note from Heena

Writing Fundamentals is an absolutely essential series for anyone who wants to either start or finish their manuscript. When I was just starting out 12 years ago, I would have greatly appreciated a series of videos that covered all the basics of storytelling, and that too for FREE! That’s why I’ve created this series. So, don’t miss out on taking advantage of this series till the time it is available for free (I cannot promise it will remain so for eternity; maybe 1 year down the line I’ll have to put it in a private playlist and offer these videos as a part of a course. So hurry up!)

If you haven’t already, watch the replays, grab your downloads, and get ready for the next live because it is going to be another essential topic in storytelling.

Keep writing, keep exploring, and remember, stories aren’t created; they’re discovered.

Let’s keep building stories that matter.