My live scene writing process (warning: it's messy)

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Want to write better scenes? In this live writing workshop, I show you exactly how I craft engaging scenes from scratch by breaking down every single word choice. Watch as I demonstrate valenced writing - the art of choosing specific words to create emotional impact and keep readers glued to the page.
🎯 What you'll learn:
How to choose words that evoke specific emotions
Why specificity leads to more engaging scenes
How to avoid neutral language that kills momentum
The secret to creating vivid characters through word choice
Real-time scene creation process from blank page to final draft
This isn't just theory - you'll watch me write a complete scene live, explaining every decision as I make it. Perfect for fiction writers, screenwriters, and anyone looking to improve their creative writing.
✍️ Featured writing technique: Valenced language
Learn how choosing emotionally-charged words can transform your scenes from flat to fascinating. Watch as I demonstrate this powerful technique in real-time.
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[@pattischuler1985]

This is the first video I've ever watched with live scene writing. All other articles or videos explain the finished product. It was very helpful in normalizing the iterant nature of writing scenes. The first sentences are more about setting the stage for what will happen just to establish it for yourself and then you can find the right words. That, plus just in time research - helps to quell perfectionism - which is the death of creativity. Glad I watched it.

[@adammeyer7498]

I've watched nearly every Story Grid video, and this may be the most helpful one I've seen. I took away a ton from it, such as the concept of "just-in-time research" and how to use valenced language. There isn't enough content out there like this. Content that shows an established writer in the trenches and how they craft their stories line-by-line. Seeing you put yourself out there creatively like this takes balls Tim, and I've gained even more respect for you. Would love to see more content like this. Thank you!

[@discoveringthei]

I respect this and like it a lot. My method is more speed. I write an outline. I write a draft. I keep changing the draft until I have the story exactly as I want. Then I restart the story and rewrite from page one with the complete story, focusing on the words and subtlety. Then I edit it and rewrite it for brevity, theme, and character voice. Then I rewrite the grammar from page one. I do all this in 2 months.

[@JaneDonaldson1]

I had the pleasure of attending this workshop live, and what I appreciated most was the simple fact that 'slow drafting' takes time, patience, and focused effort. You just have to roll up the sleeves and be prepared to work at it-work at crafting the story with evocative language.

[@holly4523]

It was helpful to know I'm not the only one to mull over my word choices; sometimes I spend an hour on a single paragraph before I know that it sounds right. And it's a comfort to know that others are as meticulous as I am so it's okay to be particular in regard to one's diction. Although, I *do* often get caught up in the research rabbit hole -- since I find my research so interesting. I like your concept of 'just-in-time' research: looking up just enough to keep going in your draft. It's an incredibly useful tip. So I won't get hung up on facts that are too specific to be of importance to my plot. And I intend to keep it in mind as I continue on in my writing journey. Thank you for making this video and giving us a glimpse into your process!

[@twestgard2]

The most important takeaway here is, don’t write what you don’t know. A violinist using their instrument as a weapon is like a mom using her infant as a weapon. It’s physically possible, but OMG that’s instantly a huge revelation of that character’s mental state and absolutely has to be dealt with in the story somehow.

[@twestgard2]

Don’t get me wrong, I love this channel and I get a lot of value out of it. I’m just saying, this is a detail that’s going to be questioned by a good editor later and hopefully it’s not too heavily built into the story, so something plausible/entertaining/appropriate can be made of it.

[@aldenabirfresan5900]

Absolutely true. The bow is much too fragile and valuable, almost intimate... The violinist would always protect the violin and the bow.

[@cpryan127]

I watched this last week and just watched the SGG version, seeking nuggets that might be there and not here. What I most benefit from is the demonstration of what to describe in a setting/scene and why as well as the application of valenced language. Your self talk as you ponder the scene, use of Chat GPT for just in time research, and the small amount of good writing that was accomplished were all illuminating. How did vomiting word counts become so elevated? So important? There has to be a balance, surely, between getting a complete draft in a reasonable time and producing a dog pile. You did say you have gotten faster and that's good to know. Thank you for this video. The only thing I 'hate' about it? Now I realize what a dog pile I have. Ugh. It's gonna take a lot of work.

[@ben_kerani1999]

It’s priceless to see the master at work, and not just the master’s work! More like this, please!

[@adammeyer7498]

Hear hear!

[@symbioticinteractor]

Thanks for this, Tim. Not too messy at all! It occurs to me that what we're doing in this process is engaging the Reader's mind and drawing them into the scene, rather than having them simply observing passively. An eager reader wants to digest and evaluate a situation THEMSELF... to use their own brain and form an opinion, getting actively involved in the story.

[@NuraRachelleAstrology]

This was wonderful, thank you!

[@janiworthen]

Thank you, Tim. I used this “Watch Me Write Live” time as my own writing session. I got out my own scene I’m on, and started writing again, listening to you in the background. And I got about a hundred words down. I think it’s starting to come together now. What stands out to me from this lesson are: (1) You write slowly and carefully, even on your first draft. (2) The concept of “Just in Time Research” Thank you. This helps a lot 😊

[@miggseye]

I like how this demonstrates valenced language creating subtext the reader can infer from-i.e. how you described (showed) the busker and the thieves allows the reader to infer aspects about them, their backstory, context, character.

[@tevinfitzgerald8047]

My favorite type of videos!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@drshypnotist]

Nuggets of gold that both you and Shawn spread far and wide from your love of the word and its power. Thank you.

[@PrincessAnna]

Loved this concept! I want more people to do videos like this where we can see the choices and why they're being made. It helps teach the principle much better than talking about it.

[@aldenabirfresan5900]

It's very nice to see how you write, how you think and get to point as shortly as possible. It's still a first draft, but it's effective. And from now on, I'll probably use chat GPT the way you did. Thanks for the humility and the honest effort! It just helped me to get back to work!

[@keithathompson1196]

This was a very helpful video. Any content that helps me focus on what a scene is and what it needs is very helpful. Help with POV and Tense would also be appreciated. I also like the research as-you-go approach - keeps me close to the story without falling down the hole. Thanks so much

[@NeckHumbucker]

👍Wating for the video about Obligatory Moments

[@tevinfitzgerald8047]

Can you make a video like this but showing how you go from one inciting incident to the other in order to propel the story forward?

[@ellenmariemccurdy]

This was a very informative and effective workshop. Worth watching again for certain.

[@HabitualPhoenixCoaching]

Thank you for your demonstration of line-by-line writing. Very informative.

[@Sisanf]

Great teaching video-loved seeing you talk out your decisions. Valencing while drafting? You’re built different; I’d hit decision fatigue so quickly! I’ve gotta valence the sentences while editing (One Thesaurus has saved my life).

[@acalsmo]

Excellent and educational video.

[@PegBrantley]

This was my introduction to Story Grid, and I found the concept of valenced writing intriguing. If your process was messy, mine is likely to be catastrophic. But I think it'll be fun to try.

[@gerlindechristina238]

Love the 'warning' of messy🤭Question: is this a sample of the actual classes in the 6-weeks course? Thanks!

[@lilyblossom5602]

Hi I've really enjoyed watching your videos and you've helped me with my writing skills. I'm planning on writing a series of books about wolf characters. :)

[@GreggMikulla]

It's pretty great to see how seamlessly an experienced and talented (and toiling) writer can develope a scene and so rapidly manipulate his language to make his characters shine forth with such clarity. I've pretty much all but given up after consuming this desperately-needed antidote, and will just resign myself to some thing else (this is a positive comment; had Simon Cowell encouraged the little-talented, Spotify would be overflowing with shitty voices).

[@jcoutts10]

A great video. I learned a lot. Thanks! However, a down and out busking violinist would NEVER use the bow as a weapon. If she broke her bow striking the boy, and she probably would break it, she'd be unable to continue as a busker; her means of earning some money would be gone!

[@kentfaver]

Wow, this is so good Sean. The thief is a young refugee who is trying help her pregnant Mom.

[@watchmakersp9935]

Thanks , i really enjoyed it ; perhaps too many sentances beginning with She , that are in same paragraph? I am trying to negate this in my writing.

[@joanchapin6149]

I would just mind dump and list the valenced words giving description Before going to the sentences, that drag down the visions.

[@joanchapin6149]

Drag down the speed

[@erwingarden4891]

blocked the doors

[@erwingarden4891]

not her strings, but the strings.

[@hharryhhoppe]

Yeah.. Good... But do you ever blink....?

[@erwingarden4891]

a bow is too fragile and costly to slash somebody with; she would never do that

[@twestgard2]

Right, or if she does, it’s a profoundly meaningful decision that we need to know more about.

[@erwingarden4891]

scurried is enough, NOT like ants, that saying the obvious

[@spookyfirst9514]

‘Just in time research’ made me laugh. If I don’t have the bulk of that done beforehand, I vanish down a rabbit hole for hours. Takes a little more time to plan ahead, but it’s worth it to me to stay focused. It was nice seeing your process to do a practice scene. I can’t help asking what the busker’s OOD was, or her A without having to B? Were you able to get that far during the live stream? (Plus, I loved the Christmas sweater.)