{"product_id":"action-sports-scenes-fiction-writing-workshop-online-august-2026","title":"How to Write Action and Sports Scenes That Keep Readers on the Edge: A Zoom Workshop with Emma Kress on Sunday, August 9th, 2026","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to Write Action and Sports Scenes That Keep Readers on the Edge: A One-Day Online Writing Workshop with Emma Kress\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Sunday, August 9, 2026\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLive Seminar via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e🌍 \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Times by Time Zone: \u003c\/strong\u003eLos Angeles (PDT): 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM \/ Chicago (CDT): 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM \/ New York (EDT): 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM \/ London (BST): 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM \/ Berlin (CEST): 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eNow Enrolling! Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInstructor Emma Kress is the author of the young-adult sports and action thriller \u003cem\u003eDangerous Play\u003c\/em\u003e (Macmillan) about a team of field hockey players who become vigilantes. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a long-time teacher and was one of four finalists for New York State Teacher of the Year. She has delivered writing workshops to writers of all ages. She lives in upstate New York with her family, who all agree that \u003cem\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/em\u003e is absolutely a holiday movie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is this class for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis online writing workshop is for fiction writers who want to write convincing action and sports scenes that keep readers turning pages. While most examples are drawn from young-adult and middle-grade fiction, the techniques apply to writers across genres and experience levels. Open to all levels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to expect:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIf you look at the most popular stories today, you'll find books and movies that have made space for sports and action — whether it's in the background (\u003cem\u003eHeated Rivalry\u003c\/em\u003e) or the foreground (\u003cem\u003eAvengers\u003c\/em\u003e). Readers love a good action scene: a car chase, a fistfight, the first game of the season, the State Championships. We love to root for our main character in those moments of physical struggle. To pull that off, writers must create characters readers care about, set the scene with precision, and describe the action in a way that is believable and engaging. We need clear stakes, conflict, and motivation — not to mention credibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBut what if you've never been in a knife fight or won that trophy? In this online writing class, you'll discover the ingredients of a successful action\/sports scene, develop the tools you need to write one, and have time to practice and put those tools to work — even if you're not an international spy or Olympic athlete.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eUsing film clips, live sports moments, and short reading excerpts as touchstones, we'll build an action scene from the inside out. Strategy deep dives will focus on research, character motivation, scene purpose, scene set-up, conflict, stakes, tension, surprise, language, and voice. Short writing sprints and longer meditative writing exercises will give you space to apply each technique in real time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the writing goals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this course, students will:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDevelop a working understanding of scene structure, conflict, stakes, and character motivation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eIdentify what makes an action or sports scene succeed on the page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBuild a toolkit of practical techniques for writing action and sports scenes now and in the future\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGenerate character and scene sketches, plus related scene-building side writing, that can feed directly into current or future drafts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReadings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eReadings may include excerpts from \u003cem\u003eIn the Same Boat\u003c\/em\u003e by Holly Green and \u003cem\u003eWhen You Look Like Us\u003c\/em\u003e by Pamela Harris, alongside selected clips from action films and live sports moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE OUTLINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart 1: The Anatomy of a Great Action\/Sports Scene\u003c\/strong\u003e Why sports and action grip readers. We'll use film clips, sports footage, and short reading excerpts to identify the key techniques required to bring believable action to the page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart 2: Strategy Deep Dives\u003c\/strong\u003e A focused exploration of the building blocks: research, character motivation, scene purpose, scene set-up, conflict, stakes, tension, surprise, language, and voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart 3: Writing Sprints and Meditative Exercises\u003c\/strong\u003e Hands-on application. Hyper-focused writing sprints alongside longer, more leisurely explorations — both designed to help you build an action or sports scene from the inside out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE TAKEAWAYS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eA working understanding of scene structure, conflict, stakes, and character motivation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClear insight into what makes an action or sports scene work on the page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003ePractical techniques you can apply to action and sports scenes now and in future drafts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eCharacter and scene sketches, plus related scene-building side writing, ready to fold into current or future projects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTESTIMONIALS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Emma brought warmth and real, personal connection to our virtual session. Students left feeling inspired and ready to dive more deeply into their own art.\" — Emily Dowd, Librarian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Emma Kress is one of the most outstanding and talented teachers I have ever had the pleasure of observing.\" — Jim Froio, Superintendent of Schools\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAYMENT OPTIONS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eTuition is $99 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInstructor: Emma Kress\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBegins Sunday, August 9, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet for one live session via Zoom on Sunday, August 9, from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $99 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48298570219768,"sku":null,"price":129.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/EmmaKressHeadshot.png?v=1777498559","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/en-sg\/products\/action-sports-scenes-fiction-writing-workshop-online-august-2026","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}