The Department of English, L. D. Arts College, organised a special workshop on “Storytelling Across Forms: Novel vs. Screenplay” on December 13, conducted by Ms. Kajal Mehta, Contemporary Storyteller, Novelist, Screenwriter, and Creative Professional. The session proved to be a truly inspirational and enriching academic experience for students.
Ms. Kajal Mehta conducted the workshop with exceptional clarity and enthusiasm, engaging the audience from the very beginning. Students from both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes of English participated with great interest and excitement, making the workshop interactive and lively.
Ms. Mehta did absolute justice to the theme as she began by explaining the fundamental differences between writing a novel and a screenplay. She highlighted how the two forms, though rooted in storytelling, diverge significantly in terms of structure, narrative technique, character development, pacing, and visual imagination. Her explanation helped students clearly understand how a written narrative transforms when adapted for the screen.
She further elaborated on the intricacies of screenplay writing, drawing attention to elements such as scene construction, visual cues, camera perspective, and the importance of “show, don’t tell.” Her practical insights offered students a rare glimpse into the craft and discipline required of a screenwriter.
One of the most engaging segments of the workshop was the hands-on writing activity. Ms. Mehta asked students to compose a short scene for a screenplay, encouraging them to think visually rather than descriptively. Students were then invited to read out their scenes, making the session both collaborative and reflective. Using their drafts, Ms. Mehta demonstrated how their writing could be refined into a more polished, compelling visual scene, offering valuable feedback on clarity, pacing, and imagery.
The workshop concluded on an enthusiastic note, with students expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn directly from a working storyteller and screenwriter. The Department appreciates Ms. Kajal Mehta for delivering such an insightful and motivating session, which not only deepened students’ understanding of narrative forms but also inspired many to explore the craft of writing more seriously.
