Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-exercise"
Writing Tip of the Week: A Cinematic Writing Assignment
What’s your favorite movie? What makes that particular film stand out from the rest of the millions that exist? What is it about that story, its characters, or its themes that left an impression on you?
Time to do a little homework.
I know, I know. Homework. Booooooring! I get it. But, this is creative homework. This is your chance to do a deep dive into your favorite film and get to the heart of why it affects you and why you enjoy it. In turn, this exercise will help you as a writer by giving insight into how they create a compelling story, how they utilize storytelling structure, and how they create compelling characters.
What You Need
- Grab a notepad or legal pad and a pen or pencil.
- A copy of your favorite movie.
- Your Analytical Cap.
- Good Pause Button skills (you’ll be using this a lot).
Think of yourself as a story archaeologist. Your mission is to unearth the storytelling secrets hidden beneath the surface of the film you chose.
Viewing #1
I know it’s your favorite, but as you go through this first time, write down your favorite moments and note at what time or on what page number they occur. Was it a plot point that intrigued you? A clever line of dialogue? A character moment? Write it down and write down why you reacted the way you did to that element.
Do this for the whole movie, then read back through what you observed.
Viewing #2
This round is all about the story. In one or two sentences, write down what happens in each scene that moves the story forward. What’s the main conflict in each scene? You can number the scenes or write a general location of where the scene takes place.
If scenes are revolving around a sub-plot, see how that smaller story is resolved or if it dovetails into the main story.
By the end, you should be able to go back through your notes and see the primary story arc evolve throughout the film. Does each scene feed into the next? Do you notice a pattern as to when the story has significant changes?
All screenplays have a basic story structure. There are dozens of ways to break down that structure, but for the purposes of this exercise, I’ll refer you to The Syd Field Paradigm.
If the screenwriter did their job correctly, these elements should be crystal clear and easy to identify as you review your notes. Highlight or underline what you feel these moments are.
Viewing #3
This final round is all about character. Your job is to watch how the main character changes over the course of the story. What traits do they have at the start of the story? Do they become a better person or a worse person by the end?
This is another scene-by-scene breakdown. Write down in a couple sentences what the main character is doing, how they’re acting, what you feel their motivation or conflict is in the scene. As you go through, you should be able to see their discernable character arc as they navigate their way through the ups and downs of the plot. How does the story impact who they are as a character? How do they impact the events of the story?
Read back through and see if you can clearly identify when the writer began to make changes in the character and how those changes altered the main character by the end of the story.
So, What Did We Learn?
So, now you’ve watched your favorite film three more times and have done some digging into its inner workings. By breaking the movie into its basic components, you have a clearer picture of how this screenwriter crafted a compelling story with an interesting main character. You can see where the story beats are, where the direction of the story changes, and how those elements either impact the main character’s arc or how their arc impacts the story.
Keep this exercise in mind when you finish a draft of your screenplay, play, or novel. If you were to sit down and do this exercise with your work, could you summarize what’s happening in each scene in a sentence or two? Would those sentences be enough to show the main story’s arc throughout the narrative? Does your main character evolve over the course of the story? What happens to cause the change from start to finish?
Consider doing this exercise with your own work to help you strengthen your story and main character in your different drafts.
Extra Credit
Now, if you enjoyed that exercise, why not try it with a movie you strongly dislike? I know it can be hard to stomach a film you can’t stand, but take the emotion out and look at it from an analytical perspective.
The first time through, write down all the elements you dislike and why. If anything does work for you, write it down.
The second and third viewings should be done similar to the ones stated above. You may find that the story arc and/or main character arc are weak and lacking in a lot of ways.
How would you, as this film’s screenwriter, fix these weaknesses? When you read back through, brainstorm what you would have done to make the story and character elements stronger and more effective.
You can learn a lot from both good and bad films by breaking their stories down into their component parts. I highly recommend reading screenplays for films as well. Screenplays give you the nuts and bolts of story and character without the distraction and spectacle so you can analyze things even more in-depth. I recommend checking out the link below to find screenplays to break down and analyze.
Happy writing and analyzing. I’ll see you next week!
Time to do a little homework.
I know, I know. Homework. Booooooring! I get it. But, this is creative homework. This is your chance to do a deep dive into your favorite film and get to the heart of why it affects you and why you enjoy it. In turn, this exercise will help you as a writer by giving insight into how they create a compelling story, how they utilize storytelling structure, and how they create compelling characters.
What You Need
- Grab a notepad or legal pad and a pen or pencil.
- A copy of your favorite movie.
- Your Analytical Cap.
- Good Pause Button skills (you’ll be using this a lot).
Think of yourself as a story archaeologist. Your mission is to unearth the storytelling secrets hidden beneath the surface of the film you chose.
Viewing #1
I know it’s your favorite, but as you go through this first time, write down your favorite moments and note at what time or on what page number they occur. Was it a plot point that intrigued you? A clever line of dialogue? A character moment? Write it down and write down why you reacted the way you did to that element.
Do this for the whole movie, then read back through what you observed.
Viewing #2
This round is all about the story. In one or two sentences, write down what happens in each scene that moves the story forward. What’s the main conflict in each scene? You can number the scenes or write a general location of where the scene takes place.
If scenes are revolving around a sub-plot, see how that smaller story is resolved or if it dovetails into the main story.
By the end, you should be able to go back through your notes and see the primary story arc evolve throughout the film. Does each scene feed into the next? Do you notice a pattern as to when the story has significant changes?
All screenplays have a basic story structure. There are dozens of ways to break down that structure, but for the purposes of this exercise, I’ll refer you to The Syd Field Paradigm.
If the screenwriter did their job correctly, these elements should be crystal clear and easy to identify as you review your notes. Highlight or underline what you feel these moments are.
Viewing #3
This final round is all about character. Your job is to watch how the main character changes over the course of the story. What traits do they have at the start of the story? Do they become a better person or a worse person by the end?
This is another scene-by-scene breakdown. Write down in a couple sentences what the main character is doing, how they’re acting, what you feel their motivation or conflict is in the scene. As you go through, you should be able to see their discernable character arc as they navigate their way through the ups and downs of the plot. How does the story impact who they are as a character? How do they impact the events of the story?
Read back through and see if you can clearly identify when the writer began to make changes in the character and how those changes altered the main character by the end of the story.
So, What Did We Learn?
So, now you’ve watched your favorite film three more times and have done some digging into its inner workings. By breaking the movie into its basic components, you have a clearer picture of how this screenwriter crafted a compelling story with an interesting main character. You can see where the story beats are, where the direction of the story changes, and how those elements either impact the main character’s arc or how their arc impacts the story.
Keep this exercise in mind when you finish a draft of your screenplay, play, or novel. If you were to sit down and do this exercise with your work, could you summarize what’s happening in each scene in a sentence or two? Would those sentences be enough to show the main story’s arc throughout the narrative? Does your main character evolve over the course of the story? What happens to cause the change from start to finish?
Consider doing this exercise with your own work to help you strengthen your story and main character in your different drafts.
Extra Credit
Now, if you enjoyed that exercise, why not try it with a movie you strongly dislike? I know it can be hard to stomach a film you can’t stand, but take the emotion out and look at it from an analytical perspective.
The first time through, write down all the elements you dislike and why. If anything does work for you, write it down.
The second and third viewings should be done similar to the ones stated above. You may find that the story arc and/or main character arc are weak and lacking in a lot of ways.
How would you, as this film’s screenwriter, fix these weaknesses? When you read back through, brainstorm what you would have done to make the story and character elements stronger and more effective.
You can learn a lot from both good and bad films by breaking their stories down into their component parts. I highly recommend reading screenplays for films as well. Screenplays give you the nuts and bolts of story and character without the distraction and spectacle so you can analyze things even more in-depth. I recommend checking out the link below to find screenplays to break down and analyze.
Happy writing and analyzing. I’ll see you next week!
Writing Tip of the Week: Facing the Ominous Blank Page
Happy 2022, everyone! I’m sure by now you’ve planned out your writing goals for the new year, but sometimes the most challenging part of digging into those goals is facing the ominous and foreboding blank page. Whether on your laptop with a blinking cursor, or a pad of lined paper, the blank page is something all writers face, from newbies to seasoned vets.
So, how do you break through the intimidation factor that can occur when staring into the blank abyss?
Fact: The Blank Page is Inevitable
The blank page will always be an ever-present factor in your writing life. It can’t hurt you. It can’t harm you. It can’t do anything but sit there and quietly taunt you.
Don’t let it win!
You can’t learn to swim unless you get in the water, and you can’t ride a bike without getting on one. And you can’t conquer the blank page without adding words and conquering its blankness.
Here are a couple ways to defeat it.
Write Anything
Conquer your fear by jumping into the blank page by writing whatever pops into your head. It can be relevant to your story, but the trick is to eliminate the blankness by adding words to the canvas.
Write a poem. Write a thank-you note. Write a logline. Just write something to get the words on the page.
Write Down Questions
Your story has a lot of elements. If you’re having a hard time diving into the meat and potatoes of the writing, write down questions related to your story, characters, setting, etc. This will break up the blank page and give you story-specific things to think about as you begin your writing process.
Don’t Start at the Start
At this stage, there’s no need to begin your writing project at the beginning. What chapter, scene, or sequence gets you excited about the project? Is there a character’s description that intrigues you most?
Why not start there?
It’s all part of the same project, and if writing that piece gets the words flowing, then that’s the best place to start.
Remember, you can always go back and write the beginning later.
This year, fight the good by dominating and defeating the evil and dastardly blank page. Your creativity is counting on you!
Happy New Year, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
So, how do you break through the intimidation factor that can occur when staring into the blank abyss?
Fact: The Blank Page is Inevitable
The blank page will always be an ever-present factor in your writing life. It can’t hurt you. It can’t harm you. It can’t do anything but sit there and quietly taunt you.
Don’t let it win!
You can’t learn to swim unless you get in the water, and you can’t ride a bike without getting on one. And you can’t conquer the blank page without adding words and conquering its blankness.
Here are a couple ways to defeat it.
Write Anything
Conquer your fear by jumping into the blank page by writing whatever pops into your head. It can be relevant to your story, but the trick is to eliminate the blankness by adding words to the canvas.
Write a poem. Write a thank-you note. Write a logline. Just write something to get the words on the page.
Write Down Questions
Your story has a lot of elements. If you’re having a hard time diving into the meat and potatoes of the writing, write down questions related to your story, characters, setting, etc. This will break up the blank page and give you story-specific things to think about as you begin your writing process.
Don’t Start at the Start
At this stage, there’s no need to begin your writing project at the beginning. What chapter, scene, or sequence gets you excited about the project? Is there a character’s description that intrigues you most?
Why not start there?
It’s all part of the same project, and if writing that piece gets the words flowing, then that’s the best place to start.
Remember, you can always go back and write the beginning later.
This year, fight the good by dominating and defeating the evil and dastardly blank page. Your creativity is counting on you!
Happy New Year, and I’ll see you in two weeks!
Writing Challenge: A Sensory Exercise
The next time you’re out someplace waiting in line, getting food, ordering a coffee, or at the mall, take a few moments to fully take in your surroundings.
• What do you see?
• What do you hear?
• What do you feel?
• What do you smell?
• What do you taste?
Take out a notepad, or open the Notes App on your phone if that would make you feel less self-conscious. Write down everything you take in with your senses. Sights, sounds, colors, mannerisms, people quirks, etc. Almost as if you are looking at a moving painting.
Later, take your notes a write out the scene with as much detail as possible, using all the sensory elements as a guide. Paint the reader a vivid picture as if they are present at the location with you.
Do a few drafts, adding more detail and sensory elements with each pass.
Once you feel you’ve created a sensory-loaded piece, give it to a trusted friend or loved one to read. Did they experience all the sensory elements?
This is a great exercise to work on bringing the reader into a scene in more vivid and dynamic ways.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
• What do you see?
• What do you hear?
• What do you feel?
• What do you smell?
• What do you taste?
Take out a notepad, or open the Notes App on your phone if that would make you feel less self-conscious. Write down everything you take in with your senses. Sights, sounds, colors, mannerisms, people quirks, etc. Almost as if you are looking at a moving painting.
Later, take your notes a write out the scene with as much detail as possible, using all the sensory elements as a guide. Paint the reader a vivid picture as if they are present at the location with you.
Do a few drafts, adding more detail and sensory elements with each pass.
Once you feel you’ve created a sensory-loaded piece, give it to a trusted friend or loved one to read. Did they experience all the sensory elements?
This is a great exercise to work on bringing the reader into a scene in more vivid and dynamic ways.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Challenge: Creating a Character
People. We see them every day in some form. Whether it’s in person, on TV, in a movie, or in a photograph, each person is unique and has their own unique look, traits, and personality.
Either through observation out in the real world or via your TV, computer screen, a new story, etc., find a photo of a person (they can be anyone), and write a detailed description of them. If they are a celebrity or politician, give them a new name and profession.
• Describe what they look like.
• What do they do?
• What are they doing that day?
• Who are they with?
• How do they interact with others?
• What thoughts do they have?
• What do they think others think about them?
In this exercise, details matter, so take your time to create a three-dimensional look at this individual. Don’t be afraid to get silly, or dark, or outlandish, this is your opportunity to flex your creative muscles and create a whole new life for an existing person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Either through observation out in the real world or via your TV, computer screen, a new story, etc., find a photo of a person (they can be anyone), and write a detailed description of them. If they are a celebrity or politician, give them a new name and profession.
• Describe what they look like.
• What do they do?
• What are they doing that day?
• Who are they with?
• How do they interact with others?
• What thoughts do they have?
• What do they think others think about them?
In this exercise, details matter, so take your time to create a three-dimensional look at this individual. Don’t be afraid to get silly, or dark, or outlandish, this is your opportunity to flex your creative muscles and create a whole new life for an existing person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Exercise: Using the Story Formula
Last time, we looked at the template needed to create a basic story formula:
HERO + GOAL + OPPOSITION = CONFLICT = STORY
For this exercise, use this template and brainstorm five to ten original ideas that utilize this framework.
• What types of HEROES can you create that are unique and interesting?
• What variety of GOALS can you come up with that would motivate a hero to actively pursue them?
• What types of OPPOSITION would throw the hero off-balance and cause them to lose sight of their goal?
• Do any of your ideas stand out as potential concepts for a larger story?
Maybe they all work, perhaps only a couple, but this is a great way to flesh out in its most basic form how a story and its conflict might work on a larger scale.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
HERO + GOAL + OPPOSITION = CONFLICT = STORY
For this exercise, use this template and brainstorm five to ten original ideas that utilize this framework.
• What types of HEROES can you create that are unique and interesting?
• What variety of GOALS can you come up with that would motivate a hero to actively pursue them?
• What types of OPPOSITION would throw the hero off-balance and cause them to lose sight of their goal?
• Do any of your ideas stand out as potential concepts for a larger story?
Maybe they all work, perhaps only a couple, but this is a great way to flesh out in its most basic form how a story and its conflict might work on a larger scale.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Exercise: What’s in a Theme?
Last time, we looked at themes and how they can be incorporated into your writing. Themes help enhance the story and its characters and can add layers of meaning to your story.
Exploring Themes
Take some time to watch your favorite movie or a TV episode and write down all the possible themes that pop out at you.
• What themes are obvious?
• What themes are subtler?
• What themes are in opposition to one another?
• How do the story’s themes enhance the story or characters?
• Are these themes you have seen many times before in other films and TV shows?
Do this with as many films or shows as you wish. You may find thematic patterns in genres as you explore.
Recycling Themes
Using those themes, think about how you could reuse some or all of them in a short story.
• Can they be presented differently?
• Are there ways to use those themes that give them more impact and meaning?
• What if you made an obvious theme subtle and a subtle theme obvious?
Write a 500-word story that uses these themes to enhance what’s happening.
Your Work
Are you working on a manuscript, a screenplay, or a play? Read through what you have and find the themes within your own work.
• Are they obvious or subtle?
• Do the themes provide greater meaning to the characters or story?
• Do you have opposing themes that enhance conflict?
• Are there ways to refine and fine-tune the themes for greater impact?
The theme is an essential element in your story. Take the time to develop and enhance your themes and take your story to the next level.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Exploring Themes
Take some time to watch your favorite movie or a TV episode and write down all the possible themes that pop out at you.
• What themes are obvious?
• What themes are subtler?
• What themes are in opposition to one another?
• How do the story’s themes enhance the story or characters?
• Are these themes you have seen many times before in other films and TV shows?
Do this with as many films or shows as you wish. You may find thematic patterns in genres as you explore.
Recycling Themes
Using those themes, think about how you could reuse some or all of them in a short story.
• Can they be presented differently?
• Are there ways to use those themes that give them more impact and meaning?
• What if you made an obvious theme subtle and a subtle theme obvious?
Write a 500-word story that uses these themes to enhance what’s happening.
Your Work
Are you working on a manuscript, a screenplay, or a play? Read through what you have and find the themes within your own work.
• Are they obvious or subtle?
• Do the themes provide greater meaning to the characters or story?
• Do you have opposing themes that enhance conflict?
• Are there ways to refine and fine-tune the themes for greater impact?
The theme is an essential element in your story. Take the time to develop and enhance your themes and take your story to the next level.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Exercise: Blackout Writing
As I sat down to write this post, the power at my apartment complex went out. I’m talking 100% total blackout. And being enveloped in total darkness - save for my laptop’s glowing screen – gave me an idea for today’s writing exercise.
One night, turn off all the lights in your room and sit as quietly as possible. Do this for five to ten minutes.
• Note in your head what sounds you hear.
o Do you know where the sounds are coming from?
o What else could be making those noises?
• Can you hear people talking? Can you tell what they’re saying? Their tone of voice?
• Do you smell anything?
• What images pop into your head as you sit in the darkness? Do you think you see things in the darkness that aren’t really there?
• What thoughts pop into your head?
• What ideas have arrived as you sit in the dark, still space?
• Do any noises, voices, smells, or thoughts spark any story ideas?
Once you turn the lights back on and your eyes adjust to the light, write down what you heard, smelled, and thought. Be as descriptive as possible.
Write a short story based on your experience.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
One night, turn off all the lights in your room and sit as quietly as possible. Do this for five to ten minutes.
• Note in your head what sounds you hear.
o Do you know where the sounds are coming from?
o What else could be making those noises?
• Can you hear people talking? Can you tell what they’re saying? Their tone of voice?
• Do you smell anything?
• What images pop into your head as you sit in the darkness? Do you think you see things in the darkness that aren’t really there?
• What thoughts pop into your head?
• What ideas have arrived as you sit in the dark, still space?
• Do any noises, voices, smells, or thoughts spark any story ideas?
Once you turn the lights back on and your eyes adjust to the light, write down what you heard, smelled, and thought. Be as descriptive as possible.
Write a short story based on your experience.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Exercise: A Mundane Task
As writers, we always look for ways to hook and excite the reader. We want to engage the audience and keep them intrigued by the story from start to finish. Whether it’s a murder mystery, an action sequence, or a knitting contest, our goal is to keep our readers turning to the next page.
And while creating excitement, conflict, and tension are built into certain events, I wondered this weekend if mundane, day-to-day activities could be written similarly.
• Pick a mundane task that everyone does (laundry, dishes, paying bills, getting gas or charging your car, etc.).
• Write it in the first-person POV.
• Take some time to write out the steps involved in the task in the order that works best for you.
• Examine the list. Are there any places where you can add excitement, conflict, or tension? Where could a problem occur that might prevent you from completing the task?
• When you set out to write the scene, be as descriptive as possible, making sure to use all five senses to transport the reader to the location and make them feel they are there with you while you undertake this seemingly tedious task.
• The task should be completed by you as the character by the end of the scene.
• See if you can write it in 500-words or less.
By taking day-to-day events and finding creative ways to twist them into a compelling narrative, you can enhance your stories and deliver page-turning narratives to your readers.
If you are working on a story, are there ways to add moments with your character doing day-to-day things that can give us insight into who they are as a person? Are there ways you can give this run-of-the-mill task a boost by having the character do it uniquely?
And while creating excitement, conflict, and tension are built into certain events, I wondered this weekend if mundane, day-to-day activities could be written similarly.
• Pick a mundane task that everyone does (laundry, dishes, paying bills, getting gas or charging your car, etc.).
• Write it in the first-person POV.
• Take some time to write out the steps involved in the task in the order that works best for you.
• Examine the list. Are there any places where you can add excitement, conflict, or tension? Where could a problem occur that might prevent you from completing the task?
• When you set out to write the scene, be as descriptive as possible, making sure to use all five senses to transport the reader to the location and make them feel they are there with you while you undertake this seemingly tedious task.
• The task should be completed by you as the character by the end of the scene.
• See if you can write it in 500-words or less.
By taking day-to-day events and finding creative ways to twist them into a compelling narrative, you can enhance your stories and deliver page-turning narratives to your readers.
If you are working on a story, are there ways to add moments with your character doing day-to-day things that can give us insight into who they are as a person? Are there ways you can give this run-of-the-mill task a boost by having the character do it uniquely?
Reading & Writing Exercise: Pick a Chapter, Any Chapter?
It’s time to do some homework! I know, I know. But this is valuable homework that can help you become a stronger writer by breaking down and analyzing a published author’s work.
The Assignment
Pick a book – preferably one you’ve read and enjoyed – then choose a random chapter. Read the chapter from beginning to end two or three times, familiarizing yourself with the style, genre, story points, etc.
Now, it’s time to dive deeply into the chapter and get into what makes it tick.
The Questions
Ask yourself the following questions as you dig into the chapter. You may want to write down or type your answers as go:
• What characters are present in the chapter?
• What are the relationships between the characters in the chapter?
• What is the POV of the chapter (first person, third person, third person limited, omniscient)? Whose POV are we in?
• What’s the main conflict in the chapter?
• What information is known at the start of the chapter?
• What new information is provided or discovered by the end of the chapter?
• Is there any subtext in the dialogue between the characters?
• Does the chapter deal with the main plot or a subplot?
• Does the chapter end on a cliffhanger? Does the end of the chapter compel you to keep reading?
• If you’ve read the book, how does this chapter fit into the overall narrative structure of the novel?
• Are there any weak points or areas of the chapter you feel could be improved?
What’s the Point?
By taking time to analyze a work you enjoy, you can see how the author has structured each chapter as building blocks or puzzle pieces that fit together to create a complete story. While this is an exercise to delve into one chapter, you can also do this for an entire book to deconstruct the structure, conflict, story, etc.
You can also do this with screenplays, plays, or short stories to really get a sense of the structure and other elements that make the story work.
Happy Reading and Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
The Assignment
Pick a book – preferably one you’ve read and enjoyed – then choose a random chapter. Read the chapter from beginning to end two or three times, familiarizing yourself with the style, genre, story points, etc.
Now, it’s time to dive deeply into the chapter and get into what makes it tick.
The Questions
Ask yourself the following questions as you dig into the chapter. You may want to write down or type your answers as go:
• What characters are present in the chapter?
• What are the relationships between the characters in the chapter?
• What is the POV of the chapter (first person, third person, third person limited, omniscient)? Whose POV are we in?
• What’s the main conflict in the chapter?
• What information is known at the start of the chapter?
• What new information is provided or discovered by the end of the chapter?
• Is there any subtext in the dialogue between the characters?
• Does the chapter deal with the main plot or a subplot?
• Does the chapter end on a cliffhanger? Does the end of the chapter compel you to keep reading?
• If you’ve read the book, how does this chapter fit into the overall narrative structure of the novel?
• Are there any weak points or areas of the chapter you feel could be improved?
What’s the Point?
By taking time to analyze a work you enjoy, you can see how the author has structured each chapter as building blocks or puzzle pieces that fit together to create a complete story. While this is an exercise to delve into one chapter, you can also do this for an entire book to deconstruct the structure, conflict, story, etc.
You can also do this with screenplays, plays, or short stories to really get a sense of the structure and other elements that make the story work.
Happy Reading and Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Writing Exercise: Clothing Details
I’ve been reading the Game of Thrones novels, and one of the things that stands out to me is the detailed descriptions of each character’s clothing. One to two paragraphs are often dedicated to how a character dresses, which makes sense given the era. Attention to detail can signify a character’s rank, status, and class within the story’s context.
With the unfortunate passing of Queen Elizabeth II and her upcoming funeral service, the images of the Royals and their clothing for key events gave me an idea for a writing exercise.
The Exercise
Pick a member of the Royal family or the Royal staff and write as detailed as possible about what they’re wearing in one to two paragraphs.
Pay specific attention to the clothing, don’t worry about who’s wearing it.
This exercise is to work on how detailed and intricate you can describe what your chosen individual is wearing.
Now, suppose you don’t want to use someone from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In that case, you can find Google images of Meghan and Harry’s wedding and pick someone from that event.
Bonus Exercise
Find another person wearing one of those intricate hats at the wedding or funeral and describe it in one or two paragraphs. Again, the more detailed your description, the better.
Fine-tune your paragraphs and read over them a few times.
Final Thoughts
A character’s clothing can give us insight into who they are. By showing and not telling, the reader can get a sense of who the character is before a line of dialogue is spoken.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
With the unfortunate passing of Queen Elizabeth II and her upcoming funeral service, the images of the Royals and their clothing for key events gave me an idea for a writing exercise.
The Exercise
Pick a member of the Royal family or the Royal staff and write as detailed as possible about what they’re wearing in one to two paragraphs.
Pay specific attention to the clothing, don’t worry about who’s wearing it.
This exercise is to work on how detailed and intricate you can describe what your chosen individual is wearing.
Now, suppose you don’t want to use someone from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In that case, you can find Google images of Meghan and Harry’s wedding and pick someone from that event.
Bonus Exercise
Find another person wearing one of those intricate hats at the wedding or funeral and describe it in one or two paragraphs. Again, the more detailed your description, the better.
Fine-tune your paragraphs and read over them a few times.
Final Thoughts
A character’s clothing can give us insight into who they are. By showing and not telling, the reader can get a sense of who the character is before a line of dialogue is spoken.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
