Writing a Story: Exercise by Exercise - 5
As I noted in the earlier articles of this series, writing readable prose is a multi-tasked process. With these exercises, we are simplifying the process to accelerate your status to that of author by breaking a story into components and using exercises to draft it one element at a time.
If you've tried to write, you know that words just don't automatically gush out to form sentences, paragraphs and stories. A writer chooses his words much like a painter chooses colors and brush-strokes to drive each paragraph to work together to complete the canvas. Instead of paint and colors, a writer uses character development, descriptive prose, and dialogue to create a compelling story.
We are telling a story based on the following simple plot.
~A boy enters a room. His sister joins him. They do their task. They leave the room together.~
In Exercise 1, we described the room the boy is entering. In Exercise 2 we created the character of the boy. Next we described how the boy enters the room. Then we created a second character – the boy's sister.
Now we are going to write a paragraph describing how the sister enters the room to join her brother. Does she follow her brother's point of entry? Or does she enter from a different place—window, door, trap door? How is her demeanor—is she carefree, furtive, concerned, laughing? Does she move quickly or slowly? Does she study the room? Where does she go when she enters? Does she say anything to her brother? Does she limp, or have any other traits when she walks? Is she carrying anything? What is she wearing?
As with the boy's entry, your previous description of the room will be important in determining how the sister enters the room. If the room is dark, she will be careful. If it smells bad, she might be inclined to hold her nose. She will enter a hospital room differently than she would enter a video game room. So as you describe how she is entering, keep in mind the type of room. If her approach is different than her brother's, explain the difference. Her character as you've described in the previous exercise will help determine this.
Again, it is useful to watch in your everyday life how someone enters a building or store and note how the real-life person opens and closes a door. For this exercise, it is helpful to note how two people enter at the same time so that you can see how a second person follows the first. Do they watch the first person? Do they hang back? This could help you explain the sister's entry following her brother.
These simple exercises provide a first step to telling your story. Take your time and have fun. However, remember these paragraphs are exercises, so they don't have to be perfect. Also, you'll have a chance to edit your writing later. So for now, focus on just getting something on paper or in your Word document.
Next time we'll focus on creating dialogue—a critical part of fictional writing to engage readers.
Joyce T. Strand
Author of the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series
http://joycestrand.com
If you've tried to write, you know that words just don't automatically gush out to form sentences, paragraphs and stories. A writer chooses his words much like a painter chooses colors and brush-strokes to drive each paragraph to work together to complete the canvas. Instead of paint and colors, a writer uses character development, descriptive prose, and dialogue to create a compelling story.
We are telling a story based on the following simple plot.
~A boy enters a room. His sister joins him. They do their task. They leave the room together.~
In Exercise 1, we described the room the boy is entering. In Exercise 2 we created the character of the boy. Next we described how the boy enters the room. Then we created a second character – the boy's sister.
Now we are going to write a paragraph describing how the sister enters the room to join her brother. Does she follow her brother's point of entry? Or does she enter from a different place—window, door, trap door? How is her demeanor—is she carefree, furtive, concerned, laughing? Does she move quickly or slowly? Does she study the room? Where does she go when she enters? Does she say anything to her brother? Does she limp, or have any other traits when she walks? Is she carrying anything? What is she wearing?
As with the boy's entry, your previous description of the room will be important in determining how the sister enters the room. If the room is dark, she will be careful. If it smells bad, she might be inclined to hold her nose. She will enter a hospital room differently than she would enter a video game room. So as you describe how she is entering, keep in mind the type of room. If her approach is different than her brother's, explain the difference. Her character as you've described in the previous exercise will help determine this.
Again, it is useful to watch in your everyday life how someone enters a building or store and note how the real-life person opens and closes a door. For this exercise, it is helpful to note how two people enter at the same time so that you can see how a second person follows the first. Do they watch the first person? Do they hang back? This could help you explain the sister's entry following her brother.
These simple exercises provide a first step to telling your story. Take your time and have fun. However, remember these paragraphs are exercises, so they don't have to be perfect. Also, you'll have a chance to edit your writing later. So for now, focus on just getting something on paper or in your Word document.
Next time we'll focus on creating dialogue—a critical part of fictional writing to engage readers.
Joyce T. Strand
Author of the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series
http://joycestrand.com
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