Writing a Story: Exercise by Exercise - 7
As I noted in the first articles of this series, writing readable prose is a multi-tasked process. However, we are simplifying the process by breaking a story into components and using exercises to draft it one element at a time.
We are telling a story based on the following 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. Next we wrote a paragraph to describe how the sister enters the room to join her brother. Then we wrote some dialogue in which the brother and sister argued over what they should do.
Once the brother and sister have finished arguing, describe how they perform whatever they are there to do. Do they divide and conquer? Does the boy do all of it while the sister looks on, or vice versa? Describe who is doing what. Are they moving quickly or carefully? How are they implementing their task? Do they use their own clothes to carry something? Did they bring something to carry? Do they hear voices or see anything while they are doing their task?
To help you write about the fictional activity of your brother and sister, describe a task you are sharing with someone, like straightening up your house, preparing a presentation, working on your car, or preparing dinner.
Remember, you are creating the situation and the activity. You can create whatever activity or situation you want. They could be vampires in search of blood or a dark place to sleep, or two kids at their beach house looking for their swim suits. You're in charge. Have fun.
Also, keep in mind that you can edit whatever you write. What's important is to practice writing—to make the page come alive with words.
Next our two characters will complete their task and leave the room.
Joyce T. Strand
Author of the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series;
http://joycestrand.com
We are telling a story based on the following 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. Next we wrote a paragraph to describe how the sister enters the room to join her brother. Then we wrote some dialogue in which the brother and sister argued over what they should do.
Once the brother and sister have finished arguing, describe how they perform whatever they are there to do. Do they divide and conquer? Does the boy do all of it while the sister looks on, or vice versa? Describe who is doing what. Are they moving quickly or carefully? How are they implementing their task? Do they use their own clothes to carry something? Did they bring something to carry? Do they hear voices or see anything while they are doing their task?
To help you write about the fictional activity of your brother and sister, describe a task you are sharing with someone, like straightening up your house, preparing a presentation, working on your car, or preparing dinner.
Remember, you are creating the situation and the activity. You can create whatever activity or situation you want. They could be vampires in search of blood or a dark place to sleep, or two kids at their beach house looking for their swim suits. You're in charge. Have fun.
Also, keep in mind that you can edit whatever you write. What's important is to practice writing—to make the page come alive with words.
Next our two characters will complete their task and leave the room.
Joyce T. Strand
Author of the Jillian Hillcrest Mystery Series;
http://joycestrand.com
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