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Martin family birthday breakfasts followed a strict tradition. First, there were Belgian waffles, made by Belinda, the beloved Hopewell Hotel cook. These were served up with an array of toppings: chocolate syrup, fresh lemon whipped cream, stewed strawberries, and powdered vanilla sugar. The air should have been thick with wafflely perfume. Instead, there was an acrid, confusing smell, undercut by a light touch of smoke.
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Writer in Residence
A Writing exercise I like to use when I’m feeling stuck
I thought I’d share a short writing exercise I use when I’m feeling stuck. I got it from my friend Simon Higgins, who writes great adventure series including Thunderfish, Moonshadow, and Tomadachi. I believe he got the exercise from Rodney Hall, who is another terrific Aussie author and, by all accounts, a brilliant teacher. It is a great way of starting off a piece, and by the end of the exercise you will have a paragraph of prose fiction that follows the “show don’t tell” principle which produces strong, engaging writing. If you do have a go and would like to share, please feel free to post it in the comments section for all to read.
Okay, first think of two characters and in your imagination, place them in a setting e.g. the beach. Now, for each of the following questions (or instructions) write a response in prose fiction:
1. What is the weather like?
2. Mention a sound the characters can hear.
3. Mention a small object near, or between them.
4. There is a change to the weather. What is it?
5. Mention one article of clothing or accessory one of the characters wears or carries.
6. Make the sound happen again, or make them notice it once more.
7. Mention the object again, and connect or relate it to a human mood or emotion in one of
the characters.
8. Recall the article of clothing or accessory, and make whoever wears it or carries it do something
with it.
9. Mention one physical feature or trait of one of the characters.
10. A snippet of dramatic dialogue. One of the characters finally speaks, and what they say or ask
is unexpected.
Here is an example of my responses to numbers 1 and 2:
A cold, southerly breeze ruffled John’s hair and sent a shiver through Elise. They both looked up as a seagull flew overhead, screaming its hunger.
Hope you have fun with it.
Cheers, Al
11 Responses to “A Writing exercise I like to use when I’m feeling stuck”
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MY RESPONSE:
The rain pelted down as Dale dashed through the crowd. Kids were splashing around nearby in the puddles. Dale saw a phone box and rushed towards it. As soon as Dale reached the phone box, it started hailing. “Oh, god, I hope Kylee is somewhere sheltered,” he thought. Dale wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck and huddled against the phone box wall. He could still hear kids playing in the puddles. “Where are their parents?” Dale thought. Dale stared at the phone. He knew he’d have to call Kylee. She might be searching for him. Dale realised he had no money with him so he knelt on the ground and buried his face in the scarf. His long, blonde hair was a mess but that didn’t matter. “WHY CAN’T THIS RAIN STOP?” Dale yelled loudly.
Wow, that’s really helpful. It makes it so much easier to write when you’ve got a guideline like that… here’s my go at it, not too good with the dialogue though :p
The sun beat down on Jamie’s as it had all morning as he bent over the vegetable garden, weeding. A light breeze played through his hair as he looked across to where Emily was half hidden by her own bed of plants. He could hear the dull drone of a tractor in the distance. Jamie picked up the trowel lying nearby on the yellowed grass. The world became grey tinged for a moment as a cloud passed over the sun. It wouldn’t pause to release its load here, they never did. Emily was bent low amongst the ears of corn now, all Jamie could see was her straw hat, old and falling apart. The sound of the tractor grew louder, before fading into the distance once more. Jamie stabbed the trowel into the earth, the pain and anger from what had happened earlier still resonating through his body. Emily sighed and sat back on her heels, pulling the hat off her head and tossing it beside their pile of weeds. She turned her lined, weathered face to Jamie. He stopped hacking at the weeds to return her gaze.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly.
“That corn should be ready to pull soon,” he muttered, avoiding both her eyes and the subject.
“Come inside for some lemonade. We need to talk about this.” With that she rose and walked through the garden to the back door of the house, not even looking to see if he was following.
Excellent exercise for prodding at the stuck mode when it’s good and jammed. New thoughts and new ideas to help clarity and flow is always appreciated, thank you!
Thank you for this lovely motivation.
John & Arnab in April Shower of heavy teardrops hitting the windshield as sunrays filter down. Safe & dry they hear the sound patting musical notes on the glass. Their sad tears brighten with the sun because they are together.
To Laura XD, Sophie, and Debby Bruck: It was great to read your responses to the writing exercise. I’m impressed! Great work all of you. I hope you keep writing.
To julesgregory: I’m glad you liked the exercise. It is one of my favourites too. I’ll give some thought to some others to share.
William and Annette are lying together, in the Peach Orchard, drowning in sunlight. Beside them are the remains of their picnic; fragments of cake on dishes made sticky with caramel sauce; peach stones littered on luscious grass; a half bottle of champagne, sitting in a rapidly melting bucket of ice. They are shocked out of their pleasure by a sudden, loud thump. Slightly ominous yet strangely comforting. As they begin to forget, to sink once again into their bliss, clouds gather, rain falls. Slowly at first then heavier, till huge raindrops are pounding down. In an instant they are saturated; hair plastered to their faces; Annette’s long flowing dress made tight and revealing. The thump comes again, louder more menacing. William jumps to his feet; Annette follows, but trips on the edge of the rug. The food goes flying. Peach stones thunder down, the ice bucket lands in a tree, perfectly balanced on a branch. There is a ripping sound. Annette staggers to her feet, her dress in tatters around her thighs. At the sight of her lovely long legs, William is distracted from his concentration.
“Delicious!” he says, seductively
“You really think so?” she answers with equal passion. “We must run. I would know that thumping sound anywhere.”
“Oh? What is it? Why do we need to run?”
“My heart beating in time with yours. We must be together or we die.”
~
pretty crap…
thanks for the tips on book writing what is your favourite book?
do you like rangers apprentice books i do
anna: No! Not crap, at all! In fact, very vivid with some great sensory detail. Well done.
Ryan mcmahon: I’ve got loads of favourite books - hard to choose - but I really like Anne McCaffrey’s books. I haven’t read any of the rangers apprentice books yet, but thanks for the recommendation.