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Exercise #531: Craft
Posted 8/2/13
We’ve explored word choice before (in Exercise #28 and #232), and today I want to revisit that theme.
Sometimes it takes only one word to bring home something about the piece we’re reading. I’ve started reading a series by Michelle Sagara; the first book is Cast in Shadow and I haven’t yet figured out the world I’m in, but I know it’s not home.
Talking about an orphanage, the protag calls it a “foundling hall.” I have no trouble understanding what is meant, but the unique usage immediately reminds me this isn’t my world.
For today’s exercise, use the following paragraph and liven it up. Use descriptive words like "foundling hall" to tell us what you want to about the characters. This piece is not meant to be a whole story, only a chance to help the reader identify something about the characters or setting. You do not need to keep it in the same format, but the information in your piece should be recognizable here. For an added challenge, keep your piece under 150 words, write up the paragraph a second time from the other character’s point of view, or both!
Paragraph to use:
My eyes narrowed as I took in the scene. I’d have to enter the building soon, but I wanted to know some details first. <describe the building here> The door opened, shut, and the man who had exited walked straight toward me. <describe the man here>
Critiquers, along with the usual technical critique, you might answer these questions:
* Did the writing help you form impressions about the characters or setting?
* Was this piece helpful to you as a writer? Why or why not?
Word limit: 1200 for one piece, 600 each if writing two
Please use the subject line
SUB: Exercise #531/yourname
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