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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: What's Driving?
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingwor
kshop.org/).
Prepared
by:
Carter Jefferson
Posted on: September 16, 2007
Reposted on: May 10, 2009
Reposted on: April 3, 2011
_____________________
Exercise: In 400 words or less, write an opening scene in which
something happens,
and then you show us a character through that person's thoughts, words,
and
deeds.
Though you may use more than one character, focus on one in particular
to let us
learn as much as possible about that person as the story begins.
_____________________
Characters make a good story whether it is plot-driven or
character-driven. In both
kinds of story something happens and characters react. A reader gains
insight into
characters through their words, thoughts, and deeds.
In a plot-driven story, action tends to predominate; it causes the
character to react.
In a story about a hard-nosed detective who must chase down criminals,
the plot
usually is complex, and the characters not particularly nuanced.
In a character-driven story, the plot action may be minimal, with the
focus on
thoughts and reactions of the character. Characters respond in accord
with their
own feelings. A quiet, reserved widow may react to a butterfly's
alighting on a
flower, and we will learn more about her when that happens.
Choose one of the two styles, plot-driven or character-driven, and
write a scene that
shows us what your character is like.
_____________________
Exercise: In 400 words or less, write an opening scene in which
something happens,
and then you show us a character through that person's thoughts, words,
and
deeds.
Though you may use more than one character, focus on one in particular
to let us
learn as much as possible about that person as the story begins.
_____________________
In your critiques, consider how much you learned of the character, and
note how
you learned that. As usual, critique the writing in general.
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