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IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Action! (Version 3)


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.internetwritingworkshop.org/).

Prepared by: Rheal Nadeau
Posted on: 8 Jul 2001
Posted on: 11 Jul 2004
Reposted, revised, on: 16 Jul 2006
Reposted, revised, on: 9 Mar 2008
Reposted on: 11 Oct 2009
Reposted on: 28 April 2011

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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which one or more characters demonstrate traits like "nice" or "loving" or "wicked" or "pitiful" or any other characteristic through their actions. Make us know the characters through what they say or do, rather than through vague descriptive words.

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Some words have been used so often as to have practically lost all meaning. Think of the following phrases we might come across while writing or reading:
 
    he's a nice guy
    she is a loving mother
    she was an abusive mother
    he was very pious
 
All deal with strong concepts, but in weak ways--we don't get a specific image. Such phrases have been used and overused and have lost much of their power. In mostcases, it would be better to replace those with an action or two showing the concept.
 
For example, how was he "a nice guy"? Did he buy her roses, or do the dishes without being asked? What does a loving mother do, or an abusive one? A proper action can show "nice" or "loving" or "abusive," but even more, it can tell us something about the character involved.

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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which one or more characters demonstrate traits like "nice" or "loving" or "wicked" or "pitiful" or any other characteristic through their actions. Make us know the characters through what they say or do, rather than through vague descriptive words.

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Critics should tell us what they learn of the characters through those actions, and note any wasted, nebulous words.



Web site created by Rhéal Nadeau and the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.