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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Every picture tells a story (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.internetwritingwor
kshop.org/).
Prepared
by: Rhéal Nadeau
Posted on: March 8, 2003
Reposted on: January 11, 2004
Reposted on: January 16, 2005
Reposted, revised, on: March 5, 2007
Reposted, revised, on: April 12, 2009
Reposted, revised, on: December 18, 2016
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Exercise: In 400 words or less describe a single moment in time--a
"snapshot" without using dialogue or action.
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Often an image, photo, drawing, painting, or even a piece of sculpture
suggests an entire story without words, action, interpretation, or
explanation. This exercise asks you, the writer, to pay careful attention
to details and help the reader experience an emotional response to an
image or sculpture.
Can you "show" the story behind the image? Try not to write a generic
"the man looks unhappy," but instead describe him, e.g., "his eyes are
downcast, the corners of his mouth are turned down, he hangs his head."
Use simple descriptive language, and remember to show, not tell.
Tamp down any urge to interpret and direct the reader. Simply tell us what
you see and let the reader decide how all this "showing" can be interpreted.
If there are people in the picture you are describing, remember to
talk about the image as if you were looking at a snapshot.
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Exercise: In 400 words or less describe a single moment in time--a
"snapshot" without using dialogue or action.
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In Critiquing: What is the single revealing moment you take away from
the scene's description? What part of the writing helped you to see or
imagine a drama or story submerged in the image?
Highlight any place in the writing where the author resorted to telling rather
than showing. Was he/she a photographer or a director?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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