|
|
|
IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: A Child is Born (Version 2)
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: 18 February 2007
Reposted on: 11 May 2008
Revised and reposted on: 24 May 2009
Reposted on: 1 Aug 2010
-------------------------
Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which a birth plays an
important
part, and show at least the beginnings of the changes this might cause.
-------------------------
Birth can be an occasion for joy, something to celebrate with flowers
and gifts, or it
may be a disaster for everyone concerned. Sometimes it even comes as a
surprise. It
may take place in a hospital, an ordinary bedroom, or a cotton field.
In any event, it
causes change--in a happy family, in the life of a single mother, or
in the hopes of
succession for the children of a king.
For this exercise, you need not show your readers the actual birth,
though you
certainly
may, but make sure the scene shows how the event is received
and indicates something
of the changes wrought.
-------------------------
Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which a birth plays an
important
part, and show at least the beginnings of the changes this might cause.
-------------------------
In your critiques, note how well the setting is constructed, and
whether we
have been shown authentic characters acting in believable ways. What do
we learn
of the characters from their reactions to the birth? What future
actions does
the scene foreshadow? Would you like to read more of the story? And as
usual, pay attention to all the technical concerns that go into good
writing.
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Greg Gunther.
| | |