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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Opening the door (Version 4)
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/).
Originated by: Florence Cardinal as "The Doorway"
Posted on: 21 Oct 2001
Reposted on: 6 Oct 2002
Reposted, revised, on: 21 May 2006
Reposted, revised, on: 29 July 2007
Reposted, revised, on: 22 Nov 2009
Reposted on: 6 Feb 2011
Reposted on: 9 Sep 2012
Reposted on: 7 Feb 2016
Reposted on: 23 Dec 2018
Reposted on: 21 Jun 2020
Reposted on: 8 Aug 2021
Reposted on: 23 Jul 2023
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, let your readers see
a character opening a door, and then show us what the
character sees on the other side.
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This is an exercise in creating a setting--keep that
in mind. Your submission may be the beginning of a story
or a scene, or it may introduce a character. But above
all, this is your chance to practice developing a
backdrop.
Imagine your character at a door. What does it look like?
Where does it lead? The character opens it. Did she need
a key? Did he knock, ring the bell, or just turn the knob
and walk in? Or is there a knob? Does the door lead inside,
or outside?
The door and what the character sees need not be anything
fantastic, although they can be if you so choose. Make sure
you take the time to fully visualize the setting before you
start writing. What counts is not a budding plot, but the
place in which the action gets underway.
Once the door is open, what does the character see, hear,
smell? How about the sense of touch? What does he touch?
Does anything touch her? The wind, perhaps? Describe it all
so your readers can experience it along with you or your
character.
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In your critiques, concentrate on the setting. Can you *see*
the place the character is standing or sitting? Setting
affects characters, so see if you can perceive any such effect.
And, of course, comment on the writing in general.
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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