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IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Sayings

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: Florence Cardinal
Posted on: Sun, 16 Sep 2001

We've all heard the old sayings, like the ones from Aesop's fables, or maybe from the Bible. Things like "Slow and Steady Wins the Race" or "Do Unto Others as You would Have Them Do Unto You." Most of these are based on a story or a parable that illustrates the saying.

For this week's exercise, take one of your favorite sayings and, in 300 to 500 words, write your own story to illustrate the point. End with the saying so we know what you were trying to show us.

If you want examples of more of these sayings, you'll find a lot of Aesop's fables here: http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/


Florence Cardinal's wrap-up
Posted on: Sun, 23 Sep 2001

This has been a busy week - a great week, with so many subs and critiques. Great subs, by the way. Most of you chose well-known sayings - A stitch in time saves nine, Look before you leap, Don't air your dirty linen, etc. but I was pleased to see some lesser known ones as well - even one from the Zulu people and a Chinese saying I had never heard.

I think this exercise goes to illustrate two things - First, stories are everywhere. Almost any sentence, whether it's an old saying, a quote from your favorite book, or just something you hear on the street - can spawn a story.

Second - Every story carries a moral, a theme, a premise. In some cases, this moral is very obvious, as in most of the stories you submitted this week. In other stories, it's less obvious, but it's there.

All in all, a good week and a great body of work from everyone. Well done.

Florence


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