2.3: Exercises of the Elements

chapter 2: exercises of the elements

Let’s practice some of the elements, yeah?\(^{35}\) These exercises cover how to create characters, think about setting and plot, create dialogue, and think about your voice.

exercise 1: the name game.\(^{36}\)

Here is your challenge: for the next few days, collect names. You might collect them from obituaries, news stories, random lists, and spam. Spam is great for funny names. Then go through your list, choose a name, and write a short character sketch* based off that name.

*FYI = Character Sketch: “A character sketch simply summarizes the key personality traits, background, behaviour and nature of a particular character.”\(^{37}\)

exercise 2: lists are your friend.\(^{38}\)

Prep for future stories by making a list of lists.  

• 5 possible endings for your story

• 5 twists

• 5 possible subplots

• 5 ways the subplots could tie into the main plot

• 5 ways the character could grow

• 5 surprising things that we could learn about a character

• 5 ways to add some unexpected elements to the book (humor, suspense, sadness, fear)

• 5 ways to describe the main setting/another setting

exercise 3: through another person’s eyes.\(^{39}\)

Create a setting that involves 2-3 characters. Describe the setting. Then write a paragraph from the point of one character. Now write the same interaction from another character's point of view. For example: your paragraph could involve the point of view of a convenience store clerk contrasted with a customer's point of view of the same incident.

exercise 4: the party.

Sketch out an outline of characters one might find at a party. Set the scene, too, and give us a few plot lines that may occur before, during, and after the party. You don’t have to write the story, simply give us an outline of these pieces.

exercise 5: choose your adventure.\(^{40}\)

In a "Choose Your Adventure" book, you are forced to make a decision at each and every plot point. The decisions you make will take you down diverging paths and dictate your eventual fate. Try this if you're stuck on a plot development detail in your story. Sketch out the two different paths that a character can experience from one plot point, depending on what action he or she chooses to take.

exercise 6: DIY.

Create your own exercise that requires students to test out the elements in this chapter. Share it with the class or teacher.

exercise 7: the room.\(^{41}\)

Write a description of the room you are in from a character you’ve created. What would the character notice first? What would they find odd? What would they love about the room? What would they dislike? Go beyond describing the physical space and capture their attitude about what they see. Let them be snarky or wax poetical. Whatever captures their emotions about the space.

exercise 8: your voice.

Find a nugget of writing by someone, anyone. Then translate that paragraph (or dialogue or whatever it is) into YOUR VOICE. This may be tough but ask yourself how YOU would say the things in the piece by this other person. What words would you use instead? What words need to be added or deleted? Is the tone the kind of tone you like? How can that be changed to sound more like YOU?

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\(^{35}\)These exercises, and any assignments found in this textbook, are all about fulfilling the goal of practicing writing anything in order to challenge ourselves AND to see what we excel in, too.

\(^{36}\)https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exer...the-name-game/

\(^{37}\)Team Leverage Edu. “How to Write a Character Sketch?” 07 Oct 21. https://leverageedu.com/blog/how-to-...racter-sketch/

\(^{38}\)https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exer...e-your-friend/

\(^{39}\)https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exer...person-s-eyes/

\(^{40}\)https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exer...our-adventure/

\(^{41}\)https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exer.../setting/room/

 

“Write about what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” 

---Natalie Goldberg