Tuesday, September 01, 2009

SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER...

During dinner we were serenaded by the rustling of the palms...

Yesterday's exercise was to create two separate paragraphs either first or third person that addressed gender. How to reveal the sex of the speaker so a reader knows exactly whether the protagonist is a man or woman without being obvious...like having them look in a mirror...DUH!!!!We also had to make one sympathetic and the other unsympathetic-
Then we took our gender paragraphs and turned them into a dialogue (monologue) and made them unsympathetic if they originally were sympathetic and vice versa...
I learned a lot plus it was fun. We made each other laugh so hard we nearly peed our pants (speaking for myself only of course).
Tonight's homework was a one page two person dialogue that was suspenseful.
It's now after 11 pm and I am wishing I started my homework earlier...
If I don't finish I'll say TOOLOOSE ate my homework...or at least his alien space monkeys did...
So what are your excuses?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Miss Wood:
I just ran into your husband, and he asked me to thank you for a wonderful birthday dinner at Orchids in the Halekulani, with Jackie, Pam, Holly and you. Great of you guys to take time from the Retreat.
ZD

Unknown said...

Lottery was INCREDIBLE!!!Your book was awesome beyond words! I loved it so much and everyone I have recommended it to loves it! Best book I have read in years....really!
Please write another book!!!!
You ROCK!
Thanks,
Julie Miller
Atlanta

Jne P said...

What great exercises. I follow Agent Kristen over at Pub Rants and looks like she will soon be at the conference too, according to her blog.

One of her commenters wrote yesterday, "Remember, the Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change and the Realist adjusts his sails."

I had to share that with you.

Khanh Ha said...

Agreed with you on the dialogue mechanics. No character should speak like another no matter how you put words in their mouths. My favorite dialogues that defy the Resist-the-Urge-to-Explain rule is these two:

“You can’t be serious,” she said in astonishment.

“I repeat,” repeated Alex.

ORION said...

aw shucks julie thanks!
yeah am looking forward to saying hi to agent kristin again...
Khanh- GREAT sentences lol!