As promised, the WCS prompt is presented in a more timely manner this week!
It's a good one, and like last week is from the superb VOICE: The Secret Power of Great Writing by James Scott Bell. I've added an expansion to help with the actual writing of a scene.
Chair Through the Window
Imagine that your lead character is in a nice living room with a big bay window. The window looks out on a lovely garden. There is a chair sitting by the piano. Your Lead picks up the chair and throws it through the window. Now ask yourself why. What would make your character do that? This surprising, even shocking action is motivated by something. Brainstorm what that is until you find the motivation that strikes you in the gut.
Once you have the motivation firmly in mind, write the following:
A few moments after the chair incident, someone else arrives on the scene: a spouse/partner, a parent, a landlord, a child, a best friend, a stranger passing by, a police officer, someone who's come to read the meter, a person selling products or selling their religion or seeking donations or looking for a lost dog, etc. Choose one of those persons and write the interaction between your Lead and this person. Repeat with another person, if so desired. Each relationship should change the power dynamic and thereby affect what your Lead is willing to reveal about why they did it.
If this sounds fun and worthwhile, feel free to jump in! We'll create a private thread to share our results and a Zoom discussion is available (but in no way obligatory) at the Huddle South time of Wednesday 8am UK, 3pm Singapore, and 5pm Sydney.
It's a good one, and like last week is from the superb VOICE: The Secret Power of Great Writing by James Scott Bell. I've added an expansion to help with the actual writing of a scene.
Chair Through the Window
Imagine that your lead character is in a nice living room with a big bay window. The window looks out on a lovely garden. There is a chair sitting by the piano. Your Lead picks up the chair and throws it through the window. Now ask yourself why. What would make your character do that? This surprising, even shocking action is motivated by something. Brainstorm what that is until you find the motivation that strikes you in the gut.
Once you have the motivation firmly in mind, write the following:
A few moments after the chair incident, someone else arrives on the scene: a spouse/partner, a parent, a landlord, a child, a best friend, a stranger passing by, a police officer, someone who's come to read the meter, a person selling products or selling their religion or seeking donations or looking for a lost dog, etc. Choose one of those persons and write the interaction between your Lead and this person. Repeat with another person, if so desired. Each relationship should change the power dynamic and thereby affect what your Lead is willing to reveal about why they did it.
If this sounds fun and worthwhile, feel free to jump in! We'll create a private thread to share our results and a Zoom discussion is available (but in no way obligatory) at the Huddle South time of Wednesday 8am UK, 3pm Singapore, and 5pm Sydney.
Unpredictable as weather
