A Writing Prompt Writing prompts are great ways to jump start the imagination. But sometimes a writing prompt alone can't get you writing. You look at it and think, "Hmmm, where should I go with this?" Here's a writing prompt along with suggestions and hints on how to develop them. The Prompt I just wanted her to tell me I was okay — I just wanted her to love me and not knock me down and tear me apart. "Can’t you just love me, Mom, just love me the way I look tonight, and tell me I look fine," I pleaded with her inside of my head. Reason was not a way of life in our house. Suggestions and Hints Opportunity for dialogue and strong point of view. What is going on between the mother and daughter? First write the scene from the daughter’s point of view, using the daughter's inner thought and lots of dialogue. Then put that aside and write the scene from the mother’s point of view. You need not have the exact same dialogue and almost certainly the story will be very different from the mother’s point of view. This is a great eye opener of an exercise geared to deepening your understand of the writer's technique of point of view. It also encourages dialogue. Even if you've never written dialogue, give it a try. I've worked with a lot of people who think they can't write dialogue -- only because they've never tried. The truth is everyone can write dialogue! Go for it!
© 2006-2007 The Art of Fiction Writing by Emily Hanlon. This exercise may be used on your website or blog so long as there is a link back to www.thefictionwritersjourney.com. You must email emily@emilyhanlon.com advising her about your usage. |
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