If your character can't say it, then neither can you.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this postToday's writers' group meeting was small, but we still came up with a challenging writing assignment for next time.
First, though, we shared with each other what we'd been working on and read any writing we had brought with us (this is what I had written). We also had a little in-meeting writing exercise, taken from page 117 of The Writer's Book of Matches.
Writing Exercise: Use the following quote in your writing: "He's pretty scary looking for a mime." Write for ten minutes. I'll include my effort in the comments section, which you are welcome to do, too.
As the meeting wound down, the assignment was given. I had brought a copy of Terry Bisson's classic story They're Made Out of Meat, a story in which only dialogue between two characters tells the entire story. Our goal was to create something along these lines, though it didn't have to be of the Sci-Fi genre.
Writing Assignment: Our assignment for next time, and for any writers out there that want to give it a try themselves (and maybe even leave their efforts in the comments section below), is to write at least a half-page (preferably more) story in which only dialogue may be used. There is to be no other writing, such as "he said" and "turned to her and said", in the story. Only dialogue. Let your reader know everything he or she needs to know through what your characters are saying.
Labels: writing
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 6/17/2006 09:39:00 PM
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Gas
by Julie R. Neidlinger
The man had forgotten to take the usual safety measures at the lab. Twenty years of no accidents and many yawns had caused him to go lax and the day something had to break was the day he'd left his oxygen and gas mask hanging loosely around his neck.
This hadn't seemed like a problem. Today wasn't a bio-hazard day; there were no excursions into rooms and vaults of viruses and bacteria. It was the day of inert gases, gases to help, gases to hurt. And now, unfortunately, gasses that he'd inhaled.
His throat was a desert with no oasis in sight. His nose swelled and grew while his eyes shrunk down to reddened dots.
Staggering out of the building and into the sunlight, his lab coat and unused mask falling to the ground as he struggled to remove any incumbering clothing, he tried to find help.
"Help!" he hollered, but no sound came out. He stumbled up to the main building as the day shift exited. "Please help me!" he mouthed, silent except in his head. He gestured at his throat, the buildings, tried to mimic a mask. The day shift workers stared at him oddly.
"He's pretty scary looking for a mime," a voice in the back said. The day shift walked away.
He remained soundless, swelling still more.
By 
Julie, at
June 18, 2006 9:56 PM
