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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Borrowed Words
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).
Originated by: Alice Folkart
Posted on: Aug. 10, 2008
Reposted on: April 18, 2010
Reposted on: March 2, 2014
Reposted on: April 19, 2015
Reposted on: February 12, 2017
Reposted on: May 26, 2019
Reposted on: April 14, 2024
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Exercise: Create a story in 400 words or fewer that begins with an
opening line "borrowed" from something you have read--novel, short
story, poetry, travel guide,
cookbook.
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Imagine how many different stories might spring from the following
opening lines:
"Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself." (Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf)
"When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken
at the elbow." (To Kill a
Mockingbird
- Harper Lee)
"I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." (Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen)
"We lived at 2029 Lafontaine, the last house on the west side of the
street from 178th to 179th, a row of five-story tenements that ended in
a hat
factory." (Bronx Primitive
- Kate Simon )
Of course you needn't use any of these. You are free to choose
from the whole world of literature. Just let us know at the top
of your Sub
where your opening line comes from and who wrote it. That
information will not be
considered part of your word count.
See where the vehicle of someone else's voice and vision might take
you.
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Exercise: Create a story in 400 words or fewer that begins with an
opening line "borrowed" from something you have read--novel, short
story, poetry, travel guide,
cookbook.
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When critiquing, if the quote is a familiar one, consider what kind of
leap the writer has made and how well it works. Is it
interesting, new, radical, or does it echo the voice and intentions of
the original author and work? Is that good, or not so good? If
the work and/or the author are new to you, discuss how well the writer
has used the springboard of another's voice and idea to stretch his own
voice. Have fun.
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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