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IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Wake Up


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/).

Prepared by: Charles Hightower
Posted on: September 21, 2008
Reposted on: May 16, 2010
Reposted on: May 22, 2011
Reposted on: June 17, 2012
Reposted on: March 9, 2014
Reposted on: May 1, 2016
Reposted on: June 18, 2017
Reposted on: April 14, 2019
Reposted on: May 2, 2021
Reposted on: September 17, 2023

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Exercise: In 400 words or less, your character awakes in an
unexpected location and you must show how the character reacts.

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Your character comes to consciousness and is surprised by the
surroundings. Show your readers what the character experiences,
how he/she behaves.

The tale should begin the moment the character wakes up. 
Remember, this is not to be a story about a dream, but about a real
event in your character's life.

-------------------------

In your critiques, note how well the writer has constructed the setting
and shown us authentic characters acting in believable ways. What do we
learn of the characters from their reactions? Would you
like to read more of the story? And, as usual, pay attention to all the
technical concerns that go into good writing.


Web site created by Rhéal Nadeau and the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.