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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: What You Don't Know (Version 2)
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.internetwritingwor
kshop.org/).
Prepared by Ruth Douillette
Posted: Sunday 21 Jan 2007
Reposted: Sunday 6 April 2008
Revised and Reposted: Sunday 7 June 2009
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which a character's
secret is discovered, and show how that revelation causes others to
behave in ways that reveal their true nature.
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People are not always what they seem. They keep secrets, hide skeletons in
closets, or don't speak of an illness they have. On a less somber note, they
may downplay their wealth or status, or keep an achievement quiet. When such
a secret is revealed, other people react in various ways. Writers can use
such a situation to add conflict to a plot and to show their readers more about
the characters involved.
An example of such a revelation might be when a husband survives a plane crash,
and the stunned wife discovers that he had been traveling with another woman with
whom he had had a child years before. Such a revelation might change not only the
marriage, but also the husband and wife. What would the actions of these people
tell us about their character and their feelings?
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which a character's
secret is discovered, and show how that revelation causes others to
behave in ways that reveal their true nature.
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Critique by discussing how the revelation changes the perspectives of the characters
involved. What is learned about the characters from their response to what has been
uncovered? Does the piece work or not? And, if so, why? How could it be improved?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Greg Gunther.
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