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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Misunderstanding (v. 3)
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: Alex Quisenberry
Posted on: August 23, 2003
Reposted on: April 17, 2005
Revised and reposted on: June 15, 2008
Revised and reposted on: June 5, 2011
Reposted on: January 4, 2015
Reposted on: February 3, 2019
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a dialogue in which
the two characters misunderstand each other and show us
the consequences of the misunderstanding. You may
include narrative or description, but focus primarily on
the conversation.
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You could have a confusion of time: 2:00 AM for 2:00 PM
and someone showing up at the wrong time. Confusion of
an address or phone number could lead to all sorts of things.
A misunderstanding about picking something up or
dropping something off could produced obstacles in the
plot. A misunderstanding about obligations or duties -
"Oh, you wanted me to clean the cat box the WHOLE time
you were gone?" Mistaken identities are classic.
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Critique: Is it clear how and/or why the characters
misunderstand each other? Are the consequences of the
misunderstanding dire or funny? In the course of the
conversation and confusion do we learn enough about the
characters to make them interesting? Would we read on?
What is the best thing in the story? The worst?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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