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IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: It's Magic

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: Alice Folkart
Posted on July 31, 2011
Reposted on January 20, 2013
Reposted on January 11, 2015
Reposted on July 9, 2017
Reposted on August 16, 2020
Reposted on June 11, 2023

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Exercise: In 400 words or less, describe someone, an ordinary person of
any culture, era, age or station, discovering that he/she has some magical
power. Your protagonist could be a head of state, a homeless person, a
child, a grandmother, a crook -- the possibilities are endless.

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Does your protagonist even believe in magic? Does it clash with firmly-held
religious ideas? Does his/her new power scare or delight? Why? Will he/she
use this power for personal gain or for the common good? Is the extent of
this power known? Could it be used to bring about World Peace, find a cure
for cancer, end hunger on this planet or to pass the bar exam without studying?

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In your critique look at whether the author presents a situation that seems
possible or one that definitely in the realm of fairytale. Tell us whether or
not the character is changed by this new power. If not changed, why? If changed,
how and why? You might observe the order in which things happen in the plot and
comment on how that affects the story.


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