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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Science into Fiction
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: 8 May 2016
Revised and posted on: 13 October 2019
Reposted on: 18 April 2021
Reposted on: 12 November 2023
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, construct a fictional work that's
built around a scientific discovery or technological advancement.
Your readers should be able to understand the idea of your
"science", without being weighed down by details.
What might happen if someone discovered how to control something
of scientific significance? How would that change your characters'
lives, or those of the general population? Or what if that control
fell into unworthy hands?
Every story needs a problem or a conflict to supply tension to a
plot. A techie tale is no exception. Michael Crichton has made
millions by posing various "what if" types of speculative fiction.
See what kind of story you can develop from just five to ten
minutes of research.
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You might start with a recent discovery / advancement found on a science
website, or create one of your own.
As an example, scientists gained new understanding of how one form of
bacteria can cause water to freeze, though the surrounding temperature
is above freezing. What if an invention could make a life-changing use
of that discovery?
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Critique: Did you understand the writer's science or technology? Did
its explanation flow well with the overall piece? Did the writing draw you
in? Would you have wanted to read more?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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