IWW Practice Exercise, 5/27/07

Exercise: Don't Speak To Me That Way

Prepared by: Ruth Douillette
Posted on: May 27, 2007

Exercise: Read the dialogue below and see what images you get of the people in the car. Choose one and write a scene that lets us "see" the people in the car and their relationship. Show us what they are like, using the dialogue as a springboard. You may choose instead to write your own response to the woman's command and use that for this exercise. Keep subs at 400 words or less.

Dialogue choices:

1- "Take the next exit. I need to go to the washroom," she said.
"Aw, come on, you gonna make me late for the game and the coach will bench me."

2- "Take the next exit. I need to go to the washroom," she said.
"Sure but you know we're already late for the meeting."

3- "Take the next exit. I need to go to the washroom," she said.
"Sure thing, sweetheart, but you're leaving your cell phone and your credit cards in the car."

The response to the woman's request reveals something about the person who replies. It hints at the gender, age, relationship and profession of the responder. In addition, how the woman reacts to the response will reveal a lot about her. Use the inferences you draw from the dialogue and write a scene that lets readers see these people, and understand them, as you do. ____________________________________________________________________________________
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