This Week's IWW Practice Exercise

Exercise: Overheard (Version 2)

Prepared by: Ruth Douillette

Posted May 28, 2006
Reposted, revised on August 12, 2007

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Exercise: In 300 words or less, write a scene using the dialogue that is
provided so we understand the characters, where they are and why
the conversation is taking place.
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Writers are always on the lookout for good story ideas. An
overheard conversation often produces a spark upon which a
plot can be built. Perhaps it's the cell phone conversation in
the grocery store that provides fodder for a mystery plot.

This exercise focuses on dialogue enhancement. Read the
snippet of dialogue below and imagine a setting in which this
conversation might take place, and the characters who might
speak these lines. Write a scene around the given dialogue so
that we understand the characters, where they are and why the
conversation is taking place.

Your "enhancement" might make the conversation humorous,
angry, heartbreaking, or just an ordinary dinner table chat.
Through your addition of narrative and dialogue tags, the
reader should be able to clearly see two characters in a
particular setting having this particular conversation. Here are
the lines you overheard:

"I can't believe you just said that."

"Why? What's wrong with that?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

"Hey, it's the truth. I call it like I see it."

"But, under the circumstances . . . "

This dialogue is a framework; feel free to use it creatively.
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