This Week's Practice Exercise

The Shadow Knows




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Exercise: Write a piece of no more than 400 words in which a shadow or shadowing plays an important role. This could be a character sketch, a flash piece, memoir, poem, or a start on something longer.

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You may write anything that concerns 'a shadow,' but you could start with one of the following:
* Is someone being "shadowed?" (i.e., followed)
* Does a character discover his "shadow" side, i.e., the dark side of his personality?
* Does someone live "in the shadows?" (e.g., is depressed, in hiding, or under some constraint)
* Does someone live in the shadow of another person, e.g., son overshadowed by a father?
* Does a character have a strong impact on others or situations, e.g., "cast a long shadow?"
* Does a 'shadowy character' figure importantly?
* Perhaps a shadow on an X-ray or a window curtain plays an important part.

Be creative and imaginative. Enjoy the exercise.

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Exercise: Write a piece of no more than 400 words in which a shadow or shadowing plays an important role. This could be a character sketch, a flash piece, memoir, poem, or a start on something longer.

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In your critique consider the writer's creative approach to the idea of the shadow. Is it fresh, unique, interesting? What do you like about it? What works or doesn't? Could the idea be explored further? Could the author improve
the piece? How?

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 Writing Workshop.