This Week's Practice Exercise

The Allowance

Prepared by: Alice Folkart
Posted on: July 8, 2012

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Exercise: In 400 words or less write a piece that centers on an allowance.

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When we think of 'allowance,' we immediately think of money given to a child on a regular basis.  Sometimes the child is required to meet certain requirements to get this allowance. What might they be?  Are they reasonable?  Is the allowance enough in relation to the child's needs?  Is it princely or miserly?  Then, there are other kinds of allowances--businessmen get travel allowances from their companies (do they cheat? are the allowances so skimpy that the businessman has to sleep in his rental car?), wives (and sometimes husbands) get housekeeping allowances from their spouses, mistresses get upkeep and spending money from  their lovers, elected officials get allowances for all sorts of things. What do the recipients of allowances do with the money?
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Exercise: In 400 words or less write a piece that centers on an allowance.

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Critique the author's imaginative use of the idea of an "allowance." Does he/she use it to create a compelling character or to throw light upon an interesting social situation?  What do you like about the story? What might make it better.  Would you read on if the author were to continue this narrative?


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.