This Week's Practice Exercise

Lights Out! (Version 3)

Prepared by: Rhéal Nadeau
Posted on: Sun, 22 July 2012
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which the character(s) can't see, and show the experiences via the other senses. Whether by blindness, darkness, or some other cause, the character(s) cannot utilize the sense of sight.
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Involving all the senses is a powerful tool to liven up our writing and draw in the reader. Too often, however, writers limit themselves to visual descriptions and dialogue. This yields a world with no taste, no smell, no texture.

One way to explore the senses is to imagine what things would be like without them. How would your character(s) perceive the world without the ability to see? Use the other senses: smell, taste, touch, hearing. Show the experience, don't just narrate it.
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which the character(s) can't see, and show the experiences via the other senses. Whether by blindness, darkness, or some other cause, the character(s) cannot utilize the sense of sight.
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When critiquing, mention specifics about how the story addressed the absence of vision. Was the story's approach unique and believable? Were the absence of vision and the presence of the other senses successful within the story or not. Why, or why not?

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.