This Week's Practice Exercise

Caught in the Act

Prepared by: Alice Folkart
Posted on: December 2, 2012

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In 400 words or less write a scene in which someone is 'caught in the act.' Focus on the emotions of the person who discovers what is going on and of the person who is caught. Your scene could rely heavily on description and inner dialogue, or it could give you an opportunity to use dialogue to provide back story. You could open your scene with the 'catching,' or build up to it.

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The 'act' can be something good or something not so good: a child swiping a cookie from the cookie jar, someone doing an anonymous good turn, or a jewel thief helping herself to diamonds, the church secretary taking a cut of the tithes. The scene could show a wife catching her husband in an act that is not what she expected to find—she might be suspecting that her husband is fooling around with her best friend, but when she confronts them, she finds that they're planning a surprise party for her.

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In 400 words or less write a scene in which someone is 'caught in the act.' Focus on the emotions of the person who discovers what is going on and of the person who is caught. Your scene could rely heavily on description and inner dialogue, or it could give you an opportunity to use dialogue to provide back story. You could open your scene with the 'catching,' or build up to it.

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In your critique, consider whether the writer elicits your sympathy for any of the characters, and whether the surprise of catching someone at something is well set up. From the details of this short scene are you able to imagine what went before and might come after. Would you read more?

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.