Date: Fri, 5 May 1995 11:25:53 EDT From: "deviltry..." Subject: EXERCISE: eggtimers? Comments: To: fast fingers I realize that most of the time, we like to consider carefully, give ourselves plenty of time, and otherwise move slowly. (something like a tortoise?) BUT--today we're going to practice speedwriting! A ten minute exercise! Anyone can squeeze in ten minutes, right? Get yourself a three minute timer. Eggtimers, a friend, perhaps even that funny timer on your watch that you've never used. Oh, and don't forget the die (the singular of dice, like nye is the singular of nice:-) A. Roll twice, picking a first and last name. 1. Arlene 2. Gina 3. Laura 4. Boris 5. Felix 6. Isaac 1. Smith 2. Johnson 3. Williams 4. Jones 5. Brown 6. Miller Write for three minutes about this person. Where did they grow up? What kind of family? What kind of work do they do now? Write! 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...... BUZZZZZZZZZZZ! Time's up. Settle down. Put that description aside, take a sip of your water (coffee, tea, or...your choice). Ready? Okay. B. Roll twice, picking a first and last name. 1. Lee 2. Noah 3. Ralph 4. Vicki 5. Portia 6. Muriel 1. Davis 2. Anderson 3. Wilson 4. Thompson 5. Moore 6. Taylor And, once again, write for three minutes. Where did this person come from, and where are they going? What kind of face do they see when they look in the mirror? Who are they? 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9.... RINGGGGG! Time's up, please put down your keyboards and other input devices. Breath, breath, stretch. You may want to print the descriptions or at least review the two pieces you've written. C. Okay, now take these two people and bang them together! In three minutes, write a scene where they meet. What do they say to each other? What kind of conflict might occur just from their backgrounds? What kind of "bond" or "crucible" where they have to deal with each other might occur? Write! 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9... BONG. BONG. BONG. They said it couldn't be done. But here you are, running those little fingers right over the finish line, with the crowd cheering, the tape snapping across your chest, the coach throwing a towel over your sweating wrists. Relax. You may want to set this aside and later come back to it. If you want to continue the scene now, go ahead, but do plan to revise and strengthen the piece you've written, looking for spots where (in the heat of the exercise!) you may have told rather than shown the reader, senses that didn't get touched, and other details to polish. So, champ, what's next? Another 10 minute exercise? (imagine doing three scenes in the half-hour after lunch :-) A bit slower pace? Some thoughtful revision of the quick draft you've just written? Windsprints for the mental fingers--alternate with some endurance runs, a little weightlifting, and in no time at all, you'll be pushing words with the best. Look forward to reading you. tink