>>> Item number 33460 from WRITERS LOG9407B --- (38 records) ----- <<< Date: Sun, 10 Jul 1994 18:35:03 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: EXERCISE: The Crucible Most plotting exercises concentrate on the conflict--the struggle that is slowly tearing these people apart. However, behind that, there is a crucible, a mostly invisible "wall" that is holding these people in the fire. For example, rivals for the same job obviously are forced together. Family members are held together by their relationship. Policeperson and criminal handcuffed together. People in a broken elevator, hostages, and so on, the list of situations or relationships that keep the characters in the conflict goes on and on. 1. Take a pair of characters, their goals, and the conflict(s) they are engaged in. (You can analyze someone else's work if you like or a new work you are considering). 2. Lay out the scenes, with all the rising conflict and involvement. 3. Now consider the settings or situations of each scene. How does this setting (or the relationships within it) block any easy escape from the conflict? In some cases, writers include one or more deliberate attempts to escape from the crucible--with the slide back in heightening the drama (the telephone lines have been cut! there is a flood across the only road out of the valley!...) 4. If necessary, mend the crucible walls and tighten up the situation. Did one character think rappelling down the walls would get them out of the mess? Then perhaps there is a sniper out there, ready to pick off anyone sticking their head out, or (even simpler) no ropes. Make sure your crucible suits the personalities you are melting inside, and see if you don't end up with a nicely forged story... Write! tink