Draft & Structure
Write a Scene Where the Reader Knows What One Character Does Not
Create dramatic irony with an invented envelope scene, giving the reader one fact while keeping a character’s actions believable.
A place to follow a sentence
fiction exercises
Draft & Structure
Writing in Second Person Without Ordering the Reader Around
Try a second-person scene in three voices and learn how concrete action can keep “you” from becoming a collection of commands or assumed feelings.
Draft & Structure
Write a Scene with a Deadline Nobody Mentions Aloud
A deadline can shape a scene without appearing as a countdown or a spoken warning. Someone checks a cooling kettle, keeps a coat on or answers while…
Small Observations
Write a Scene in Which the Important Object Is Never Named
For a short fiction exercise, choose an ordinary object and keep its name out of the scene. Let the reader discover it through what people do around it.
Small Observations
Write a Scene as an Instruction Manual, Then Let the Instructions Fail
“Place the cup on the table” sounds straightforward until the table has been removed. Writing a scene as instructions can expose the habits a character…
Draft & Structure
Let a Character Notice the Wrong Detail on Purpose
A character’s attention can reveal a concern that the narration never names directly. One way to explore this is to let them focus on a small detail while…