Workout 11: Interview your Character

Exercise:
Imagine your character and ask him/her several different questions. Write down how he/she responds to these questions.

Purpose:
To get to know everything about your character.

Help Desk:
Some sample questions would be:
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
- Have you ever been in love?
- Would you prefer peanut butter and jelly or bologna?
- Do you have any siblings?
- Where is your favorite place to holiday?

Stretch Break 10: Write from the Soul

One thing I realized when I was doing this workout was that I had ten minutes left. With this much time I thought to lengthen the scene, but ended up making the scene worse. I thought, "sad endings won't sell in Hollywood." Hence, I wasn't writing from my soul. I was just trying to write to please others. But I've since learned:
1. Don't worry about explaining why to the audience, or if the ending is happy or sad.
2. Deepen the mystery and be cautious what you reveal. The audience will catch up.

And, if you finish the scene before the clock is up, either:
1. Introduce a new character or a new element
2. Go back and edit out what's not necessary
3. Stop where you are and start a new scene

Workout 10: Freewriting

Exercise:
Sit for 30 minutes and just write about whatever comes to your mind.

Purpose:
Just write from you muse, write from your soul. Who cares if this is published or produced. You're writing for you, right?

Help Desk:
Write what you know and who you know.

Stretch Break 9: Successful Exposition

Some exposition proves successful, as in Shakespeare's plays. A character enters scene with information and tells about what happened without stopping the story. A few examples include:

- Hamlet - ACT I, sc. ii/iii
- The Tempest - ACT I, sc. ii
- Julius Caesar

Non-Shakespeare examples include:

- Monty Python - cheese
- Merchant of Venice - Shylock

Away... Saving for Another Day

I've been away from the writing blog for a while. In many cases it is wise to put down something you are writing and just take a breather from it for a while... because, if you are anything like me, you get an idea and think it's the best idea ever, right? This, I believe, is why God gave us the gift of time. Set your piece aside for a while. When you get back to it, you'll see what needs to be improved, and you'll jump back to reality and realize that this wasn't the best idea ever. Sorry. But, if you believe it still has potential, pick it back up and maybe it will become a masterpiece!

Workout 9: Character Enters with a Gun

Exercise:
Write a scene in which two characters enter. One or both enter with a gun (a surprise.)

Purpose:
Disclose information with dialogue, not exposition. Have character enter scene and reveal information without stopping the story from progressing.

Help Desk:
REMEMBER: Argument is not conflict. Characters should be in agreement and work collaboratively to move the plot forward, even if they're enemies. As in courtroom dramas: whatever result we conclude, we'll agree on and abide by it (dramatic collaboration.)

Stretch Break 8: One Idea Leads to Another

One random moment in your life can spark a whole new idea. When speaking with professional writers, most get their inspiration from random moments in their lives. Many times I get an idea in the shower or a character will speak to me while I'm bored to death sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But mundane moments like this may unravel a whole scene for your play. A moment, no matter how minute or vague can unveil inspiration for a masterpiece. Once you get started with this list, you won't be able to stop. Let the mind flow with the moment.