Week Four: Dialogue

Mon, 2/24: Journal #2: 750 words.

    • Required topic: go to a cafe (or some other place where people are talking) and listen to people's dialogue.

      • Try to write down snippets of their speech.

      • In addition, make notes on the way people talk.

      • Also, observe the gestures and movement and facial expressions that accompany the way people converse.

      • You need only write a few words on this topic then move onto another topic of your own choice.

    • Also, read "Hills Like White Elephants" in your reader. Pay attention to how Hemingway uses dialogue to craft his story. How does literary dialogue differ from actual dialogue you overhear?

Tues 2/25: Read Chapter 3, "Building Character: Characterization Part 1" (73-89) in Writing Fiction. Please read this chapter carefully!

    • Also, be working on your 900 word story due Monday, 3/3.

Thurs, 2/27: There are two parts to tonight's assignment:

Fri, 2/28: Journal entry tonight.

    • Please label: "2/28--Dialogue Exercise"

    • Word count: 500 words

    • CHOOSE

      • Option 1: Make a difficult, crazy or impossible request of someone and then write a dialogue based on the incident or describe the experience.

      • Be sensitive so that you don't offend the other person

      • Don't pick someone with less power than you

      • Pick someone who won't mind you're doing the exercise on them

      • Tell them what you were doing afterwards

  • OR

    • Option 2: Imagine if you met someone who looks exactly like you. What would your dialogue sound like?