Turn yesterday's scene with the crying mother / daughter or son into the following
One copy that uses FIRST PERSON AND PRESENT TENSE
Second copy uses SECOND PERSON AND PAST TENST
Third copy uses THIRD PERSON (HE OR SHE) AND FUTURE TENSE
Try not to change the details too much. Just change the verb tenses and the speaker.
Today, we wrote the scene through action, thought, dialogue and description. Our focus for the description was to reveal.
Know what it is you want to SHOW
- a character's state of mind
- relationships
- secrets
- tensions
- adding a motif
- flashbacks
Power of Action
- relays relationships
- keeps the reader involved
- makes the characters real
- use it sparingly
- tells the reader something they need to know (it's efficient)
- BE CAREFUL HERE. YOU CAN'T TELL THE READER SOMETHING THE CHARACTER ALREADY KNOWS. For example, you don't wake up in the morning and say, I'm 17. I live in a bungalow. I go to Claremont. People would think you were demented! So, don't let your characters appear demented either.
We rarely say what we think in Canada! Your characters will reflect this culture. If they do not, ensure that their motivation is clear and let us know that they are acting in an extraordinary manner and ensure there are consequences!!
- reveals the character (grammatically incorrect, fragments, one-word answers, etc, not answering what has been asked)
- shows that the actions do not necessarily jive with the actions or thoughts (shows betrayal or shallowness)
Three pages due tomorrow.
