[Write On!]


Pockets of conversation.

by kpaul
Posted to Exercises, Dialogue on Thu Jan 30, 2003 at 03:51:36 PM PST
[Print]
This freewriting exercise will hopefully help you with dialogue and how to construct  realistic dialogue and use it to convey emotion. All this using fanciful objects from your pockets.

----------
----------

Directions:

  1. Empty your pockets.
  2. Construct dialogue between the objects in your pocket.
----------
----------

My example inside.


The cast:

Opened pack of almonds (smoke flavored) hereafter referred to as 'Smoky.'

A handful of change; two quarters (one old style referred to as 'Pops' and the newer one referred to as ' ') and one nickel hereafter known as 'Yo.'

----------
----------

The scene:

An office desk.

----------
----------

As dusk descended on the denizens of the Desk, Pops asks Yo how his day went. Smokey butts in.

----------
----------

Pops: So, how was life for my shiny new quarter today, eh?

Yo: You know, pops, same as the last day, wondering if I'd be dropped in that big machine in the office like we all will one day.

Pops: You'll come back out if you do. Don't worry. Look how long I've been around.

Yo: How...

Smokey: Hey you two.

Pops: Hi, Smokey.

Yo: Eh, yeah, hey Smokey.

----------
----------

Observation:

I found it somewhat difficult to keep it just dialogue without adding some adjectives and verbs and more of the surroundings. Made me think of how to convey more with conversation, though.

----------
----------

Smokey: Hey you two, you know what, you know what happened today? Huh? Huh?

Yo: No, Smokey. What happened today...

Pops: Yes, Smokey, tell us all about it.

Smokey: Ok. I will, I will. I'm so happy....

----------
----------

Observation:

Ok, maybe it's impossible to convey anything with dialogue alone. Not that you would need or even want to write like that for any extended length, but it's interesting to see if you can, I guess. (Like that guy who wrote that novel without using certain letters...)

What can you come up with?

Full discussion: http://www.write-on.org/story/2003/1/29/16293/7986