This is a series of posts about a 2-day writing workshop that I attended in late March. I wanted to keep track of what I had scribbled on various pieces of paper and so decided to post the results of those exercises here.
After handling motivations (see below), we moved on to dialogue. I hate writing dialogue (you will never know how much), but I gave it a shot. It was made easier, to an extent, as Jane Camens framed this exercise with a “back-story”, so to speak. The background is as follows. A woman walks into her bedroom to find her husband making love to her sister. Distraught, she leaves him and manages to avoid him for a year until they chance into one another at a party. He begins the conversation with
I missed you every day. Why haven’t you returned my calls?
The piece:
I missed you every day. Why haven’t you returned my calls?
The music turned to noise, the room cleared itself of all but the two of them.
Let me explain. … A minute, that’s all I’m asking for.
Her silence asked the question he dreaded.
It wasn’t my fault. … Things got out of hand
It wasn’t his fault, she thought.
I was … let me explain
He paused, as if seeking permission to continue. The excuses flowed. It was Diane, she was lonely, it was a mistake.The words “one-off”, “never” and “again” made it pass her aural defences and registered in her mind.
I had breakfast with your brother this morning.
she said, finally. He shifted, his hand withdrew from where it had previously nestled on her arm, now limp and lifeless at his side.
I ought to thank you, you know, for showing me the importance of family.
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