The winner of the Boekehuis gift voucher for the October writing exercise and competition is Heather Hotaling.
We found this exercise on the site of a US writer, Meredith Sue Willis. Here it is:
“Anthony Burgess once said that he always began a novel by drafting sixty pages of dialogue– no “he-saids-she-saids” or other tags, no narrative, no description, just the words said. After his characters had talked for sixty pages, he would, he said, discard the entire sixty pages and start to write. I’ve never been sure I believe that he actually threw away all those pages, but the technique seemed to work for getting him started.
Try this: Do a directed free write with a kitchen timer set for fifteen minutes. Start with some words of conversation you have overheard or participated in. They can be totally ordinary, even boring. But keep writing, and adding more dialogue, maybe more speakers, more drama. But keep them just talking for the full fifteen minutes. “
Heather’s Come To Bed Dialogue.
Come to bed!
No
Come on, come to bed!
Just go back to bed
I can’t go if you’re not going to go
Why not?
Because. Will you just come to bed, please!
I don’t feel like it
You’re being ridiculous
Fine! I’m ridiculous then
This is so stupid!
Fine, I’m stupid
I didn’t say you were stupid, this is stupid
Whatever
Look, if I say I’m sorry will you come to bed?
Are you saying you’re sorry?
If I do will you come to bed?
Are you saying you’re sorry?
If I do will you come to bed?
Are you saying you’re sorry?
Fine! I’m sorry. Now will you come to bed?
That’s really not the point, though. I mean, it’s great that you’re sorry but it really doesn’t solve anything
Whatever!
See! You’re not even sorry anyway
This is making me crazy!
You’re making yourself crazy
That doesn’t even make any sense
Whatever – just go to bed. I don’t even want you here anyway
Fine!
Fine!
So… Will you just come to bed already, babe…come on, come to bed
No
Come to bed
No
You know you want to
No I don’t
I’ll give you a neck massage… Well?…
Maybe
Come to bed
Maybe
Please
Maybe
Please
Maybe
Please
Only if you tell me why you’re sorry.
Just fucking forget it! I’m going to bed!
Good!
I’m going to
Good!
I mean it
I want you to
I’m serious
Fine!
Fine!
Fine!
Fine, you fucking freak!
Fine! I didn’t want to go to bed with you anyway!
Good! I sleep better when you’re not there anyway
You sleep better?! You’re the one who’s tossing around and scratching your balls all night!
Fuck you, you fucking bitch!
Fuck you, you fucking dick!
Whatever
Whatever
So, will you knock this the fuck off and come to bed already?
