Spring 2006

English 271: Short Story Writing

Exercise 2: “I Am a Camera”

Write a 2-page (no longer) description or narration observing a scene: a private room, a public room, a natural environment, with or without people. The purpose of the piece is to use writing the way you might use a film camera, recording, selecting and editing what can be seen and heard in a particular place over a brief period of time. The interest of the writing should come from the sharpness and specificity with which you recreate the scene for the reader.

To write this piece, you need to plant yourself somewhere with your notebook for 10-20 minutes, recording all you see and hear in as much detail as possible. Then go back and give the description/narration shape, ordering and editing what you observed. With a more static scene, for instance, you might order spatially, moving the reader’s (mental) eye and ear from one side of the room to another, or from perception of the room as a whole to focus on a particular person or object. For a scene in which some action occurred (people came in or out, stopped to talk, etc.), presumably you’d want to order chronologically, but choosing particular moments to emphasize or focus on.

Your writing should use active voice and, as far as possible, avoid “there is,” “there are,” and other weak “is” constructions. There should be no “I” narrating, though of course your perceptions will be reflected in your selection of subject, the way you shape the scene, your language.

Note: Conversation held very audibly in a public area is fair game for this exercise, but don’t record a private conversation.

Due by 11:30, Mon. 2/13 in the box outside my office, Mac 303. Full texts will be available by 1:30 the same day. This time around (and with all pieces hereafter) do put your name on the manuscript.

Reading from Writing Fiction associated with this exercise: Ch. 3: Seeing is Believing, 74-116