This Week: Exercises 386-392
Week #56 Free Will
These posts are now unlocked for everyone.
This is the end! Nachofy is ceasing publication, but worry not. The site is rebranding as Writing Streak. For a while I realized I chose a terrible name for my writing newsletter. Can anyone tell it’s about writing? I’m nacho sure they can.
Writing Streak says exactly who the newsletter is for—anyone who wants to keep their streak alive.
The new exercises are shorter, more focused, and so I will be posting them every Monday at 6 am EST in a single newsletter. Think of the exercises as “streak savers” that serve as either a daily warmup or a cure for the dreaded blank page.
If you’d like, though, you can always finish up this week’s exercises or past exercises from the archive. They will be slowly fading out over the next year as the Writing Streak streak savers take their place.
Monday, Nov 04, 2024
🟡 The Rebellious Character
Exercise #386 Embracing the Unexpected in Character Development
Strategy: Have you ever felt like your characters have minds of their own? You're not alone! Many writers experience moments when their creations seem to take on a life of their own, defying carefully laid plot points and character arcs. But what if we lean into this phenomenon? By exploring the tension between authorial intent and character autonomy, we can uncover deeper, more authentic character motivations and potentially discover exciting new narrative directions. This exercise challenges you to embrace the unexpected, allowing your characters to surprise you and perhaps even argue with you directly. Who knows? Your rebellious character might just lead you to a more compelling story than you initially imagined!
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
🟡 The Agency Spectrum
Exercise #387 Crafting Dialogue to Reflect Character Perception and Influence
Strategy: Imagine dialogue as a mirror reflecting not just what characters say, but how they view their role in the world. Do they see themselves as masters of their fate or leaves blown by the wind? By adjusting the level of agency in a character's speech, we can reveal volumes about their self-perception, confidence, and desire to influence others. This exercise challenges you to flex your dialogue muscles, experimenting with different levels of agency attribution. It's like playing with the bass and treble on a sound system – by adjusting these levels, you can dramatically change the tone and impact of your character's voice. Ready to tune into the frequency of agency and create dialogue that truly resonates?
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
🟡 The Pressure Cooker
Exercise #388 Dialogue That Reflects Social Influence
Strategy: Ever notice how a person’s language changes when they're under pressure? It's like watching a chameleon change colors, but with words! When characters face social influence or peer pressure, their dialogue can become a window into their internal struggle. By carefully crafting these linguistic shifts, we can reveal the push and pull between individual agency and group dynamics. This exercise challenges you to cook up a scene where social pressure is turning up the heat on your character's decision-making. As you write, pay attention to how your character's words might betray their discomfort, hesitation, or gradual surrender to external influences. It's like conducting a linguistic symphony where the notes of personal agency slowly fade as the chorus of social pressure crescendos!
Thursday, October 31, 2024
🟡 The Power of Stillness
Exercise #389 Exploring Agency Through Action and Inaction
Strategy: Ever notice how a calm lake can seem more powerful than a babbling brook? In writing, we often equate action with agency, but what if the real strength lies in stillness? This exercise challenges you to dive deep into the misconception that inaction equals passivity. By crafting parallel characters—one seemingly active but merely reactive, and another apparently passive but internally driven—we'll explore the hidden depths of agency. It's like comparing a frantic juggler to a focused meditation master; who truly has more control? As you write, consider how deliberate inaction can be a form of resistance, protection, or self-preservation. Remember, sometimes the most powerful move in chess is the one you don't make!
Friday, November 01 2024
🟡 The Verbal Chess Match
Exercise #390 Mastering Power Dynamics Through Dialogue
Strategy: Words are weapons, shields, and bargaining chips in the arena of conversation. Each phrase can tip the scales of power, subtly or dramatically altering the dynamic between speakers. In this exercise, we'll dissect the intricate dance of verbal negotiation, where characters jockey for control through their choice of words, tone, and timing. By crafting a dialogue where power ebbs and flows, you'll gain insight into the nuanced ways characters assert dominance or yield ground. This skill is essential for creating authentic, layered interactions that reveal character motivations and relationships. As you write, consider how even the smallest linguistic choices can reflect and impact the balance of power.
Saturday, November 02, 2024
🟡 The Lens of Purpose
Exercise #391 Crafting Environment Through Character Perception
Strategy: Free indirect speech is a powerful tool that allows us to blur the lines between narrator and character, offering a window into a character's mind without explicitly stating their thoughts. This technique becomes even more potent when we consider how a character's goals—or lack thereof—color their perception of the world around them. A focused mind sees pathways where an aimless one sees obstacles. By manipulating the details our characters notice and how they interpret their surroundings, we can create rich, layered narratives that reveal character motivation without ever directly entering their thoughts.
Sunday, November 03, 2024
🟡 The Plot Twist Within
Exercise #392 Characters That Defy Genre Expectations
Strategy: In the realm of storytelling, expectations are made to be broken. By creating characters whose internal goals clash with the typical plot trajectory, we open up a treasure trove of narrative possibilities. This approach invites readers to question their assumptions about character roles and story arcs, leading to fresh, engaging narratives. When a hero suddenly prioritizes their personal life over saving the world, or a villain discovers a passion for knitting, we're not just subverting expectations—we're exploring the rich, complex nature of human motivation and the unpredictable path of self-discovery.
Tomorrow we will explore the theme of Words, Not Ideas on the new newsletter!