“Plot matters, of course it matters, but it is always subservient to language. Plot takes the backseat in a good story because what happens is never as interesting as how it happens. And how it happens occurs in the way language captures it and the way our imaginations transfer that language into action.” (Colum McCann , Letters to a Young Writer)
Writing Exercise: The Art of “How”
This exercise is designed to deepen your ability to use language as the primary vehicle of storytelling, rather than relying on plot alone. McCann’s quote highlights the idea that while plot provides a foundation, it is the texture of the language—its rhythm, precision, and imagery—that transforms a story into an immersive experience.
Key Writing Techniques:
1. Sensory Immersion – A compelling scene engages all the senses. The physicality of a moment—its sounds, textures, smells, and subtle shifts—creates a world that the reader can inhabit. Instead of merely stating that it is raining, evoke the scent of damp pavement, the muted patter of droplets against a coat, the way cold water seeps into fabric.
2. Rhythmic and Evocative Prose – The way a sentence unfolds can mirror the mood of a scene. Consider the impact of long, flowing sentences to capture a moment of reverie or clipped, staccato phrases to reflect tension or urgency. The structure of language should reinforce the emotional undercurrent of the moment.
3. Subtext Through Detail – Instead of explicitly stating emotions or ideas, allow them to emerge through precise, carefully chosen descriptions. A character’s anxiety can be revealed through the way they twist a napkin, the sharp intake of breath before speaking, or the way their gaze lingers on the door. Let the physical world suggest interior states rather than explaining them outright.
Writing Prompt (500 Words):
Write a scene of exactly 500 words that depicts an ordinary action—a daily ritual, a moment of stillness, or a small interaction. The scene should focus not on what happens, but on how it happens. Use language to elevate the moment, allowing sensory details, rhythm, and subtext to create an immersive experience. The event itself should be simple—pouring a cup of tea, waiting at a train station, buttoning a coat before stepping into the cold—but the way you render it should make it feel charged with meaning.
Consider how the flow of your sentences mirrors the mood of the moment. Do longer sentences create a dreamlike quality? Does a series of abrupt phrases build tension? How do your word choices shape the emotional texture of the scene? Push beyond the obvious—if your character is sad, avoid saying so directly. Instead, let their surroundings, movements, and observations subtly reveal their state of mind.
Your goal is to prove that plot is secondary to the way language transforms an experience. When the reader reaches the final sentence, they should not remember what happened so much as how it felt.
Evaluation Criteria:
A strong response will:
• Use precise, evocative language to bring the moment to life
• Employ sensory details that engage multiple senses without overloading the prose
• Demonstrate a rhythm and sentence structure that reinforces the scene’s emotional tone
• Reveal subtext through carefully chosen details rather than direct exposition
• Leave the reader with a lingering sense of the scene’s atmosphere
A weak response may:
• Rely on telling rather than showing (e.g., “He was sad” instead of revealing sadness through actions or environment)
• Present a flat or overly factual recounting of events rather than crafting an immersive experience
• Lack variation in sentence structure, leading to monotonous prose
• Overuse adjectives and adverbs instead of finding precise, powerful nouns and verbs
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
1. Does the language shape the reader’s experience as much as the events themselves?
2. Are there places where sensory descriptions feel forced or underdeveloped?
3. How does the rhythm of your sentences contribute to the mood of the piece?
4. Could any metaphors or similes be refined to more effectively capture emotion or atmosphere?
5. Does the prose invite the reader to infer deeper meaning, or does it explain too much?
Recommended Reading for Further Study:
Excerpt: Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway – The novel’s opening scene, where Clarissa steps into the morning, is a masterclass in using language to elevate a seemingly simple action. Woolf’s prose immerses us in sensory experience and the character’s interior world without relying on heavy exposition.
A strong response to this exercise might, for example, transform the simple act of tying a shoelace into a meditation on a character’s hesitation, captured through the deliberate tug of the laces, the creaking of leather, and the pause before standing. A weaker response might merely state, “He tied his shoes and left,” without engaging the reader’s senses or emotions.
Let your language do the work.
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