“Interest might be piqued by a turn of phrase or a bald truth that is familiar. Sometimes the first words are bold enough that the reader wonders how the writing could prove its boast. But after a while the reader wonders only two things: 1) what happens next, and 2) what does it all mean: how will it turn out in the end?” (Walter Mosley, Elements of Fiction)
CHARACTER EXERCISE: Compel Me to Follow You
Key Writing Practice Development Techniques Illustrated by the Quotation:
Immediate Intrigue Through Voice or Premise: A bold, specific first line that acts as both a hook and a question—drawing the reader in by force of voice or emotional weight. Narrative Momentum Driven by Character: The story advances through the protagonist’s decisions and contradictions, not plot mechanics. Layered Meaning Beneath Surface Action: The deeper emotional or thematic resonance is not explained but revealed gradually through subtext, symbol, or unresolved tension.
500-Word Prompt:
Open with a single provocative line of dialogue spoken by your protagonist—something they’ve never said out loud before. The line must contain a personal truth or accusation so raw that it immediately alters their relationship with another character in the room.
From that line, write a single scene (500 words) where the fallout unfolds. Let the emotional energy of that statement ripple outward. The protagonist cannot apologize or retract. They must either double down or deal with the consequences.
The scene must end with an irreversible shift in either the relationship or the protagonist’s self-perception.
Constraint: No internal monologue. Let behavior, dialogue, and setting do all the work. Readers should feel the emotional stakes without needing to be told what they are.
Evaluation Criteria for a Successful Response:
Opening Line Has Gravity and Voice Weak: “I never liked your cooking.” Strong: “I only married you because I didn’t want to end up like my mother.” Scene Builds Causally from the Opening Weak: Conflict fizzles or drifts. Strong: Each beat tightens the screw—characters respond in ways that raise stakes or deepen tension. Thematic or Emotional Weight Emerges Weak: Overexplained emotions or on-the-nose dialogue. Strong: Nuance, contradiction, and restraint signal complexity. Clear and Consequential Change by Scene’s End Weak: No shift, too much backstory. Strong: Something essential is lost, broken, revealed, or decided.
Follow-up Questions for Workshopping/Revision:
Does the first line demand that we keep reading? Could it survive out of context and still carry weight? Are characters behaving in ways that feel emotionally true rather than narratively convenient? What does the protagonist want to happen by speaking the line—and what actually happens instead? Where is silence used? What’s left unsaid—and how does that shape the scene’s meaning?
Recommended Reading:
“The Cousins” by Charles Baxter (from Believers)
Why: Begins with a simmering, emotionally weighted dynamic and builds tension through conversation, gesture, and withheld information. Baxter masterfully implies what characters can’t or won’t articulate. He trusts the reader to interpret emotional subtext, making the scene resonate beyond its surface.
Strong vs. Weak Response Examples:
Weak: The protagonist says, “You never really knew me,” and the scene becomes a static explanation of past hurts.
Strong: The protagonist says, “I faked the miscarriage,” and watches the other character pour a drink in silence. The ensuing interaction avoids direct confrontation, but every movement—pouring, watching, not speaking—becomes charged with meaning.
Time Allocation for the 2-Hour Session:
20 minutes: Freewrite possible first lines and select the one with the most weight 30 minutes: Plan character dynamics and setting 60 minutes: Write the scene 10 minutes: Read aloud for rhythm, subtext, and unintended exposition
Use the full two hours. The weight of the moment lies in what isn’t said—make every word earn its place.
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