WRITING EXERCISE: The Line That Pulls Us Forward
Techniques to Develop
1. Narrative momentum: Craft each line to compel the reader to continue, creating an irresistible sentence-by-sentence flow.
2. Micro-tension: Sustain interest without overt drama by embedding subtle stakes, mystery, or emotional friction within each paragraph.
3. Precision in language: Choose words and sentence constructions that do more than describe—they tease, suggest, provoke, or surprise.
Writing Prompt
Write a 500-word scene in which one character arrives unexpectedly at another character’s home late at night. Begin the scene after the door has opened. Do not plan your ending. Focus only on writing one true line, then the next.
Withhold explanations. Avoid exposition. Let the scene unfold through physical details, gesture, and dialogue. Your only guiding question: Does this sentence pull the reader to the next one?
Time Limit: 2 hours. Start writing immediately. No outlining or revising until a full draft is done.
What Makes the Response Successful
Strong:
– Each line provokes curiosity, discomfort, or emotional response
– Tension grows line by line without relying on plot reveals
– Character dynamics emerge organically through language and interaction
– Language is precise, voice-driven, and charged with implication
Weak:
– The scene opens with background information or character thoughts
– Tension is explained rather than shown
– Lines serve only to fill space or move the story forward mechanically
– Language lacks texture, tone, or urgency
Workshopping & Revision Questions
1. Where does the prose stall? Why?
2. What sentence raised the first real question or emotional engagement?
3. What would happen if the last sentence were removed? The first?
4. What new meaning emerged that you didn’t expect when you began?
5. Did the prose ever explain what it had already implied?
Recommended Reading
“Safari” by Jennifer Egan (from A Visit from the Goon Squad): This story demonstrates line-by-line propulsion through sharp detail, micro-revelation, and tonal shifts. Each paragraph leads us deeper into character and contradiction without explaining too much. Observe how Egan controls curiosity, silence, and implication with economy and rhythm.
Concrete Examples
Strong:
Line 1: He wore a hospital bracelet and carried a plastic grocery bag with something leaking at the bottom.
Raises an immediate question. Suggests instability. We want to know why.
Weak:
Line 1: It had been five years since their last conversation, and neither of them expected this moment.
Over-explains. Softens tension. Tells instead of reveals.
Strong:
Line 5: She pointed at the clock. “We don’t do this anymore.” But her voice cracked halfway through.
Delivers subtext and contradiction. Opens emotional stakes.
Weak:
Line 5: She reminded him about their history, their promises, and how things had changed.
Abstract. Generalized. Nothing pulls the reader forward.
The line matters. Then the next. Let it surprise you.
AI Disclosure Statement:
This writing prompt was created in collaboration with ChatGPT, an AI model by OpenAI, to support creative practice. ChatGPT assisted with idea generation and drafting; the final text was edited by the author. The illustration was created using Google Gemini.
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