“In the end, only you know the secrets of this creation. Structure is the sculpture within the stone. You chisel it into life. It will eventually find its way into the museum of good storytelling. Begin with language and the content will then shape the form.” (Colum McCann , Letters to a Young Writer)
Writing Exercise: Sculpting Structure from Language
Techniques to Develop:
1. Discovery Through Language – Instead of forcing structure upfront, let the rhythm and texture of language guide the story’s form.
2. Organic Structure – Carve out the narrative by revealing it naturally, rather than imposing rigid outlines too soon.
3. Implicit Design – Trust the reader to sense the underlying structure rather than over-explaining.
Writing Prompt (500 words):
Begin with a single, evocative sentence that feels like a fragment of something larger—something mysterious, poetic, or unsettling. Let this sentence dictate the story’s movement. Do not outline in advance. Instead, treat language as a sculptor’s chisel. Follow the sound, texture, and emerging patterns of your prose.
Rules:
• The first sentence must be striking and suggestive of an untold story.
• Let the piece unfold instinctively. If it wants to spiral into lyricism, allow it. If it demands precision, obey.
• The structure should emerge naturally. Only shape it in revision, not during drafting.
What Makes a Strong Response:
• The opening sentence feels like an invitation into something vivid and alive.
• The story’s shape emerges naturally, rather than feeling forced into a pre-existing mold.
• There is an inherent rhythm or momentum, as if the story is revealing itself rather than being dictated.
• The structure is felt rather than explicitly explained, leaving space for the reader’s engagement.
What Makes a Weak Response:
• The story feels mechanically structured, with clear signposts that disrupt organic flow.
• The first sentence is functional but lacks intrigue or mystery.
• The writing lacks engagement with its own language—reads as plot-first rather than discovery-first.
• The form feels imposed rather than uncovered.
Follow-Up Workshopping Questions:
1. What does your opening sentence promise, and does the rest of the piece honor that promise?
2. Where did you feel the story resisting structure? How did you respond to that resistance?
3. Did any unexpected images, patterns, or rhythms emerge? How did they shape the piece?
4. What would happen if you rearranged sections or altered the order?
5. Where might the piece be over-explaining its own form?
Recommended Reading:
• “Axolotl” by Julio Cortázar – A story that follows the shape of its own thought process, allowing structure to emerge from obsession.
• “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco – A story where structure is sculpted by a single narrative voice, revealing form through language.
• The Lover by Marguerite Duras (excerpt) – A novel that allows memory and sensation to dictate structure rather than conventional plotting.
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