Setting the Scene

SETTING THE SCENE

Let's practice our writing skills! For this swap, please write the equivalent of at least one typed page. You can hand write it, but in that case, it should be the front and back of an 8.5" x 11" page in small or small-medium handwriting. The objective is to elicit an emotion in the reader that is similar to the one you feel when imagining the scene you are describing. The large majority of the piece should be a physical description.

You can talk about people and their movements, and even a bit of conversation in passing, but these should only be supporting elements; there is no real plot to this scene, though it can have transitions and events. It can be presented just straight out or as experienced by a character, writing from 1st or 3rd person. Use descriptions of scents, sounds, textures, and physical feelings, but don't just come right out and state the emotion you're trying to portray - let it be inferred. It doesn't have to be one of the main emotions or even something obvious, you're just trying to set a mood. To make it more fun and give you some ideas and objectives to round out your writing, please include:

an analogy

a snippit of conversation

an element of at least one sense other than visual (beyond the sound of that overheard snippit)

the mention of a color

atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, day or night, etc.)

Sound fun? I think so; I've already got mine written and waiting for revision after I've given myself a few days to forget it enough to see it with new eyes.