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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I just did the exercise on page 173 of the book. To sum up; Gary is relieved to read in the paper that his crazy ex-wife has killed herself. But then he looks up from the paper and sees her standing on the other side of the sliding glass door, holding a butcher knife. ( I have no idea how she made everyone believe that she had hung herself or what's going to happen next) I love writing exercises like this! I start with an idea (like the one you suggested) I get an image, and start writing (in my head or on paper.) the characters "tell me" about themselves and story unfolds as I write. Happens with NanoWrimo too.

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king family fan

Prolific member
Jul 19, 2010
33,133
117,741
south
I just did the exercise on page 173 of the book. To sum up; Gary is relieved to read in the paper that his crazy ex-wife has killed herself. But then he looks up from the paper and sees her standing on the other side of the sliding glass door, holding a butcher knife. ( I have no idea how she made everyone believe that she had hung herself or what's going to happen next) I love writing exercises like this! I start with an idea (like the one you suggested) I get an image, and start writing (in my head or on paper.) the characters "tell me" about themselves and story unfolds as I write. Happens with NanoWrimo too.
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osnafrank

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2017
7,121
50,822
47
Germany
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Wab

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2017
86
312
It's really what works best. But if you do outline, you shouldn't be so attached that you don't allow room for surprises when you write.

The best two pieces of advice I've seen are start writing, and finish what you start.