Let's practice writing with dialogue and kill two birds with one stone and throw in some cliches-oops!
A good writer strives to be original. Too often papers that I evaluate are filled with cliches, overused expressions. Usually, students don't realize that they are even using cliches. So this writing exercise is designed to not only make you aware of what a cliche is, but to allow you to purge them from your system forever.
Choose one of the following opening lines to create a new scene in the novel and use at least 8 cliches in your paragraph.
You may want to google cliches to find lists from which you can choose.
Italicize each cliche or change the color so that it's easy for me to see how many you have used.
Use third person point of view and try to maintain the style of the author.
Scenario one: George looked up from shoeing the horse to see the outline of Curley's wife in the doorway of the barn. They were alone.
Scenario two: Slim and George sat down at the bar. Slim put a hand on George's shoulder and stated, "Like I said, George, sometimes a guy's gotta."
If you include dialogue (conversation), remember to indent and start a new paragraph withn each new speaker.
The speaker can be indicated at the beginning, middle, and end of the dialogue. You can also indicate the speaker just by indenting. Use all four methods at least twice each. DO NOT use the word "said."
George looked up from shoeing the horse to see the outline of Curley's wife in the doorway of the barn. They were alone. She whispered, "What's the matter, George? Cat got yer tongue?"
"What 'bout Curley? 'Spose he walks in," muttered George looking at his feet.
"Well, "she stated, "all's fair in love and war. I ain't never told anyone this, but I don't love Curley. He's dumber than a sack of hammers."
"I ain't so sure this is a good idea."
Curley's wife smiled an ironic smile and asked, "George, are you a man or a mouse?"
Use third person point of view and try to maintain the style of the author.
Scenario one: George looked up from shoeing the horse to see the outline of Curley's wife in the doorway of the barn. They were alone.
Scenario two: Slim and George sat down at the bar. Slim put a hand on George's shoulder and stated, "Like I said, George, sometimes a guy's gotta."
If you include dialogue (conversation), remember to indent and start a new paragraph withn each new speaker.
The speaker can be indicated at the beginning, middle, and end of the dialogue. You can also indicate the speaker just by indenting. Use all four methods at least twice each. DO NOT use the word "said."
EXAMPLE
George looked up from shoeing the horse to see the outline of Curley's wife in the doorway of the barn. They were alone. She whispered, "What's the matter, George? Cat got yer tongue?"
"What 'bout Curley? 'Spose he walks in," muttered George looking at his feet.
"Well, "she stated, "all's fair in love and war. I ain't never told anyone this, but I don't love Curley. He's dumber than a sack of hammers."
"I ain't so sure this is a good idea."
Curley's wife smiled an ironic smile and asked, "George, are you a man or a mouse?"
