Writing Exercise 19: Talking to Yourself
I suspect that I’m not the only writer who sometimes talks to myself. This kind of conversation may have become even more common when everyone is socially distancing, socially isolating or in lockdown. It seems a good idea to draw on that experience to try writing in someone else’s voice, while that person is talking to themself.
Stage 1.
You are going to write a monologue. This means you will need a character and situation. I suggest taking a very simple starting point. Think of someone who you might encounter through their work in an everyday situation. For example, you might choose someone who works at a supermarket checkout or someone delivering the post. Think about a problem or difficulty that person might encounter in their work - and how that person might feel when they return home. Make some notes.
Stage 2.
Now think of where that person lives. Does anyone else live there? Is it a happy household? Write down a little about it.
Think of somewhere that person might be alone (or the only person awake). Make notes on this place. Choose two or three objects visible in that place that the person can see. They should be objects the person cares about in some way. Write about those objects from the point of view of that person. Try to be aware of how that person speaks - the rhythms of their voice and any particular turns of phrase. See if you begin to hear their voice in your head.
Stage 3.
Now think of how that character might talk to themself about the problems of their day when alone. Did someone say something worrying or hurtful to them? If so, write it down. How will that person cope with the problems of the day and restore self-confidence and self-respect in order to sleep well and work on the next day? Perhaps a memory of something good in the past or advice that someone has given will help. If so, write it down.
Stage 4.
Now write a complete passage in the voice of the person. The person should talk, with no-one there to hear, about the day they have had. Begin quite cheerfully about the work. Slowly introduce the problem or difficulty, at first as though it wasn’t that important, then letting stronger emotions through. Finally bring in a source of comfort and reassurance, using both a memory and an object present in the same room as the person.
Edit what you have written. Keep testing it by reading it aloud. Try to make it sound like something that might really be said - but without all the ums and ers of everyday speech. See if every sentence adds or reveals something new, even if it’s the person’s need to return to something they have already mentioned.
Stage 1.
You are going to write a monologue. This means you will need a character and situation. I suggest taking a very simple starting point. Think of someone who you might encounter through their work in an everyday situation. For example, you might choose someone who works at a supermarket checkout or someone delivering the post. Think about a problem or difficulty that person might encounter in their work - and how that person might feel when they return home. Make some notes.
Stage 2.
Now think of where that person lives. Does anyone else live there? Is it a happy household? Write down a little about it.
Think of somewhere that person might be alone (or the only person awake). Make notes on this place. Choose two or three objects visible in that place that the person can see. They should be objects the person cares about in some way. Write about those objects from the point of view of that person. Try to be aware of how that person speaks - the rhythms of their voice and any particular turns of phrase. See if you begin to hear their voice in your head.
Stage 3.
Now think of how that character might talk to themself about the problems of their day when alone. Did someone say something worrying or hurtful to them? If so, write it down. How will that person cope with the problems of the day and restore self-confidence and self-respect in order to sleep well and work on the next day? Perhaps a memory of something good in the past or advice that someone has given will help. If so, write it down.
Stage 4.
Now write a complete passage in the voice of the person. The person should talk, with no-one there to hear, about the day they have had. Begin quite cheerfully about the work. Slowly introduce the problem or difficulty, at first as though it wasn’t that important, then letting stronger emotions through. Finally bring in a source of comfort and reassurance, using both a memory and an object present in the same room as the person.
Edit what you have written. Keep testing it by reading it aloud. Try to make it sound like something that might really be said - but without all the ums and ers of everyday speech. See if every sentence adds or reveals something new, even if it’s the person’s need to return to something they have already mentioned.
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