Writing Exercise Where Meaning To Action Is Hidden In The Subtext
Prompt from “What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers”
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts —
The Exercise —
Write two very short examples of text, in which the true meaning of the action or dialogue is hidden in a subtext. Under each text explicate the subtext.
The Objective —
To learn to use indirection to illustrate the power of hidden meaning. This is something like a double exposure, a photograph that shows two images simultaneously.
Text: Thank you for your help during a time when many families need support. Many families will have empty tables during the upcoming Thanksgiving meal, as there are still many who need our help.
Subtext: Please donate. We need even more financial assistance in the coming days.
Text: Can we count on you to help us get this building built? We are calling on all the members to contribute more money than the initial $100. membership fee.
Subtext: We plan to ask each member to sign a pledge to give $1,000. over a period of time, and in doing so, you will be entered into a drawing to win a prize of your choice. A chest freezer or standing freezer, laundry appliances, or two kitchen appliances of your choice.
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
I am married with 7 children, 28 grands, and 13 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I write A Poem a Day in February for 8 years now. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. I write on Vocal/Medium daily.
Keep reading
More stories from Denise E Lindquist and writers in Writers and other communities.
Public Speaking - Trauma
Public speaking can be difficult, even if you take a speech class in high school. I no longer picture people in the audience in their underwear, or look at one person in the audience, or look over everyone's head, or look at the back of the room.
By Denise E Lindquist4 months ago in Writers
Comments (4)
You did a get job on this assignment. A+
These are great! I should do more like this. Great examples.
This is such a great exercise in showing vs. telling! You’ve captured perfectly how polite, surface-level wording masks a much more direct request underneath.
Oh wow, you nailed this so brilliantly!