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2/3/10 Story Fit Exercise


Lazzy the Spazzy

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2/3/10 Story Fit Exercise

For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of February 3 - February 9.

Since we're into our third week, let's go for something different from our past two one-word prompts.

When attempting to reveal a character's beliefs, writers often fall back on using a monologue: a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker. Many criticize monologues however, citing its length when compared to the rest of the story, arguing that because of that length monologues can end up dull or boring, disrupting the pace or monopolizing the dialogue, and in some cases even backfiring -- restricting the monologue's character and the directions the character can go. Regardless of your personal opinions, I feel like the monologue needs to be be defended -- so let's show these nonbelievers that an interesting monologue can be written!

Your exercise this week is to incorporate a monologue into your story but at the same time make it interesting. I will be using different scoring criteria this week, judging your story not on its quality but on the effectiveness with which you defend or support the monologue. Be careful not to make the same mistakes as most monologue writers!

There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme.

Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!



Note: As of now, there is no deadline by which you must turn in your story. This is an issue that is currently being discussed: see bottommost section and respond with your opinion.


---

Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award. Without further ado, I present this week's Writer of the Week:

Rassiter, for his Transformation-themed story Winds of Change!


Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week [of 1/27/10 - 2/3/10] award to the writer who gets the most votes.

Last Week's Stories

1) Reunion by Akai Hana no Tenshi
2) Alternate Perspective by Grant-Sud
3) A Murder Of One by Rising Moon

Vote away!

---

I'm debating whether to install a deadline, on advice from some of the members, but if I add one it will probably be two weeks, so you should shoot for that and see if you can keep up with such a pace.


Maybe not a deadline, but rather a two week period between tasks instead of one week? Not sure how others feel about this, or if they feel the same, but I know that I'll need at least that for a while as at the moment I'll only be able to write two days a week [possibly five days, but three of those would be for a very minimal amount of time, and probably won't be of good quality unless I'm feeling very inspired].

But I don't want that to influence other people's opinions. I want to honestly know if you'd rather have it one or two task a week.

~ Velox

So far we still only have one vote (Rising Moon) for one task a week. Please put forth your opinion so we know what changes need to be made, if any.

19 Comments


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Can the monologue be broken up by physical character actions, as long as it's one character speaking continually? For example:

 

"You're scum." Bob kicked Joe in the face. "That's what you are."

 

And then have Bob go on?

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I have a story that may work out like that...however I'm not sure if the Monologue is big enough... I was wondering, could the "Monologue" in fact be a written one? Like for example someone writing in a diary or journal?

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I'm debating whether to install a deadline, on advice from some of the members, but if I add one it will probably be two weeks, so you should shoot for that and see if you can keep up with such a pace.

 

Maybe not a deadline, but rather a two week period between tasks instead of one week? Not sure how others feel about this, or if they feel the same, but I know that I'll need at least that for a while as at the moment I'll only be able to write two days a week [possibly five days, but three of those would be for a very minimal amount of time, and probably won't be of good quality unless I'm feeling very inspired].

 

But I don't want that to influence other people's opinions. I want to honestly know if you'd rather have it one or two task a week.

 

~ Velox

So far we still only have one vote (Rising Moon) for one task a week. Please put forth your opinion so we know what changes need to be made, if any.

Here's a second vote to that.

It seems like a perfect amount of the time that we don't feel overwhelmed.

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Can the monologue be broken up by physical character actions, as long as it's one character speaking continually? For example:

 

"You're scum." Bob kicked Joe in the face. "That's what you are."

 

And then have Bob go on?

Yes, that counts, since it's still the same person talking the whole time.

 

I have a story that may work out like that...however I'm not sure if the Monologue is big enough... I was wondering, could the "Monologue" in fact be a written one? Like for example someone writing in a diary or journal?

Yep, written words, thoughts, all of those count.

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I have a story that may work out like that...however I'm not sure if the Monologue is big enough... I was wondering, could the "Monologue" in fact be a written one? Like for example someone writing in a diary or journal?

Yep, written words, thoughts, all of those count.

 

Ok great. That would work perfectly.

 

I'd also like to vote for one project a week.

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Yes, you get points for reviewing any story that's been submitted for the Story Fit, since all advice/constructive criticism is helpful no matter when it's given.

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Two week deadline sounds good.

 

I gotta do this one, seriously. I've barely written and I know this would help me out. Miss reviewing too...

 

Do poems/epics/etc count for this?

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Do poems/epics/etc count for this?

Yep. IMO it would be harder to write a monologue into a poem without the poem itself becoming the monologue, but if you pull that off then massive props.

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Do poems/epics/etc count for this?

Yep. IMO it would be harder to write a monologue into a poem without the poem itself becoming the monologue, but if you pull that off then massive props.

Well I wasn't really thinking on a poem for this one (but now I am inspired...); it was just a general question.

 

Mmh, I love monologues.

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new question? Can we put more than one entry into each assignment? or can we change our entry?

 

Also, do First Person Narratives count as a monologue? Ah, saw it up there.

 

well, regardless, I Am: Klighatus is a monologue, if it can count, then throw it in, if now, then just consider it put here because no one ever reviews my stories

(HINT HINT)

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yeah, but at least your reviews are good.....the last review (other than your most recent one) I got on Liavuru-Metru only mentioned the name of the Southern City, Versailles, sounding funny -.-;;

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