Writing Exercises

Études de Plume

“Étude: a piece of music intended to be played to improve a musician’s technical skills. The word comes from the French for study.”

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The Études de Plume are studies in writing for composers of words.  There are two different sets of études.  One set is free and can be found on this page.  The other set of studies can be found within the course Pen & Paper.

Études de Plume: No. 1

Dialogue

When you write dialogue it is important to keep things simple.  Consider the passage below:

“One credit?” I said. “That’s it?”

“That’s why I’m a year older than everybody else.  I lost a whole year of school.  A whole year,” he repeated. “Do you know what that’s like?  Losing a year of your life?”

“Maybe not a year, but…” I said.  I’d lost several weeks of my life in the hospital.  That had to count for something.

He shook his head and held up a hand.

“Don’t bother,” he said. “I’ve heard it before.

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