Elements of the Writing Craft. Part One: Storytelling, Lesson Twenty One: Action to Interior

Ref: Pages 27 and 28 of the text by Robert Olmstead

  1. Make a list of phrases particular to a character expressing his or her own interior.
    I was experiencing…
    I fully intended…
    I was aware…
    I knew…
    I felt as if…
    It occurred to me…
    I knew deep down…
    I got the idea that…
    I was preparing to…
    I came to know…

2. Create a sentence in which you move from the action of the story to the interior thoughts of a character.
Up the hill back toward the cottage, we walked in silence. I was dripping wet. I knew mother would be furious.

  1. Create a small movement where one of your characters explains themselves.
    I fully intended to explain what happened. I knew she would blame Eoghan and I wasn’t going to let that happen this time. I knew what she would do and I wouldn’t look away, not this time.
    When we crested the hill she saw my new dress rumpled and soaked and tinged green from lake water. I moved to stand between them but her fury was already up and I followed her silent direction as she scowled at us and jabbed her finger toward the back porch.

Up the hill, back toward the cottage, we walked in silence. I was dripping wet, and I knew mother would be furious. I fully intended to explain what happened, but regardless, I knew she would blame Eoghan. I wasn’t going to let it happen this time. When we crested the hill, she was waiting. I was aware of how I must have looked and how she would react when she saw my new dress rumpled and soaked and tinged with green lake water. I moved to stand between them and pushed my matted hair from my eyes. But her fury was already up, and I cowered at her silent direction as she scowled and jabbed her finger toward the back porch.

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