Ref: Pages 26 and 27 of the text by Robert Olmstead
1. Make a list of synonyms for realize, aware, presage.
2. Imagine you have a character who senses a change coming. Being with two small acts.
He bought ( ). After breakfast, ( ).
He bought some quail skewers from the street merchant. After breakfast, he walked the streets of the capital before returning to the Castle.
3. In the third sentence establish a fact that becomes the foundation of the premonition.
The daily trip to the merchant stalls, his walk around the plaza and through the garden, was all just to get away for a while. Away from the Castle and the needs of everyone in it. Away from the responsibility, away from the crown.
4. From the list of synonyms, complete the movement into premonition.
He realized ( ). He was aware ( ), and he sensed ( ). Before evening, ( ).
He realized his favorite thing was getting out. He was aware of his aggravation when he sat the throne, and he sensed the entire realm slipping from his fingers. Before evening he would find a break in the pressure, even if he had to break it himself.
5. Start a new paragraph, move back to the narrative.
Carn picked his teeth with the empty quail skewer and discarded it into the castle hedges. He nodded to the doorman, grit his teeth, and stepped into the grand hall.
He bought some more quail skewers from the street merchant. After breakfast, he lingered in the streets of the capital before returning to the Castle. The daily trip to the merchant stalls, his laps around the plaza and through the garden, was all just to get away for a while. Away from the Castle and the needs of everyone in it. Away from the responsibility, away from the crown. He realized his favorite thing was getting out of the throne room and into the anonymous public. He was aware of his growing aggravation when he sat the throne, and he sensed the entire realm slipping from his fingers. Before evening he would find a break in the pressure, even if he had to break it himself.
Carn picked his teeth with the skewer and discarded it into the castle hedges. He nodded to the doorman, grit his teeth, and stepped into the grand hall.