WABB LAB – MEMOIRS – DAY 4
You don’t remember conversations cleanly.
So don’t write them cleanly.
The exercise
Write a conversation you still remember but only write what you remember people saying. Don’t bother with he said, she whispered, they shouted aggressively. No, just what was said. Also, only the fragments you remember.
You can use:
- half sentences
- interruptions
- pauses
- repetitions
- gapwords, cussing (we’re not judging)
Grammar is optional.
Complete thoughts are optional.
Rules
- No scene-setting
- No explanation
Let the dialogue do the work.
Tip: Don’t bother writing down who said what, it will save you typing-time and could get you distracted. You can always format later if you are going to use the text, but you will be surprised of how clear it is who said what and what the tone of voice was. Try it!
Sarah: “I should have know, what a shithead.”
Lindsey: “ Hate to say I….”
Sarah: “ stop, say no more!”
Try this instead:
-I should have know, what a shithead
-Hate to say I…
-Stop, say no more!
This poem by Belgian writer Paul van Ostaijen demonstrates how typography can be used as an integral part of meaning, with variations in size, spacing, and placement turning words into visual gestures that shape rhythm, emphasis, and interpretation, and transforming the act of reading into a playful, almost physical experience.
If you want to get extra creative, feel free to add visual elements to add power and meaning to your words.
