WABB LAB – LOVE – DAY 1
Wabb-Labs are a weeklong deep dive into a specific form of writing.
It is almost February, which means love is in the air! This week we will drown ourselves in love and write about it every day!
As you hopefully know, when it comes to love, action speaks louder than words, so we are going to discover what love looks like and sounds like. We look for actions big and small that indicate love, a touch, an act of support, when someone stays instead of leaves when things go wrong. And we are going to do all that without using the word love!
Love, loved, loving, in love, fell for, soulmate, the one, meant to be, destiny, fate, perfect match, adored, cherished, devoted, infatuated, besotted, smitten, enamored, passionate, obsession, magical, special, beautiful, intense, deep, overwhelming, undeniable, irresistible, electric, boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, lover, couple, husband / wife, she knew she loved him, he realized this was love, they were happy together, it felt right, everything made sense, butterflies in her stomach, heart skipped a beat, sparks flew, swept off her feet, head over heels, fireworks, love at first sight.
Did you read all those words about love? All of them are forbidden in all the exercises this whole wabb-lab!
Are you up for the challenge?
DAY 1 – LOVE IN TIMES OF CHAOS
Sometimes love shows itself in difficult times. For this scene think about a situation that is the opposite of perfect. In fact, everything went totally wrong. Maybe there is total chaos, panic and suffering going on in your scene, but it could also be a quieter, more internal devastation.
Examples of external Chaos
- Site of a plane crash
- Bad weather ruining plans
- A bank lobby during a robbery
- A war scene
- A roommate crashes your romantic dinner and ruins it all.
Examples of internal devastation
- You just heard that someone you care for will lose their life
- a lifelong dream seems lost forever
- a depression or other mental struggle
Tip: If something is totally wrong it might help to define what the situation would have been like when everything would have been perfect. What was your main characters intent before it all went wrong? What were they expecting?
The exercise
Write a scene where two people are stuck in a situation that goes wrong. If you can, add a reason why they can’t leave or why they are stuck. How does love appear in this situation?
What to write
Show:
- how each person reacts to things going wrong
- who takes charge, who withdraws
- a small moment of connection under pressure
Don’ explain why they like each other and even though your characters may try to solve their issues, don’t fix it for them and end the scene before the problem is solved.
