Writing Sketch: When Worlds Collide

Due to the overwhelming success of this writing sketch last summer, I thought we'd give it another try this year. Using the overhead projector, and several days we previously broke this sketch up into three actual days and three actual sketches.

This time, I'll post the entire task and allow you to pace yourselves over the next few days. This blog entry will give you all the "raw material" you need to bring this sketch to life. As a whole, this sketch will involve three chunks of writing over perhaps three separate days.

This sketch involves viewing, thinking about, reflecting upon, and being inspired by two separate images. As you view the first "world," consider what you see, what you imagine might be going on in that world. What activity might consume you? What would your senses tell you about that world? Considering that each of these worlds plays some tricks with space and distance, what might movement from point to point be like? If not "you,"then who?

Ultimately, place your creativity in the first world and see what happens. Then, move on to the second "world" and place your creativity in it, as well. Give yourself enough time in each world to explore it in great enough depth that it will give the rest of us enough fuel for peer feedback. Aim for a few solid paragraphs of narrative, perhaps some dialogue, and 15 minutes of uninterrupted writing time.

Our first "world" comes to us from my favorite coffee shop, Being There in Altoona, IA and is a mural that delights the customers (used with permission):


Our second "world" is a bit more down to Earth. This is a snapshot of my son's play rug from our living room floor:


After you have explored each "world" it is time to do what science fiction writers often love to do: make worlds collide. What happens when life, occupants, ways of existence in these two worlds interact? What brighter future or dire consequences may result from the collision of these two "worlds?" Your third chunk of this ongoing sketch exercise should be nothing less than enjoying the fun of playing around with our craft of writing.

As you create each of the three chunks of this sketch, post them on the blog for all to see. Please be sure to offer comments to each of your peers as they post their three chunks.

In summary:

View the first world; sketch.
View the second world; sketch.
Collide the worlds; sketch.

(Post comments to peers as you go.)

Each of your three components should occupy one solid (double-spaced) page in Word.

Reminder: this exercise will give us fuel for our ongoing exploration of peer feedback, helping to build our skills and prepare us for peer collaboration of our short stories at the end of the week.

Enjoy!!