Portfolio of Short Writing Excercises

Portfolio piece #1: sharpening the writer’s listening abilities
snippet of overheard conversation, narrative form, 50 words

“No way!” she exclaimed, tossing her blonde ponytail back. “How did you get those tickets, have you spoken to Sarah, I was going to message Sophie as well…” she said staring earnestly at the middle-aged man wearing a grey suit. He could only stare back at her from the close proximity amongst the evening commuters, while she unabashedly conversed into her earphones’ receiver.

 

Portfolio piece #2: Setting a scene
Write a short piece that pulls readers into a scene,100-120 words
Use descriptive language to capture the physical environment and the people in it, including sensory elements such as sound, light, movement and temperature. The point is to hook readers into the story.

The doors slide open at my approach; the grey afternoon reminds me that leaving my jumper at home was a mistake. Movement is slow and indirect on Bowen Street, as the passers-by slowly make their way to their destinations without any apparent sense of urgency, despite the single figure temperature. Such is the struggle of a university student: to fill in the time between classes, not with the intent of being late, but to avoid the taboo of arriving early. As I order my small flat white from the pop-up café run from the back of an old Mini Moke, the lone employee takes my money as I attempt to roll my tobacco with shivery hands.

 

Portfolio piece #3: third person point of view
Conversation/Interview someone.

Abby’s wallet.
The most significant items: a bankcard and licence are the first inventoried, along with a few receipts but an absence of tangible currency. “I spend it too fast, otherwise” she justifies, unclasping the gold buckle and surveying the contents as though something new might have appeared. The gift of a Mimco wallet came on her 18th birthday, although the original was not to her liking so she exchanged it for this current one; a better one.

 

Portfolio piece #4: Re-writing leads and closures of a published story
Re-write the introduction and conclusion of the article analysed for Task 1.

Headline: The Point of No Return: Climate Change Nightmares Are Already Here

50 words for intro

The term ‘climate change’ is becoming a popular expression, used to try and encapsulate the cause and effect we as a species are having on the Earth. We have been subject to the term in the mainstream media as a widely debated global issue, although despite all the knowledge we have access to, our planet is changing for the worse before our eyes and there is no turning back.

 

25 words for conclusion.

Despite that our natural world decaying is now a fact that we all have to accept, awareness and preservation of natural flora and fauna might be enough to sustain what is left of our fragile environment for a tolerable future.

 

Portfolio piece #5: The Norman Mailer writing exercise

  1. Remember what happened today since you woke up until now
  2. Remember what noise/voice, where and what was said.
  3. Find out what gave you the emotion.
  4. What the action was that gave you excitement.

(50 words)

The sluggish air is pierced with the sound of routine, as my alarm reminds me of the life I must face. Thoughts only of regaining the residual moments of blissful nothingness are overcome by logical plans to prepare for the day ahead, and the dreaded escape from the comforts of the sheets.

 

Portfolio piece #6: The beginning of your story

  1. Write a potential headline suitable to your final story. (64 characters or 11 words max)

A DAY IN THE LIVE: A Behind-The-Screens Look At Producing Television

 

  1. Write a potential stand-first. While headlines communicate the topic or subject area of the article to the reader, the stand-first will allow the writer to frame or shape the subject matter in the mind of the reader. (128 characters or 26 words max) 

An in-depth look at the role of the producer of a live television segment and what it takes to deliver engaging content for viewers to enjoy.

 

 

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