Ten minute quick exercise: "Interrupted"
FinsburyParkCarrots
Posts: 12,223
Here's one for writer's block. Set yourself ten minutes maximum and be strict with yourself!
Write a short piece of prose or dramatic dialogue about someone being persistently interrupted while engaged in a task.
This is as far as I got in ten minutes. For better or worse, here it is:
A: That's a big ole book ya got there.
B: Er, yes. Yes, it is.
A: That's a lot of reading.
B: Hmmm. It is.
(pause)
A: Don't think I'd have the patience.
(pause)
I mean, that print's small. My eyes wouldn't hack that strain. Reading the paper's bad enough. I suppose you read one of them big ole papers. I said I suppose you read one of them big ole papers! Not the papers us sort as read.
B: Yes, yes. Maybe. Ahem.
A: What's it about?
B: What's what about?
A: Your book?
B: Oh. It's a play. Titus Andronicus. Shakespeare.
A: Shakespeare. Never could be doing with Shakespeare. Lot of talking backwards, I reckon. And he didn't write them plays himself. I read his servant did. Man Friday.
B: Would you excuse me please? I'm trying to finish this. I've got to attend a lecture on it tomorrow.
A: Ooooh. Student, are you? Studying Shakespeare?
B: Amongst other things.
A: What are you going to do with that after you finish college, though?
B: What am I what?
A: what are you going to do with all that learning Shakespeare when you finish? What jobs are in that? I mean, with a trade you can do something, and in computers. I don't know much about computers. That Internet and that. But some fellas, I heard they makes about two hundred an hour. More even. That's good money. But you wouldn't make money like that reading books. It's like learning Latin. Mind you, lawyers knows Latin, and they makes money. Are you training to be a lawyer?
B: No, I'm training to be a chef. I like to make pies. I'm reading Titus Andronicus for recipes. Now if you'll excuse me I'll get back to my book.
(pause)
A: Yes, yes. Of course. Sorry.
(pause)
Didn't mean to disturb you.
(pause)
I mean, I should have thought.
(pause)
It must be irritating.
(pause)
I mean, when you're trying to read, and all.
(pause)
And someone keeps interrupting ----
B: EXACTLY!!!!!!
A: I mean, my wife pointed that out the other day: she said, I'm trying to read my stars here and you keep talking and I've been reading the same line six times --
B: I know how she feels!
A: -- and what's more, I've been readng Virgo by mistake, because, you see, my wife, she's a Libra, or well, she is and she isn't. She would have been alright reading Virgo because she was on the cusp, and in fact, sometimes she's Virgo and sometimes she's Libra, but I don't know much about it. Do you know about it? They were into all that astrology stuff in Shakespeare's time, weren't they? Witches and spells and whatnot --
B: WILL YOU BE QUIET!!!!!!!!!
A: There's no need to take that tone with me, young man. I'm only making polite conversation.
B: I DON'T WANT CONVERSATION!! I WANT TO READ MY BOOK!!!
A: Well read your bloomin' book then! What's stoppin' yer?
(pause)
So, what happens in this play then?
___________________
Write a short piece of prose or dramatic dialogue about someone being persistently interrupted while engaged in a task.
This is as far as I got in ten minutes. For better or worse, here it is:
A: That's a big ole book ya got there.
B: Er, yes. Yes, it is.
A: That's a lot of reading.
B: Hmmm. It is.
(pause)
A: Don't think I'd have the patience.
(pause)
I mean, that print's small. My eyes wouldn't hack that strain. Reading the paper's bad enough. I suppose you read one of them big ole papers. I said I suppose you read one of them big ole papers! Not the papers us sort as read.
B: Yes, yes. Maybe. Ahem.
A: What's it about?
B: What's what about?
A: Your book?
B: Oh. It's a play. Titus Andronicus. Shakespeare.
A: Shakespeare. Never could be doing with Shakespeare. Lot of talking backwards, I reckon. And he didn't write them plays himself. I read his servant did. Man Friday.
B: Would you excuse me please? I'm trying to finish this. I've got to attend a lecture on it tomorrow.
A: Ooooh. Student, are you? Studying Shakespeare?
B: Amongst other things.
A: What are you going to do with that after you finish college, though?
B: What am I what?
A: what are you going to do with all that learning Shakespeare when you finish? What jobs are in that? I mean, with a trade you can do something, and in computers. I don't know much about computers. That Internet and that. But some fellas, I heard they makes about two hundred an hour. More even. That's good money. But you wouldn't make money like that reading books. It's like learning Latin. Mind you, lawyers knows Latin, and they makes money. Are you training to be a lawyer?
B: No, I'm training to be a chef. I like to make pies. I'm reading Titus Andronicus for recipes. Now if you'll excuse me I'll get back to my book.
(pause)
A: Yes, yes. Of course. Sorry.
(pause)
Didn't mean to disturb you.
(pause)
I mean, I should have thought.
(pause)
It must be irritating.
(pause)
I mean, when you're trying to read, and all.
(pause)
And someone keeps interrupting ----
B: EXACTLY!!!!!!
A: I mean, my wife pointed that out the other day: she said, I'm trying to read my stars here and you keep talking and I've been reading the same line six times --
B: I know how she feels!
A: -- and what's more, I've been readng Virgo by mistake, because, you see, my wife, she's a Libra, or well, she is and she isn't. She would have been alright reading Virgo because she was on the cusp, and in fact, sometimes she's Virgo and sometimes she's Libra, but I don't know much about it. Do you know about it? They were into all that astrology stuff in Shakespeare's time, weren't they? Witches and spells and whatnot --
B: WILL YOU BE QUIET!!!!!!!!!
A: There's no need to take that tone with me, young man. I'm only making polite conversation.
B: I DON'T WANT CONVERSATION!! I WANT TO READ MY BOOK!!!
A: Well read your bloomin' book then! What's stoppin' yer?
(pause)
So, what happens in this play then?
___________________
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
That was absolutely delightful!!!
wait for it........
......
NOW!!!!
What a treat she thought, as she packed her last item, a specialty dessert she been saving for just such an occasion. Onward to enjoy the great outdoors and hike to the picnic site. As she gathered her last remaining items she was trying to think of the last time she set out to commune with nature. She couldn’t remember.
The day was spectacular. The sun warmed her face as a slight breeze flowed through her hair. She spread out the cloth for the feast ahead wondering what that annoying buzzing sound was. She shrugged it off as she finished laying out a very labor-intensive meal, gazing on the bountiful picnic she had created. As she was putting the finishing touches on her table, she noticed that the buzzing sound was coming from an annoying wasp that had decided to join her. She batted it away rather displeased. Another annoying sound and another wasp descended on the table. She swatted them away keeping them from eating the food she had so carefully purchased and prepared. She was determined not to let these small pests spoil her picnic.
As she started dishing up her plate batting away the wasps that seemed to multiply by the second, she noticed small movements around her beautiful salads. She leaned in closer carefully examining those movements and realized ants were crawling all over her food. Thinking quickly she grabbed the tablecloth furiously shaking the insects away from her the table she had painstaking set just an hour before. She spooned the part of the food the insects had invaded hoping to salvage the rest. The wasps were swarming now and from the looks of it hungry. She batted them down, as she salvaged the food from ants.
Frantically scurrying around she noticed a mosquito on her arm and quickly brushed it off. Oh no another one on her neck. She looked up and the air had turned dense with mosquitoes. Running fast now she abandoned the idyllic notion of any commune with nature along with the picnic she had meticulously created.
Driving home her thoughts wondered, Thai take-out, Ben and Jerry’s, a comfortable chair, electricity, a roof, and an insect free environment. In minutes she would be curled up in a warm blanket watching Oprah and the evening news as she nursed her insect bites.
Anyone else want to have a go?
"A: What are you going to do with that after you finish college, though?
B: What am I what?
A: what are you going to do with all that learning Shakespeare when you finish? What jobs are in that? I mean, with a trade you can do something, and in computers. I don't know much about computers. That Internet and that. But some fellas, I heard they makes about two hundred an hour. More even. That's good money. But you wouldn't make money like that reading books. It's like learning Latin. Mind you, lawyers knows Latin, and they makes money. Are you training to be a lawyer?
B: No, I'm training to be a chef. I like to make pies. I'm reading Titus Andronicus for recipes. Now if you'll excuse me I'll get back to my book."
I love dialogue, especially like this because there is no editorializing. It's very fair.
b. David, guess what I wrote a new poem....it's called Screw You Belou....it's so great....
a. what!!!! yeah....I'll look at it later.....(gives me pained/tortured look).....I'll look at it tomorrow, I promise.....(into headphones)discostew.....watch out.....he's gonna get you......okay CX try getting around that pillar.....shit.....you're dead......moler....where are you?
b. David.....em.....the baby's asleep.....I'm gonna cook something.....will you grate the cheese after the war is finished......
a. (turns around - glares at me).....(looks back at screen)......yes!!!! okay..!..
b. if the baby wakes up, will you look after him for a while.....I'm making pizza......and my legs are really sore....
a. look I've got a war tonight....the whole team is here except Mastoid, and I'm replacing him.....(turns to screen....talks in headphones)....slayer.....FUK!!!!! what the fuk are you doing? get outta there now!!!! quick....okay I'm with you....discostew, get more ammo!!!! hey....good shot.....fukker.....he's gone....okay, quick......hey.....FUKKERS....Kaos rules)......
c. baby starts crying.....
b. David.....I'm so exhausted.....can you walk him?
a. (throws down headphones).....fuk you!!!! (types something in computer).....storms out of the room, and grabs the baby......
b. David, I'm sorry it's just cos I'm so exhausted.....
a. (mutters 'asshole').....
this is with ME doing the interrupting......
BUMP
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green
ISN...wow...felt like I was in your living room. I so know what that feels like...asking nicely in pure exhaustion for a little bit of relief. Just a crumb. That was so honest. Your honesty is amazing. I'm frowning right now and can actually feel some scar tissue in my heart as I breath.
B: not now, i'm on my dot
A: you know that doesn't bother me
B: dammit, you are such a horny dog
A: you want that i should be a viagra dog?
B: well.. no ...of course not.. but how can you possibly want to love me when i i am toned in crimsonite?
A: i desire your body
B: really?
A: yes, rilly, i rilly do want my filly..
C: mom, what are you and dad talkin' about..
B: oh, it's nothing sweety pie.. you just go on back to bed.
A: that's right button, don't worry about your mama tonite. you just go to beddy bye, OK?
C: but i want you to read me a story..
A: give me 10 minutes, OK little darlin'?
C: i can't sleep daddy.. please read me a story.. i want you to read "Where The Wild Things Grow"
A to B.. (with a whisper) Can you stay up a little longer?
B: I love you.. I'll be here.
C: Daddy, pleeeeeeze!!
B: OK, but you have to find the book.
C: Here it is Daddy.. it's my favorite..
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
And his tears fall and burn the garden green