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Weekly Writing Session is happening in 5 days
Hemingway’s Iceberg Technique
Ernest Hemingway believed that the most powerful writing doesn’t explain everything. He called this the Iceberg Theory. The reader only sees the tip of the iceberg, but the deeper meaning exists beneath the surface. Instead of explaining emotions directly, the writer lets actions and small details reveal the truth. The underline meaning in a story, beneath the surface is something that many great authors use. It’s also something that I teach writers to find with the Story First method since I truly believe the power of the inner story. A wonderful book has an inner story and an outer story. 📖 Something great that you can do, especially as a newbie writer, is practice other techniques, play with the writing styles. This is how you find your own personal way of getting your words onto paper. 📑 If you’re an experienced writer, what a great way to hone into your skill than by trying other writing techniques! 😁 ✅ Your Challenge Write a short scene where a character is experiencing a strong emotion — but you cannot name the emotion. We’ve done a challenge similar to this in the past. But now, we are trying it out with more details. Don't use words like: 😢sad 😡angry 😱afraid 😄excited 🥺heartbroken Instead, show it through: 💥body language 💥small actions 💥dialogue 💥environment details Example: Instead of saying "He was nervous." 😬 Try something like: "He checked his watch again, then wiped his palms on his jeans." Let the reader feel it without being told. Bonus Challenge Write the same scene again but with the opposite emotion.
Hemingway’s Iceberg Technique
Dialogue That Sounds Real
Many writers accidentally make dialogue sound stiff or unnatural. Today we’re practicing natural conversation. 🔥Your Challenge Write a short conversation between two characters where: • one character wants something • the other character is hiding something But neither of them says it directly. Think of how real people talk. 🗣️ We often: • avoid the real topic • speak indirectly • say one thing but mean another Example: Person A: “Did you go to the meeting yesterday?” Person B: “I had a lot going on.” The tension sits between the lines. Rules 🔥 Write at least 10 lines of dialogue 🔥 Use minimal description 🔥 Let the tension show through conversation Bonus Challenge Add one small physical action that reveals what the character is feeling.
Dialogue That Sounds Real
🎬 If Your Book Were a Film
So many of us have dreamed of having our book turned into a movie. 🍿 The lights, the camera, the action! 🎦 Think of the: 🎬 Title 🎬 Tagline 🎬 Opening scene Let’s imagine it fully alive. ✨ Paint us a picture of your movie! 🎥 Drop yours below.
🎬 If Your Book Were a Film
🎲 Same Scene, Different Lens
Let’s play a game! I’ll give you a prompt and I want you to turn it into whatever genre you want. Prompt: “Two people meet unexpectedly.” Write it: 💥 As a thriller 💥As a romance 💥 As fantasy 💥 As comedy Notice how structure shapes tone. Drop your version below and interact with someone else’s! Let’s work on learning more about the different ways to present the scene from one another! Plus, it’s interesting reading others’ stories. So, why not let them know your thoughts?
🎲 Same Scene, Different Lens
The 15-Minute Scene
Today’s challenge is simple. Set a timer for 15 minutes. ⏲️ Write a scene where something small changes. Examples: ⭐️ a character receives unexpected news ⭐️ someone notices something strange ⭐️ a conversation takes an unexpected turn Fifteen minutes. No editing. Just forward motion. Many professional writers use short writing bursts like this to break resistance. Sometimes the scene surprises you. Sometimes it becomes a piece of the book.📕 Either way, you practiced movement. If you want, share your scene below. 👇
The 15-Minute Scene
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