Write On Wednesdays......A Rewrite.

Write on Wednesday Exercise 14 - The Mighty Mighty Rewrite...

Zanni: I did a workshop with literary author Mj Hyland, who teachers Masters in Creative Writing at Manchester University. She asked us to choose our favourite book, take the first paragraph and then write our own content into the paragraph, keeping the structure, tone, language etc. It's really helpful!

No time limit. Let's keep up the focus on making each word count. Ready? Set? Write!

So, when I read this week's prompt for WoW I have to admit my heart sank just a little; Rewrite the first paragraph from your favourite book? It's kind of like choosing between my children. Finally I settled on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as it is one of my favourites. Rewriting any part of this book was going to be a hard call, it is just so beautifully written....but the first paragraph? The opening quote from this novel is famous, as we all know seeing it was featured on inkpaperpen last week. I hope and pray that I haven't completely slaughtered it....Sorry Jane!

'It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.'

Being filthy rich can be an absolute drag. Most of society 'assumes' that I need a good man to share it with. Family members despair at my single status. My friends constantly try to set me up with every eligible drop kick they know. All I know is that I'm happy dancing to the beat of my own drum thank you very much.

As you can probably tell I struggled a bit with this one!

Pop over to inkpaperpen to check out the rest of this week's entries.......

WOW- Write On Wednesdays- Emma

  
 This is this week's exercise for Write On Wednesdays; Grab the 8th book from your bookshelf. Open it to page 8. Scroll down to the 8th sentence. Write this sentence at the top of your page. Set your timer for 5 minutes and write the first words that come into your head after your writing prompt.  Stop when the buzzer rings!
 The eighth book on my shelf just happened to be Jane Austen's 'Emma'. One of my favourites!
 
 Emma smiled and chatted as cheerfully as she could........
 

Frivolous chatter, insignificant chatter, chatter to cover up the awkwardness of the moment. Meaningless words to deceive those around her into thinking that she was OK...that everything was OK.

 

She really didn't expect to see him so soon after their parting. The pain was still raw and fresh. A new wound. He smiled at her briefly across the room and her face burned and smarted with the embarrassment of it all. How dare he stand there and look so handsome, so nonchalant, like he didn't have a care in the world?

 

Partaking in the useless talk of those around her to cover the rush of emotions that assailed her. Laughing at nothing in particular, and all the while his eyes burned into her, reducing her into a state of nerves and tension.

Her laughter was false, her words were idle, his presence hung over her like a shadow. And then to her horror...her complete and utter disbelief....he started to approach her. Taking slow, measured footsteps, looking for all the world like a man with a purpose. She gasped aloud, forgetting for a moment her surroundings. To her it seemed like they were the only two people in the room...in the world. She shivered, briefly experiencing a whisper of delicious apprehension........