Writing Exercise: Objects of Affection

‘Looked at again and again half consciously by a mind thinking of something else, any object mixes itself so profoundly with the stuff of thought that it loses its actual form and recomposes itself a little differently in an ideal shape which haunts the brain when we least expect it.’

- Virginia Woolf

These writing exercises are designed to get you thinking about the links between characters and the objects they keep. They will help you to use an item to gain access into the world of your story and learn more about the figures that inhabit it. These activities can be used in conjunction with something you are already working on or as the starting point for a new idea.

• Write a scene in which two characters are having a conversation. Introduce an object to this scene and let it play a dynamic part in the action. Is this object proof of one character’s infidelity? Is it an inherited possession of a recently deceased relative? Are the characters arguing or bonding over this object?
• Choose a character you’re struggling with and think of an object that you feel encapsulates their qualities. What kind of character might a yo-yo, oak bureau or vintage dress tell us about?
• Create a still life with words and hone your descriptive skills. Choose an object in your possession and describe it vividly.
• Look at the objects you keep about you. Analyse your relationship with them. Why are you drawn to them? Comfort? Admiration? Superstition? Write down your findings.

I would love to know if these exercises worked for you - let me know in the comments!