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ODD/OMINOUS/ORDINARY Objects

4/17/2014

17 Comments

 
Picture
O is for OBJECTS you speak of in your writing and tell in your storytelling . Description is EVERYTHING! Readers and listeners alike must be able to see your characters and what they are up to. Utilizing the five senses to describe objects in your story is imperative. 

Activity:  Describing Pictures of Various Objects


Setting: Groups of 2 to 4 participants at tables or on the floor
Materials: - paper, pens
Poster of the 5 senses: Smell, Touch, Sight, Hearing, Taste

1. Create picture cards of various objects facing down on each table
2. Participants choose 1 card without looking at it before hand. No one else is allowed to see the card chosen.
3. 5 to 10 minutes is allowed for each person to write down or gather his thoughts on how the object will be described without saying the name of the object. At least 2 of the 5 senses must be used.
4. Each person takes his turn describing the object card they are holding. No one is allowed to guess what each object is at this point.
5. When all have created their descriptions, a designated leader of the group gathers the cards without looking at them, scrambles them, and places the cards, pictures up on the table.
6. As a group, you decide which picture went with which description.
7. Reflection - Whose  descriptions were the most vivid? What made those descriptions so vivid? 

Option - Make it harder by having several different types of the same object (different types of hats, different types of shoes)
I would love to hear from you with  other activities or tips on how to bring out the details within a story.
17 Comments
jackie link
4/17/2014 04:04:34 am

I love stories but am always a bit sad when I get to the end of a good one!

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Sue Kuentz
4/18/2014 03:58:45 pm

haha - so true!

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peppylady (Dora) link
4/17/2014 04:29:51 am

I call my object "stuff" and I have way to much stuff.

Coffee is on

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Pam Faro link
4/17/2014 05:28:33 am

I love this! I am SO going to use this at some point in my Imagery workshops! :-D (And ALWAYS happy to learn from "Others" [shameless plug: http://www.storycrossings.com/2014/04/17/others/] - !!

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Sue Kuentz link
4/18/2014 04:00:53 pm

Pam, you and I are definitely on the same page when it comes to the power of images!

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Lisa Southard link
4/17/2014 09:18:34 am

This is a good exercise in bringing out descriptive powers- we used to do a regular round the fire make a story game- one sentence each- and the game developed to include questions from the other participants about each event/character- so you had to make quick decisions about descriptive details and back stories. It did get rather confusing but also hilarious. Thanks for my A-Z visit, hope you had a jolly walk :-)
Lisa at <a href="http://lilytequila@blogspot.com/">Wishbone Soup Cures Everything</a>

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Sue Kuentz link
4/18/2014 04:00:00 pm

Thank Lisa for visiting. I loved the campfire games. Ahhhh, those were the days!

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DayDreamer link
4/17/2014 10:07:01 am

I don't write but looking at this exercise makes me want to so much write a story round one or all of a group of random pictures in the way you describe. Idea are popping out of my head. t's seems a very good way to help a writer get the best out of themselves.

Reply
Sue Kuentz link
4/18/2014 03:58:18 pm

Kids love to be engaged - fun learning. Thank you so much for visiting!

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Conlee Ricketts link
4/17/2014 10:08:36 am

What a great way to improve detail writing! I think my daughter would enjoy this activity. It's funny because the hand on the door knob is the first pic I saw when I got here and I had to chuckle because of your blog title and the fact that I saw a shiny doorknob in the middle of the road on my drive home from work! Ahhh objects, especially ones completely out of place. Conlee http://www.conleericketts.com/blog.html

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Sue Kuentz link
4/18/2014 04:02:01 pm

I hope you do try the activity with your daughter! Let me know what she thinks! Thanks so much for visiting!

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Julia link
4/17/2014 10:23:03 am

This is a great writing activity/exercise, and I think English teachers should use it in their high school classes. Good tips.

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Sue Kuentz link
4/18/2014 04:02:37 pm

Thanks so much Julia!

Reply
Linda Ann - Nickers and Ink link
4/18/2014 10:54:16 am

Outstanding ideas for storytellers.

Reply
cecilia link
4/18/2014 12:40:32 pm

what a fabulous little game. thank you for the idea

Reply
hjblenkinsop link
4/27/2014 04:47:52 am

I love alliteration as well! Nice choice of words. http://www.hjblenkinsop.co.uk

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http://essay-editor.net/blog/admission-essay-editing-service--youve-been-accepted link
8/23/2017 02:45:05 am

Your tips show us the practical side of what makes a successful photo with your blog.

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