Prompt #48

I’ve been talking a lot about Doechii and the general concept of denial (and also rivers) lately. My logical train of thought, of course, takes me to writing. It occurred to me that denial is difficult to dramatize because it’s so internal. It relies on a character’s thought process driving their actions, and it’s our job to communicate that thought process to our audience somehow. In scene-work (bad scene work), it can often lead to a character becoming the worst improv partner, simply saying “no” or rejecting anything the other character says.

But for some stories, this totally works; consider Michael Scott (The Office), the world’s worst improviser and deeply in-his-own-world character to the point where he’s disconnected from reality when it doesn’t suit him (how piscean of him). When Michael was in denial, it was funny, and it made the scene work. But in scripts, sometimes it can bring a scene to a crashing halt or make a character seem too arch (or crazy). This is something I struggle to put into words for students: HOW do we make this work? When does it work, and when does it not…. To explore how I approach Denial in different genres, we are doing a prompt about it!!

Write an exchange between two or more characters where one character is in denial about something, and the other characters attempt to bring them to acceptance.

If you’re feeling spicy, try this twice in two different genres! Fun!

Set a timer and write for at least 10 minutes!

I’m watching Severance & White Lotus (I miss the old theme song).

I’m reading “How Universal Are Our Emotions” from The New Yorker, and “Every Relationship is Parasocial Now” by Griffin Blue Emerson. (I need more beehiiv newsletters in my rotation, pls send reccs!)

I’m listening to… new music by JoJo, Bad Bunny’s NYC Subway set, and some superior Tiny Desk Concerts (recent faves: childhood crush Leon Thomas and Yasmin Williams (this submission by Cure for Paranoia for the contest was also so good!)

My resolution for this year is to grow our community here! So, if you wouldn’t mind sharing this newsletter with a creative friend, I would so appreciate it!