Social group and setting

At its heart, this snippet is about an established social group judging two new prospective members.

To write a variation that follows the same structure, the easiest approach is to imagine a social group into which two new members can come.

So let's begin by brainstorming social groups we could write about. For example:

Football team, theatre group, chemistry class, teachers, family, cheerleading squad, old ladies' knitting club, musicians, church, space mission, police force, science lab, mining crew, paranormal investigators, gang of medieval assassins.

Writelike

Brainstorm some different groups of people you could write about.

Having brainstormed a few ideas, we will need to pick one to write about.

For examples in this lesson, we're going to use two concepts from our list above: the old ladies' knitting group and the gang of medieval assassins.

From your list, which social group seems like the most fun to write about?

It's a good exercise to try and imagine some of the details for your group, such as where they are and what some of their names might be.

For example, this knitting circle idea: where do the ladies meet? What are some of their names?

We can write down a few ideas:

Where they meet: Community centre, big windows, linoleum floors, book cases, staff come through, other groups playing bridge or reading. Tables with snacks. Flowers. Posters.

Names: Doris, Betty, Carol-Anne, Irma, Phyllis.

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What about our gang of assassins?

Where they meet: Lair in an old merchant house. Crammed with furniture and weapons. Ornaments. Training areas in basement and on roof. Candles and lanterns. Rooftops, alleys, bed chambers.

Names: Enzo. Avi. Laurent. Elspeth. Guyant. Clem.

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Choose your favourite social group from your ideas above. Describe where they are and write down some names you can use.

Writelike Jane Austen: Mr Darcy at the dance

Social group and setting