This swap continues our series of "Write" swaps. They are all based on a great book that I found at the library. See below for author and other info if you'd like to purchase or find a copy.

We had some fun with this Write swap in September, so let's do it again!

The swap: Eavesdrop Soup

This exercise is all about dialogue. Take a notebook or whatever you write with and go to a public place. Without being noticed, collect 15 lines of dialogue from at least five different conversations.

Next, you’ll select 10 of your lines and use them to write a coherent and convincing piece of writing (story, article, scene, poem, whatever it is that you write). Feel free to add any narrative and dialogue that’s needed to make the writing hang together. But be sure your partners know the lines that came from your eavesdropping.

This swap is based on information in: “Now Write! Fiction writing exercises from today’s best writers and teachers” edited by Sherry Ellis. Published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penquin. ISBN 1-58542-522-2. $13.95/softcover

Snail mail. International. Group membership.