Task 11: Debut

[N.B. This whole post is available as a podcast by clicking here.]

début (noun)

1. a first public appearance on a stage, on television, etc.;
2. the first appearance of something, as a new product;
3. (of a young woman) a formal introduction and entrance into society, as at an annual ball;
4. the beginning of a profession, career, etc.

Look carefully at this piece of writing, entitled 'Début':

Debut

The drapes hung like dense clouds, a safe screen from those who might jeer or cheer. Fear pierced her veins; its hot pulse rushed through her heart, but left her cold too: she could feel her hands shake as they gripped the chair, and the chair, in turn, shook too. Soon to be thrown to the throng like a slave to a den of beasts, she did not trust her crowd. Then the sea of red cloth drew to each side and she stood there in the harsh, hot light. There was no way back now – this was it.

Now read it again, considering the following questions:

• What is it describing?
• What do we find out about the narrator/protagonist?
• How does it use simile and metaphor to bring the narrative to life?
• How does it enhance that narrative with rhythm, rhyme and alliteration?
  
• How does the narrative use tension to build towards a climax?

Now think about other scenarios in which someone might be making their début. An athlete or swimmer, perhaps, at a major championship (or even the olympics); a musician, auditioning to join a successful band; a child starting at a brand new school. We make different débuts throughout our life - some life-changing, some less so, but all, at the time, immensely significant and often rather nerve-wracking.

Now look again at the piece of writing above. What else do you notice about it? Nothing? Look really closely.

What do all the words have in common?

Worked it out yet?

And how many words are there?

Hopefully you are with me now: the piece of writing above consists of exactly 100 words - each consisting of only 1 syllable. It is entirely monosyllabic.

Why is this important? It is all about discipline. Over the next few weeks, I am going to give you a number of exercises which will test, hone and develop your discipline with language. Just like a musician will spend hours playing scales and arpeggios; just like an athlete will spend hours doing sit-ups, or press-ups, or squat-thrusts; so a writer becomes successful only if they are disciplined with their craft. And, as a writer, your craft is not speed on the racetrack; nor is it virtuosity with a violin; your craft is language.

All of your tasks over the next few weeks will require you to discipline your use of language in response to a number of stringent rules - BUT without ever losing impact or originality. EVERYTHING you write should be engaging, fresh and powerful - but it should achieve those things whilst ALSO adhering to the rules I set you.

And your rules for this week? Well, you have probably guessed by now:

1. Title: Début
2. Words: exactly 100 and ALL monosyllabic
3. Figurative language: frequent use of simile and metaphor
4. Auditory language: frequent use of rhythm, rhyme and alliteration
   
5. Structure: build steadily towards a climax
6. Deadline: midnight on Saturday 22nd September
   

As for the words themselves, that is where I hand the cauldron to you. It is now up to you to go away and make some wordvoodoo of your own...