Putting your story to one side for the moment, write a one-page practice scene with two characters – A and B.

• Decide what A and B want in the scene and why they want it – for example, A wants to go to the park because they know that their dad is going to be there, but B wants to go to the Zoo because they know the girl they fancy is going to be there.
• Each character wants to try to convince the other that they are right.
• Think about three ways they could get what they want through dialogue – for example A could flirt with B, or intimidate B or manipulate B.
• Think about three ways they could get that through action – for example B could physically stop A from leaving the scene, B could pretend to be sick to stop A from going or B could attack A.
• Try to use your different tactics as you write your scene and think about how those tactics change as the situation changes.
• How does the scene conclude?

When you have finished your scene, read back over it. Can you identify where the shifts take place and the different tactics your characters use to get what they want?