"Fear can sometimes be
a useful emotion. For instance, let's say you're an astronaught on the
moon and you fear that your partner has been turned into Dracula. The next
time he goes out for the moon pieces, wham!, you just slam the door behind
him and blast off. He might call you on the radio and say he's not Dracula,
but you just say, 'Think again, bat man.'"
-- Jack Handey
1. Make a list of physical
responses to fear. Next to this list, create another one of fresh ways
to describe the physical manifestations.
2. Choose a situation
from the list below (or create your own) and write a paragraph that shows
how the child in the situation shows fear and the adult describes that
fear.
An adult runs to help
a child whose bike has just been stolen
A mother comforts a
child during a thunderstorm
A parent reassures a
child after a nightmare
A teacher gives bad
news to a young student
3. Describe, in as much
detail as possible, a situation in which you felt fear. Once you've written
it, reread it, underlining key elements -- a repetitive thought you had,
a small or taste that dominated the scene, how you felt just prior to feeling
afraid. Translate those key elements to fiction. Write a one page scene
from the point of view of one of the characters listed below (or one of
your own) using your real life experience as it would be pertinent to that
character and that situation.
A teenager who has just
survived a plane crash
A bank teller during
a robbery
A mother who realizes
her house is on fire
A man whose car breaks
down in a dangerous neighborhood
A woman alone at night
who hears footsteps behind her