Last October, I took an online class on Point of View, offered by the RWA Online Chapter. I’m not a member of RWA, and don’t even write romance. But their classes are open to non-members for a small fee, and the topic was timely for me, so I signed up. The workshop consisted of written lectures, short assignments, a main homework and interaction with the lecturers, Jess Granger and Angie Fox.
The workshop was worth every penny I paid. It was a good overview of POV, plus the exercises and critiques were very helpful. The excerpt below is my final homework, a result of the writing prompts and comments from both lecturers and fellow students. It’s not a part of any work in progress of mine, but the premise is an idea I had for a story a while back. I hope you like it!
The Rehearsal
Elizabeth looked up at the yellow streamers hanging from the rafters of the auditorium. Their long tails twirled gently down to bob in delicate loops above the baby grand piano. The hum of the air conditioner mixed with the restrained hubbub around her.
The raised platform where the performers would be standing on was decorated with multi-colored paper flowers to match the fiesta theme. Elizabeth knew exactly where on that platform she would be tomorrow. She clasped her hands together and was surprised at how steady they were.
Elizabeth met Philip’s gaze across the semi-darkness of the theater. She smiled at him, trying to ignore the crowd of their classmates that always seemed to gather around him.
"He’s so sweet, isn’t he?" Jenni appeared beside her, her long gown swishing on the wood floor as she moved.
"Huh?" Elizabeth glanced at her best friend and handed her one of the flowered bonnets from the bench by the stage door.
"Philip. He’s very sweet. He’s the most adorable gentlemanly guy ever. Well, of course, you already know that," said Jenni, who had plopped the bonnet on her head. "I thought I saw him out there somewhere." She poked her head out of the door to look, the hat hanging on precariously.
"Yup, he’s over by the first row." Elizabeth waved her hand in Philip’s direction. Philip grinned and waved back, causing her heart to flutter. She ducked her head and picked up the sheet music she would use today, pretending to make sure the pages were in order.
"Did you know Philip carried Mrs. Dempsey’s books for her this morning? He actually made her smile! You are just sooo lucky, you know? John thinks that that opening-doors-for-ladies routine is so lame, but I think it’s adorable. Oooh, are you still doing Fidelio? I’ve never been able to mmmmphrzz ddnn." Jenni’s last sentence was lost when she stuck several hairpins between her lips, so she could fix the bonnet in her hair.
Elizabeth nodded. "I know Fidelio already, so I didn’t have to work on it much." She knew their music director Mr. Walden wouldn’t mind if she changed it at the last minute. It had been hard to find the time to practice without anyone knowing what she was doing. She just hoped she got the words right. It wouldn’t sound the same without the dulcimer, but maybe Philip would still recognize it. She hugged her secret to herself, conscious of her sudden grin and trying to hide it from the boy who was still gazing at her from across the room.
Elizabeth heard her name called out on stage. With a little shiver of excitement, she picked up her skirts and stepped out for her rehearsal.
****
