Read the two bland scenarios below. Edit each of them by make two or three changes that affect the status of the characters in the stories. What can you tweak to lower their status? Raise it? Copy your new stories and add them to the comment section below. Be sure to also include a brief interpretation explaining what you were trying to accomplish.

SCENARIO ONE

Alex is Jo’s manager. Today is performance review day. Alex meets Jo in a conference room. They sit down. Jo speaks first and hands over some prepared written thoughts. “I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to discuss today,” Jo says.

Alex looks over the notes. “Okay,” Alex says. “I’ve also been thinking about our meeting a lot. There is some feedback I have for your and some tips that I think will help you be more effective.”

“More effective?”

“Yes,” says Alex. “You’re doing fine. I think you have more potential though.”

“Oh, okay.”

Alex pulls out another document with more notes. “Shall we get started?”

SCENARIO TWO

A break room in an office.

JIM enters, carrying a package of Gummy Worms. Opens the package and pours the gummy worms into a bowl. Places the bowl on the table.

EMILY enters.

JIM
Morning, Emily

EMILY
Good morning, Jim.

JIM
I see that the coffee’s already on.

EMILY
Great

JIM
And there’s a fresh bunch of Gummy Worms on the table.

EMILY
Ah. About that: I checked the list. They actually aren’t vegan.

JIM
Hmm. Somebody owes somebody ten bucks.

EMILY turns and leaves the room