On Thurs 14 April, after two years online, we were delighted to be back in Dalston CLR James Library. To mark the occasion, we challenged ourselves to write the ultimate party scene. Below you'll find some of the session's prompts.
Your character is a precocious 10-year-old girl, describing her birthday party. She is an acute observer of the politics, rivalries and tensions among her friends. And also their parents.
Your character is this same girl's mother or father. They are describing their child's party, which is proving exhausting. They are also beginning to feel that their daughter is judging them.
A couple are hosting a dinner party at home. One other couple is invited. When the guests fail to turn up, something is revealed about the first couple's relationship… (This is how The Dinner Party by Joshua Ferris begins.)
Your character is a teenager gatecrashing a party of entitled rich kids. One of them inadvertently tells your character a secret. Your character wonders what to do with this information.
Someone gives, or receives, an inappropriately expensive gift, and suddenly things get awkward.
Your character is getting ready. They will be using this party to exact revenge.
It’s another Saturday night at The Feathers, an unremarkable pub in a medium-sized town that's really nowhere special…
It's your character's 100th birthday…
A song comes on, and in that moment your character experiences a moment of pure, unadulterated and absolute joy.
Your character's friends have organised a surprise party for her. Your character has got wind of the fact, and is strangely irritated that they have done this. She must now feign surprise as she enters the room…
