Date:         Sat, 6 Jun 1998 11:17:46 -0400
From: Erewhon? Here! <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      [WRITERS] EXERCISE: Rest In Peace... but not yet?

[With thanks to Jeff, Jane, Anthony et al...]

First, pick a subject.  This could be anyone: living or dead; famous,
infamous, or not even really related to fame; and of the fictional, real
world, or even "I wish" flavors of reality.  The undead, the never
living, and all the inhuman parts of the world are equally open for your
use.

So, pick someone -- or something.

Second, write that obituary!  You may be baroque or minimalist, baldly
factual or ornately fanciful.  Consider the "spin" you want to put on
this -- although the traditional stance is to point out what a wonderful
person the deceased was, you may also use an obituary to remark on their
shortcomings or to make an observation about the world, their fans, or
some other point.

You can even write your own obituary, an exercise which can give
interesting insights into your opinion of yourself.

Although it may seem ghoulish, the obituary is an exercise in
summarizing an entire life in a very short form.  Picking out the
important points, stating them succinctly, and developing a
well-balanced piece is not easy.

tink