Writing Exercises
Artists have sketchbooks, musicians play scales, dancers stretch out, athletes of all kinds practice, practice, practice. And writers? If you write, it's good to have a journal or notebook where you can warm up, experiment, and hone your skills. If you're a new writer, a few exercises, or "prompts" can help you get started, especially when the blank screen or page seems daunting. If you are more experienced, using a prompt can pull you out of a dry spell or give you an opportunity to try something new.
I've used the exercises below both alone and in class. A good way to start is by setting aside a short block of time--15 to 30 minutes--and just write. Don't worry about punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Those can come later. Keep writing until your time is up. Some people write prose, others write poetry, and some just list the impressions and images as they come. No one approach is better than the others. Try a few exercises. You may be surprised what you discover.
If you want a good guide to writing exercises, Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones is a great place to begin. Steering the Craft by Ursala K. Le Guin also includes some excellent suggestions.
A Few Exercises for You to Try
My Favorite Things
Kids always have favorites--favorite colors, favorite foods, toys, games, and songs. An old sweater can be a favorite or a pair of shiny new boots. Special holiday foods may stand out or our food memories may treasure everyday dishes. Children can even have a favorite place. Was yours a secret hiding place Try completing the following sentence:
When I was _______year old my favorite________ was_____________. I remember the time when_____________...
Lost and Found
Kids are always losing thing--jackets, homework, lunch bags, plastic shovels at the beach. They're always finding things too--interesting rocks, rusty keys, insects, and a few things that can't be identified. Can you remember something you lost as a child? Something you found?
Mix n' Match
One favorite writing exercise is to use word lists. The following lists contain four colors, four sounds, four smells, and four textures. Take one word from each category to make a story. You can make similar lists using any categories you like or just chose words at random.
Colors Sounds Smells Textures
Purple Giggle Wet dog Slimy
Yellow Splash Fresh cookies Fluffy
Green Thud Old sneakers Prickly
Beige Creak New car Icy
Treasure Chest
Collect a few objects in a small box or bag. Pull one out. Write about it as if you have never seen anything like it before, as if you are a museum curator on Mars and can only guess what earthlings use it for. (It's especially fun to do this in a group.)
Eavesdropping
"Found" bits of dialogue, like found objects can be great starting points for a story. Try jotting down a few of the things you overhear for future use. Here are a few I've collected:
I've used the exercises below both alone and in class. A good way to start is by setting aside a short block of time--15 to 30 minutes--and just write. Don't worry about punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Those can come later. Keep writing until your time is up. Some people write prose, others write poetry, and some just list the impressions and images as they come. No one approach is better than the others. Try a few exercises. You may be surprised what you discover.
If you want a good guide to writing exercises, Natalie Goldberg's book, Writing Down the Bones is a great place to begin. Steering the Craft by Ursala K. Le Guin also includes some excellent suggestions.
A Few Exercises for You to Try
My Favorite Things
Kids always have favorites--favorite colors, favorite foods, toys, games, and songs. An old sweater can be a favorite or a pair of shiny new boots. Special holiday foods may stand out or our food memories may treasure everyday dishes. Children can even have a favorite place. Was yours a secret hiding place Try completing the following sentence:
When I was _______year old my favorite________ was_____________. I remember the time when_____________...
Lost and Found
Kids are always losing thing--jackets, homework, lunch bags, plastic shovels at the beach. They're always finding things too--interesting rocks, rusty keys, insects, and a few things that can't be identified. Can you remember something you lost as a child? Something you found?
Mix n' Match
One favorite writing exercise is to use word lists. The following lists contain four colors, four sounds, four smells, and four textures. Take one word from each category to make a story. You can make similar lists using any categories you like or just chose words at random.
Colors Sounds Smells Textures
Purple Giggle Wet dog Slimy
Yellow Splash Fresh cookies Fluffy
Green Thud Old sneakers Prickly
Beige Creak New car Icy
Treasure Chest
Collect a few objects in a small box or bag. Pull one out. Write about it as if you have never seen anything like it before, as if you are a museum curator on Mars and can only guess what earthlings use it for. (It's especially fun to do this in a group.)
Eavesdropping
"Found" bits of dialogue, like found objects can be great starting points for a story. Try jotting down a few of the things you overhear for future use. Here are a few I've collected:
- "Salt is salt, but pepper is another story."
- "Why didn't you warn me she had a list?"
- "My shoes used to match."
- "I am too bringing it in the house!