16th March
Write several scenes in which a character says the line: "They're all dead."
In each scene have the line attached to a different feeling, such as shock, relief, success, defeat.
15th March
Write a story in which oranges are used to take over the world.
We know this sounds crazy, but challenging your brain to make unbelievable things seem believable will help you to develop your narrative skiils.
11th March 2008
Write a scene in which two characters are having a disagreement over religion.
10th March 2008
Grab a pad and pen and go an watch some television, or listen to the radio.
Scribble down things that interest you, perhaps a particular situation, or something as simple as a spoken word or sentence. Scribble down the thoughts that they provoke in you and expand on them.
This can be an effective way of collecting ideas for characters, themes and settings. It's something that you can on a regular basis and build up a folder of ideas with.
If there's something you watch/listen to regularly on the television always make sure you keep that pad on your lap.
9th March 2008
Write a story in which your character or characters are doing something illegal.
Is there a legitimate reason for their actions that justifies what they are doing? Perhaps they are the Robin Hood type and the ends justifies the means. Or, perhaps not.
8th March 2008
Take a story you're very fond of, perhaps a fairy tale or a film.
Rewrite the story. Try to improve on things you did not like from the original and emphasise the parts that you enjoyed most.
27th February 2008
Today we'd like you to write something - story or poem, fiction or non-fiction - that handles a controversial subject.
Euthenasia/suicide, capital punishment, abortion, gay marriage. Try to incorporate more than one viewpoint in to your writing.
26th February 2008
Today's exercise is an odd one. We want you to try breaking from the norm of what you usually write.
If you normally write short stories. or longer ones, try your hand at writing a poem or two. The same vice versa, if you normally write poetry then write a short story. Fiction or non-fiction, it doesn't matter.
The idea is that by breaking from routine and writing in a different style you may find new ways of expressing yourself when you go back to your writing comfort zone.
25th February 2008
Find a picture that interests you, either in a magazine, newspaper or book.
Spend at least ten minutes writing about what is in the picture, but pay special attention to the things you cannot see. What can be heard in the picture? Are their any distinctive smells? Perhaps that of the ocean or the dirty smog of inner city traffic. Does the air taste of anything? You get the idea.
It's very easy to concentrat on how everything looks when you're writing, but it's just as important to bring your other senses in to the equation.
24th February 2008
Another poetry exercise today.
Look back at some of your older work and find a poem you're not happy with.Type the poem up and once printed cut it up in to it's component lines.
Now play around with the order the lines appear in and see if you can bring new meaning to your words. Doe this give you new ideas of where you could take the poem?
23rd February 2008
A lot of people have pre-set views on certain characters and the ways in which they should behave. Priests are quiet, pious and respectful, policemen are seen as either totally law abiding or completely bent.
Try thinking of a heavily stereotyped character, the dashing hero, the evil villain, and try giving them a new angle. Perhaps the dashing hero is only saving the fair maiden because he needs her for his own evil plan. Perhaps that bad guy over there is only enslaving small furry creatures in order to make money to feed his dying grandma.
21st February 2008
Alright folks, today's exercise is brilliant for creating some really original poetry and it's also really fun. It can be done alone or in groups.
Write down one word for each letter of the alphabet.
Add to the list a colour, place and name.
Next, create a poem using as many words from your list as possible. If you're doing this in pairs or groups then use each others lists rather than your own.
7th February 2008
Something that you find a lot as a writer is people telling you to "write what you know."
Personally, I find this a lazy approach. Try livening up your writing by researching something you know nothing about. It might be an area of study, a political or religious view that you don't relate to, anything. Take what you learn and use it. Perhaps you could create a character who knows/believes these things, or perhaps your story is set within an extreme political environment.
Writing about things you do not usually write about helps to keep your brain active. If you always write ehat you know it's easy to slip in to a rut.
6th February 2008
Pick up a book, preferably one you have not read yet.
Read the first chapter. Make a note of what you liked. Did the author draw you in well? Perhaps there were things you didn't like?
Try re-writin the chapter. Take the things you thing the author did well and try mixing in some of your own thoughts to improve it.
5th February 2008
Write a scene where the character/characters are building up to something.
It's something they really want to do/say/experience, but at the same time they are apprehensive. Explain how they resolve the situation within themselves.
4th February 2008
If you're having problems connecting with one of your characters, try this.
Write a list of common human emotions. Now go through each one and detail your characters response to feeling these emotions. If you've really got time to kill, detail how they react to others displaying these emotions.
Is there a particular reason for some/all of their reactions? Perhaps something in their back story to explain the way they act?
3rd February 2008
Although often overlooked, movement can be a very useful tool in portraying your characters. It may seem like it, but people do not move in the same way.
Spend some time in a cafe, restaurant, supermarket etc just observing the way people move. Then create a scene with two people who move very differently from each other. One might be alert and quick on their feet, the other more laid back; slower.
2nd February 2008
Describe an every day object to your reader so that they can see it.
Do not state what the object is.
1st February 2008
Time to test your attention to detail. Look down the trigger words list (link on the left). There is a duplicated word on the list.
Once you've found the word write two pieces, handling the idea in different ways in each.
31st January 2008
Think about a time when someone has made you really angry. Write down exactly how you felt and how they made you feel that way.
Now try writing about the situation from the other person's point of view.
30th January 2008
Ok. Grab your dictionary. Flick through and find five or six words that you previously didn't know the meaning of.
Write them down, along with their meanings.
Now, the harder part. Write a short piece incorporating all of the words you have noted down.
29th January 2008
Read the newspaper from cover to cover. (This is best done with an actual newspaper, rather than online.)
Make a note of any stories that interested you, cut them out if you like.
Start a folder / scrapbook with these little snippets and use them for inspiration when your creative well is running a bit dry.
28th January 2008
Start with a fairly big piece of paper. In the middle write a name.
From just that name start spidering out with details about them. Their appearance, background, job, political views, relationships they're in.
Something about the character may catch your attention and light the sparks for a new story.
27th January 2008
Read through an old short story.
Re-write that story from a different characters point of view. It may just help you to see something you missed before, enabling you to add more body and depth to the original piece.
You can still do this if you only write longer pieces, just re-write a chapter or two.
26th January 2008
Go away. Yes, I just told you to go away.
Don't worry, I'm not being as rude as you think. I just want you to turn off your computer, pick up a notebook / pad / block of post it notes and a pen / pencil / quill. Whatever writing equipment tickles your fancy. Then go out. You don't have to go far. Perhaps to that local park you haven't been in for years, or the pub down the road. Either way, somewhere you don't go on a regular basis.
Go there. Look around. absord the smells and the sounds. Write a page or two. More if the fancy takes you.
25th January 2008
Look up some song lyrics on the internet. Use them as the inspiration/backbone to a new short story/poem.
24th January 2008
Find and old/new magazine or coloured newspaper. Find a picture that interests/inspires you and write a piece about it.
23rd January 2008
Is there a childhood friend you wish you hadn't lost contact with? Write a story about what they might be doing now.
