As writers, we all recall days when we finally sit down to write and can't find a thing to write about.
When this happens, don't panic or even mention the word "writer's block." Just grab a pen or go to your computer, choose a writing exercise and begin writing. Writing exercises, such as the one featured here, will warm up the imagination, stretch the creative muscle and massage your muse.
"Word Play" is a random word exercise that's quick, challenging, motivating and best of all--fun. Both writers and poets can utilize this form of warm-up to begin their writing sessions or to write their way through a temporary block. You'll be surprised at the results.
To begin this "Word Play" exercise, let your favorite dictionary fall open to any page. Close your eyes and land your pointer finger randomly on that page to choose a word. Write down the word. Repeat the process. Pick ten words and one bonus word in this fashion. Then, challenge yourself to play around with the words and use ten in a story excerpt or poem of no longer than 200 words.
If you write for a specific genre, i.e., children's or medieval romance, you can choose words from pertinent resources as "The Children's Writer's Word Book," or the "Medieval Word Book" rather than the dictionary. You can even apply the exercise directly to your "work-in-progress" by relating it to those characters, if desired.
When this happens, don't panic or even mention the word "writer's block." Just grab a pen or go to your computer, choose a writing exercise and begin writing. Writing exercises, such as the one featured here, will warm up the imagination, stretch the creative muscle and massage your muse.
"Word Play" is a random word exercise that's quick, challenging, motivating and best of all--fun. Both writers and poets can utilize this form of warm-up to begin their writing sessions or to write their way through a temporary block. You'll be surprised at the results.
To begin this "Word Play" exercise, let your favorite dictionary fall open to any page. Close your eyes and land your pointer finger randomly on that page to choose a word. Write down the word. Repeat the process. Pick ten words and one bonus word in this fashion. Then, challenge yourself to play around with the words and use ten in a story excerpt or poem of no longer than 200 words.
If you write for a specific genre, i.e., children's or medieval romance, you can choose words from pertinent resources as "The Children's Writer's Word Book," or the "Medieval Word Book" rather than the dictionary. You can even apply the exercise directly to your "work-in-progress" by relating it to those characters, if desired.
NOTE: Writing prompts and exercises like this one by me (as well as several fun and fabulous Guest Authors) will be featured here on a regular basis. Please click the Follow button so you don't miss a tip or a trick!
Great idea, Lynne! I'm going to try this out - I can use all the help I can get :-) I'll be back to read your other great tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lori! I am certain you are well-qualified to give them and will be, shortly (hint, hint). But one tip I can give is that as writers, we are always learning and growing and should always be open to learning from EVERYONE! I love that quote from Thomas Carlyle "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him." Hugs!
ReplyDelete