I didn't see a thread made for writing exercises. I have a bunch that I will post throughout. Here are a few from a book I have called "Writing Toward Home" by Georgia Heard... Incarnadine Seas In your notebook, include a place for words you love. Listen to words spoken around you, write words from menus, books, signs, newspapers. The more you become aware of the words possible to you, the more abundant your writing will become. Querencia Write about where you feel most at home, where your querencia is. Describe it in such clear detail that you feel like you're there. Gather photographs and pictures of your querencia and tape them to your wall or carry them with you. Search for your querencia. Keep asking yourself: Where do I come from? Where do I feel most at home? Where do I feel most happy and relaxed? What is my ideal writing environment? Where can I write with my full powers? The Rumble Beneath My Feet What are the rumbles of your everyday life? Are there things that happen to you each day that are too painful to notice? that you feel resigned and helpless about so you have stopped paying attention? that keep you from writing? Does someone close to you undermine you? Is a job or a relationship sapping your energy? A lot of people who grew up in homes filled with daily rumbling tend to recreate the same situations. It's important to try to clear the air and tell the truth. Writing can help you pay attention to your life. Write about what bothers you. What's rumbling you? After you write, ask yourself: What prevents me from seeing or changing my situation? Sometimes it takes a while to clear away the rumbling, to create the environment you need - but it's still important to write. You don't need perfect conditions, but you do need to be honest and pay attention. Write your way to clarity. What are some of your creative writing exercises?
Go around town, take lots of pictures of things that catch your eye, and then think up stories to go with them.
I find that timed exercises are really fun. It's amazing what pours out of my little hand when I'm not thinking. The key is-SHUT THAT INNER CRITIC UP! Don't pay attention to grammar, punctuation-just let your hand go wild. These are from a book I have called "The Playful Way to Serious Writing" by Roberta Allen. Some have pictures to write about-if you want those exercises, pm me and I'll scan them for you. Knowing ENERGY The energy method is an instant way to tap in to your creative energy and get your words flowing on paper without interruption. It is a way to break that shell of fear and write with exhilaration that comes wth releasing pent-up energy. It is a way to bypass the inner voice that stops you, the critical voice that might make you rework the same sentence all day. How to know a word or image has ENERGY you feel the tiniest pinprick of feeling towards it your eye is drawn instantly to it you find yourself thinking about it it conjures a strong association you feel moved or excited you feel irritated or disturbed How to Rebel Change the time limit. If an exercise calls for ten minutes, do it for five or twenty. When asked to pick the third word you've associated with a visual cue, choose the second. When asked to write about the word with the most ENERGY, choose another. You'd be surprised how much energy there is in a word that is seemingly neutral, or better yet, one you resist. How to use the exercises As warm ups to generate ideas to explore ideas to start a project to continue a project to inject new life in an existing project to finish a project Pick a Letter 5 minutes/10 minutes Use a blank sheet of paper and scatter letters all over it. Then, close your eyes and point to one. Quickly think of 6 words beginning with that letter. Choose a word with the most or least ENERGY. Set your timer for 5 minutes and go. Afterwards, set your timer for 10 minutes and use all of the words in one story. Moments 5 minutes Think of small moments in your life that have energy-that made you feel alive. Make a list on the left hand side of your page. In the next week, notice small moments that move you. Make another list. Make a list of 5 old moments, and a list of 5 new moments. Pick a fear 10 minutes Use your fears to get creative. Make a list of 5 fears. Use the one with the most energy. Take your fear and write about it from a different point of view. Imagine that another person is sharing your fear or taking an objective to view it. Use this method to write about your fear in 4 different points of view-or do individual exercises for each fear on your list. You'd be surprised what you learn about it! Ok, I'll be adding more
