This first creative writing exercise is all about finding something to write about. Often when you want or need to write, the best thing for the creative writing won’t pop into your mind, and you can’t write.
I have certainly felt this problem, but these days, I can write about anything at all, because I have trained up in writing using totally random writing prompts.I’ve done this in writing groups, and at home, using given words, and using words I’ve found for myself.
This is what we’re going to do in this creative writing session. You will need something to write on and with (pen and paper, laptop, whatever is best for you). You will also need a timer of some kind, and you will need a book of fiction. :
- Take up your books, and turn to a random page, or if there are enough pages, turn to page 28.
- Write down five words from that page, three nouns, a verb, and two adjectives, two adverbs, or one of each.
- These are the words you will be working with. Give yourself ten minutes and write a poem, short story, creative non fiction, using your five chosen random words and any other words as needed. Don’t think hard about it, just write.
- Buzzer goes, time is up, now is the time to look at your amazing new piece of writing!
This is a simple writing exercise, and it is an amazing way to turn off your inner critic, and just get the words down. I am finding the more I do five word challenges, the better what I write is getting.
I’ve also noticed the same about the writing of other people who do these exercises too. Writing often leads to writing well. And writing in this way, opens up the mind to all kinds of amazing things! The only pressure on the writer is to get words written, quickly, no time to make them lovely, just write. The brain is an incredible tool!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 