what is your favorite writing exercise?
- Thread starter DL Hegel
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my fav is...
i go into a bar or coffee shop. i sit in the back and watch people. i might just listen to conversation to get ideas for dialogue or i write character
sketches about people i observe. i look at everything from what they order --how they are dressed--body language--as much as i can glean. Then i make my sketch, i keep these in a book for use latter.
dl hegel
i go into a bar or coffee shop. i sit in the back and watch people. i might just listen to conversation to get ideas for dialogue or i write character
sketches about people i observe. i look at everything from what they order --how they are dressed--body language--as much as i can glean. Then i make my sketch, i keep these in a book for use latter.
dl hegel
I have three index card boxes: one for characters, one setting, and the last conflicts. I draw one from each box and go to work. Some really interesting short stories have arisen this way.
just curious
dl hegel
None in particular - unless you count doing at least 500 words a day on a short story or novel. That, and reading, is about the only excercise you need.
hi, I'm new to AW, but thought I'd add my two cents. I'm not organized enough for note cards, but I do have several dozen notebooks filled with unborn seeds, plots, titles, etc and I'll usually try to flesh one or two out per month.
Other than that, my exercises involve reading everything I can touch, even pamphlets and signs, and writing what my muse gives me.
Justice
Other than that, my exercises involve reading everything I can touch, even pamphlets and signs, and writing what my muse gives me.
Justice
Exercise
Never saw the point of writing exercises. The best writing exercise is to actually write a short story or a novel. Everything else is procrastination.
Never saw the point of writing exercises. The best writing exercise is to actually write a short story or a novel. Everything else is procrastination.
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I agree with James and Justice. 
to AW, Justice. I have notebooks filled with ideas, titles, plots, etc. Writing is the best way to flesh a story out. You can always go back and change it---you should! 
to AW, Justice. I have notebooks filled with ideas, titles, plots, etc. Writing is the best way to flesh a story out. You can always go back and change it---you should! I have a toolbox full of tickets (the "admit one" carnival type) with words glued on them. I got the idea from Poemcrazy by Susan Woolridge. I grab a handfull of tickets and try to string as many together as possible. Or I set a timer for 10 minutes and pick one ticket as a prompt. I pick a new ticket any time I stall out.
I do a lot of prompt-based writing using a timer. I have books with prompts and I collect them in a notebook.
I also have something similar to the index card boxes with lists of settings and genres to mix and match.
For me, writing practice is where my story ideas come from. I don't always have a clear idea when I sit down to write. Sometimes it just comes to me while I'm writing.
My favorite group writing exercise is the Exquisite Corpse. Each person writes a sentence on a sheet of paper, folding the paper to conceal all but the last word, and then passes it to the next player for a further contribution. The paper goes around by turns, until no room is left to write and the paper is rolled into a tube. When everyone is done, we unroll the sheets and read the page. The results are usually funny and have a wierd sort of internal logic, despite being nonsense.
I do a lot of prompt-based writing using a timer. I have books with prompts and I collect them in a notebook.
I also have something similar to the index card boxes with lists of settings and genres to mix and match.
For me, writing practice is where my story ideas come from. I don't always have a clear idea when I sit down to write. Sometimes it just comes to me while I'm writing.
My favorite group writing exercise is the Exquisite Corpse. Each person writes a sentence on a sheet of paper, folding the paper to conceal all but the last word, and then passes it to the next player for a further contribution. The paper goes around by turns, until no room is left to write and the paper is rolled into a tube. When everyone is done, we unroll the sheets and read the page. The results are usually funny and have a wierd sort of internal logic, despite being nonsense.
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I don't have any, aside from the reading/writing shtick. They work for some, but not for others. I do go over the writing time and again, starting out with bare bones, then fleshing out, then sculpting, then editing until it sounds right... Guess that is an exercise.
And I second the Welcome to Dl and Justice! Since HorrorWriter stole my sign - the noive! - have a dancing banana!
And I second the Welcome to Dl and Justice! Since HorrorWriter stole my sign - the noive! - have a dancing banana!
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And I second the Welcome to Dl and Justice! Since HorrorWriter stole my sign - the noive! - have a dancing banana!
Sorry, Barb.
I believe all writing exercises should have the capability of turning into an actual story. I have a goal of one short story per week, and sometimes I need help getting an idea.
More than a few of the stories I've sold have come from exercises ("write a 2222 word short about Erishkegal or write a 1K word piece on something terrifying that lurks in a toy box or write a 1500 word short without the letter G).
They may sound like stunts or crutches, but they were pieces I'd never have written otherwise, on topics I'd never explore on my own.
They may sound like stunts or crutches, but they were pieces I'd never have written otherwise, on topics I'd never explore on my own.
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