Fifteen Craft Exercises for Writers
October 21, 2004
Writing exercises are a great way to both increase your skill as a writer and to generate new ideas for future work. They can also give you a new perspective on your current project. One of the great benefits of private writing exercises is that you can free yourself of fear and perfectionism. To grow as a writer, it is important to sometimes write without the expectation of publication. Don’t be afraid to be imperfect. That is what practice is for. What you write for any of these exercises may not be your best work, but it is practice for when you will need to write your best work.
- Pick ten people you know and write a one-sentence description for each of them.
- Record five minutes of a talk radio show. Write down the dialogue and add narrative descriptions of the speakers and actions as if you were writing a scene.
- Write a 500-word biography of your life.
- Write your obituary. List all of your life’s accomplishments. You can write it as if you died today or fifty or more years in the future.
- Write a 300-word description of your bedroom.
- Write a fictional interview with yourself, an acquaintance, a famous figure or a fictional character. Do it in the style of an appropriate (or inappropriate) magazine or publication such as Time, People, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen or Maxim.
- Pick up a newspaper or supermarket tabloid. Scan the articles until you find one that interests you and use it as the basis for a scene or story.
- Keep a diary of a fictional character.
- Take a passage from a book, a favorite or a least favorite, and rewrite the passage in a different style such as noir, gothic romance, pulp fiction or horror story.
- Pick an author, one you like though not necessarily your favorite, and make a list of what you like about the way they write. Do this from memory first, without rereading their work. After you’ve made your list, reread some of their work and see if you missed anything or if your answers change. Analyze what elements of their writing style you can add to your own, and what elements you should not or cannot add. Remember that your writing style is your own, and that you should only try to think of ways to add to your own style. Never try to mimic someone else for more than an exercise or two.
- Take a piece of your writing that you have written in first person and rewrite it in third person, or vice-versa. You can also try this exercise changing tense, narrators, or other stylistic elements. Don’t do this with an entire book. Stick to shorter works. Once you commit to a style for a book, never look back or you will spend all of your time rewriting instead of writing.
- Try to identify your earliest childhood memory. Write down everything you can remember about it. Rewrite it as a scene. You may choose to do this from your current perspective or from the perspective you had at that age.
- Remember an old argument you had with another person. Write about the argument from the point of view of the other person. Remember that the idea is to see the argument from their perspective, no your own. This is an exercise in voice, not in proving yourself right or wrong.
- Write a 200-word description of a place. You can use any and all sensory descriptions but sight: you can describe what it feels like, sounds like, smells like and even tastes like. Try to write the description in such a way that people will not miss the visual details.
- Sit in a restaurant or a crowded area and write down the snippets of conversation you hear. Listen to the people around you — how they talk and what words they use. Once you have done this, you can practice finishing their conversations. Write your version of what comes next in the conversation. Match their style.
This is a great list to jump from. I have recently started a creative writing group and will implement some of these ideas! Thanks!
Greetings;
I am writing you tis note to let you know that my writing skills are less than adequate. I recently took a promotional test. In the test was a writing assingment . I dont even remember what the exact content of the reading material was that we were suposed to write about, and I can only tell you that I failed miserably. Basically we had 90 minutes to compose a essay on a particular subject that had multiple dialog. I guess I was unclear of what I was suposed to write or I did not write well enough to recieve a good grade 60%. I just want to recieve help so that I can become a better writer.I hope that I do not sound desperate but, I really am.
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Why are looking to become a better writer? Is it for all the many reasons or is it because of some specific reason? I might be able to help you in either case with some suggestions.
Jackie
I also need help with writing. My reason is so I will have the skills I need to pass a test that is coming up soon. The test is important to me and I want to do a good job.
Thanks Claria
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thank you so much for these tips… i was having major major writer’s block and didn’t really have naythign much to write about, or rather… it’s hard to explain. However, these DID help a lot. Quick question: : when you want to write, and it’s just not coming out and yiou can’t find a plot line at all-what do you recommend?
Recently, I chanced upon a website which has some advice and tips on how to become a good Writer.
The site was basic in the sense that it has no fancy accessories like ActiveX controls or sleek designer stuff. It had a grey, a terrible shade of black, a coffin like sad grey, as if revealing the truth that whatever that you write when alive, we are all bound to wind up in a grey coffin, sooner or later. It has, like every other commercialized aspects of life, advertisements selling stuff…making you believe that this is the chance, only chance, and final chance to loose your money on a piece of wothless junk, thats only worth is that its for sale at a cheaper price than regular online MALLS. A rather cold site with a lot of useful and practical answers to the usual inertia that writers face on the onset of they writing career, which every other junky online tries once in a while every other turn of the calender.
And yes, the author even adviced us to write something on everything you see.
One day, I might be there advicing on humble beginings.
Only time will tell,
Regards,
C.K. Mandava
Wow! These tips helped a lot! Now whenever I write something, I always refer to some of these exercises.
These are really interesting exercises. It helps make fiction writing much more believable and descriptive
85 year old known and respected writer and poet passed on today on her 85th birthday.Christine Hoffman/Vancooney was known not only for her famous childrens books which made countless happy, but also for her adult fiction of Suspense. Many of her novels were made into top rated movies, and much of her writing is what contributed greatly to her famous son, Hank Robinson’s music career. Their will be only private services for Christine as she requested, her family was always her first love.
1-29-2038
This is a great exercise. As usual though I can’t get the information from my head to the paper. Any advice on a good way to accomplish this? The minute I start writing my practical side jumps in a squashes my creative side.
Peggy, that’s a problem amongst many writers I know, and like anything, it just takes practise
and self restraint/discipline to successfully overcome it. It’s taken almost a year and 180,000
words of character development for myself. Just try and focus on what you want to achieve, and
try your best. I wish you the best of luck.
On another note, this guide is very helpful, great ideas.
Peggy, try losing yourself in a word, an idea or just a place, like the suggestions above say, describe something, even if it is your bedroom. Don’t worry about your grammer, your style, or the punctuation, just write. I was given that advice some time ago and it is the most helpful advice that anyone has given me, JUST WRITE. Don’t worry about going back, just start and keep on going.
If you are having a hard time getting started, pick a friend, randomly from your address book, call them and ask them about the last dream that they had and go from there, don’t have them explain it or give what they think that the meaning is, just write it down and go. Or pick a color and apply that color to your character’s room, house, hair, eyes etc. Ideas are all around, just open your mind and let them in.
Best of luck.
I used to be able to turn out poetry like lattes at starbucks.
Now it’s more like salad at Burger King, the right idea is there, but
there are too many distractions to focus. Has any one found an
element for concentration?
What a wonderful surprise to have found you! A mexican teacher avid to teach new ways in writing is rerath
is really thankful.
I’d just have to say that your exercises for writing really helped me get a new perspective on wanting to become a Novelist. I’m not one for writing a bunch of long comments or posts on websites, so I intend to keep this brief.
Thank you for those exercises, and I intend to use many of them to help my writing in the future.
From – Skyler .H.
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My Back Yard
WritingMarch 30, 2006 10:10 am Writing exercises “Fifteen Craft Exercises for Writers” can provide you [...]
Hi, this is a fab site.. Im a musician but Im having to increasinggly concentrate on lyrics. This site has cured some of my writer’s block and given me inspiration and hope again ;o)
Thanks
Rob
Thanks for your suggestions. I am in a writing group called The Santura
Social Club. It is a combination of writers (eight of us)living in both
Ventura and Santa Barbara, CA. The group, all of us writers, meets every
other week and have done so for a number of years. I used the exercise you suggested suggested which directs people to write a piece in first person. Group
memebers had ten minutes to do this. I then used the follow up exercise
where members had to write the same thing, but change it to third person.
We will see how it goes. I appreciate the inspiration and idea. Thanks for
for the input John.
Marti
hi
i have been a successful writer for many years now and have learnt
that when it comes to work related texts (school work) it becomes
good idea to learn to twist the truth. not lying but excentuating
portions, downplaying faliures and using characters experiences to
place them in a world of their own or to inspire the character to
influence more to occour.
THX to any from the pilbara’s writers group,
beach
Funny thing is the webmaster changed the color from grey to white after reading mandava’s comments, and that shows that writing is actually effective.hey ho ha!
Don’t read too much into my format change Jessie. I change formats all the time. Check out my past formates with the Wayback Machine: http://web.archive.org/web/*/poewar.com.
These tips are just too good! And are surely going to help me write some good pieces.
Thank-you Mr. John Hewitt.
Greeting to the world,
I would like to say before I found this website I got 60% on my english creative writing and
now I just recently got an A+. I would like to encourage the students to see this website
for themselves so they can achieve a better grade like me.
Best of luck to all students!!:)
Lehka, Trace,
I’m happy I could help. Good luck with your writing.
The tips provided in the article are great.
wow, these tips are awesome! thank you so much! I can’t wait to try them out!
I always love to write but in some sense when am starting am having hard time to organize. Now, that i discovered ur website, am sure this problem will just fly in the air. Thank you and More Power! God Bless
Thanks Mr. John Hewitt, these tips will help me a lot in writing creatively
Thanks for those tips. May I suggest some good examples on each tip from your subscribers to further stimulate the beginners
Good day,
I want to begin this comment first by saying that I have the heart of a writer. My mother
planted a seed of love for literary works when I was young. I love to read, and since she
is a poetess, I learned to write my thoughts and sentiments on paper. As I grew, I utilized
this method to share my deepest feelings when the words would not form in my mouth. I have a
desire to share this gift, but don’t know where to begin. My goal is to write and publish
cards, plays, and poetry for display in homes, offices, etc. I don’t want to release
anything that I would not purchase myself so I am asking for advice in sharpening and making
each item crisp and concise. Sometimes I over write (like I am doing now) and I lose interest
and the beginning thought of my writing. How can I learn to focus and stay with the subject
and not fly into outer space?
dear Mr Hewitt, i’m very greatful that you are willing to share your tips in writing it is very useful. i am actually teaching writing subject in college. have use some the topic to my student and they seems to enjoy the writing exercise. i was hoping i can motivate my stuent to write and become a writerone day.
I’ve often found writing exercises helpful in writing my fiction (novels, short stories and scripts). I use a variety of different exercises and frequently change them to avoid getting into any set routine. You’ve given me some wonderful ideas to try (and “twist”) and your ideas should be helpful to other writers as well…and now I better get back to work on the update I’m doing of writing exercises for my own website!
I am a late bloomer! Have always loved writing but never pursued it. I do appreciate the information provided from this website. I am searching for a course or two to help me get started.
Thanks
Gail
windinthetrees@hotmail.com
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I have for long been wanting to put down my thoughts in writing for the public consumption. I have had very interesting personal experiences that could be shared. It is interesting to come across this page which promises, at last, to bring out the writer in me - at 53 years! Do I stand a chance of making any headway, this late? Counting on your support and encouragement, please.
good day!
I am a new instructor taching journalism and i find this website very helpful for many reasons. Aside from it gives me ideas on what to do with my class, it opens me different style on how to make a new and crisp story. thanks a lot! i hope you will post more exhaustive info for learners out there… keep on going!
[...] 15 Craft Exercises for Writers [...]
Thank you for the inspiration which your site has given me. At school I adored English classes, particularly when I was called upon to write an essay, but those are far away days. For several years I also kept a diary and found it most relaxing though now I have rather less naval gazing to do. I do miss the act of writing, of covering page after page of scrawl (most of which was never read again), but have had little idea how to start again. My imagination needs firing and your site looks like it might just do it. I’m off to pick up a pen right now - thank you
HELP!
Ok, now that I have your attention, I need some guidance in the way of beginning a story and keeping myself from trying to be perfect. Reading Stephen King on a daily basis has me dead-set in the ways of fantastic description and flawless dialogue with seemingly effortless dedication. Maybe I need inspiration or maybe just need practice (duh!)…Still, I can’t write a single sentence without being overwhelmed by the “need” to write ten more to describe the first one! It’s a vicious cycle, albeit not completely harmful. However, any tips or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
P.S. I am 23 years old and just began writing for fun, or because it’s inside me…but I still want HELP!!!!
it is good to have some basic tips at the very start of the writing career.this is the obvious road to some serious writing.
In addition to the above tips anyone could visit this sites for beginners:
AUTHOR ASSIST COM.
WRITER’S DIGEST COM.
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