Short Writing Exercises

[Mark J]

One thing I hoped to find at Good Reads was somewhere to partake in writing exercises, and in particular the short, informal exercises that are the mainstay of creative writing courses and some face-to-face writing groups.

An example of such exercise might be "Choose a colour and write 100-200 words describing an object of that colour without using the colour's name."

Although the write-off's are certainly a form of exercise, does anyone know of any groups that are doing short exercises as described above? If not, is there room for such things here on WordSmith, say in a new folder, or should I be thinking of creating a new group?

[Hey_jude]

I haven't really been checking out any new groups, although there are certainly some more writing ones here...I agree with the above comment though...we should branch out with more writing prompts...I spotted one the other day, it was write twenty six sentence story,starting each sentence with the letter of the alphabet in order...for example, first sentence begins with a, second sentence begins with b, third sentence begins with c, and so forth until you get through the whole alphabet.

[Hannah Solo]

Here's a cool writing exercise that I've wanted to try. Pick ten random words out of a dictionary and use them to suggest a character, a setting, and a problem. Put the character into a situation where the problem is not so easily overcome and write a short story.

Here's another one. Take a favorite poem and turn it into a short story.

And finally, here's one that I found created by the leading creative writing teacher in the United States, the late John Gardner. It's quite a killer exercise.

"A man is waiting at a bus stop. He has just learned that his son has died violently. Describe the setting from the man's point of view WITHOUT telling the reader what has happened. How will the street look to this man? What are the sounds? Odors? Colors? That this man will notice? What will his clothes feel like? Write a 250 word description."

[Cheylyne]

Those are some interesting writing exercises, Sleeper. I'm going to have to try them! I think I'll try Hey_jude's writing exercise too. Sounds like fun:):)

[[deleted user]]

Great ideas guys...I think I'll try the man and his son dieing...if I have time that is.

[Hey_jude]

I've just bought this book called the Writer's Little Helper from Jim Smith and it has tons of excellent advice for planning your novel. One of the ways it suggested to help set your novel up, was to use tis method called the Ten scene method. Basically, you take your most important scenes from your story..the master scenes so to speak and outline them or write them first. The first scene is opening, then you have three scenes which are complications and the point of no return. Then there are five more various complication scenes and finally the climax and the ending. Once you outline these scenes, you should have a very clear idea of where you're story is going so you can add any number of scenes in between to create tension of foreshadow coming events. He also suggests that the very first scene writer's should write, is the climax. Once you have an idea about the climax and what is resolved and where it happens plus the people and events it involves, you can backtrack, knowing the elements and events you need to add in the beginning to foreshadow this climax and/or the events it takes the protagonist to get from point A to point Z.

[Hannah Solo]

YES! This is the method I think would work best for me because I get distracted from my writing so easily. Writing scenes of one specific event/complication would probably help me not get bogged down with writing the beginning boring stuff. Then when I'm finished writing the ten major scenes, I can add transition scenes and such and therefore, MAYBE I WILL ACTUALLY FINISH A STORY!!! Thanks Hey_jude, I am definitely going to try this one. :)

[Hey_jude]

Hi again, I thought I'd post these two writing prompts up here for those who are interested. Hope you enjoy.

Mother's Day is over and you've just finished a nice dinner with your mom when you receive a phone call. An unfamiliar female voice is on the other end and says, "Stop celebrating with her! I'm your real mother." Write this scene.

You always look out the dark windows and wonder if something is out there. One night when you look, a small face with bright eyes appears at the window. Write about what you do, who/what it is, and why they are there.

(Prompts are from Writersdigest.com)

[Hey_jude]

This Can't Be Happiness

You’re always good at this.
As I should be.
You plan everything but nothing; I hope you’re all alone. One day. Soon. You thought me dead, but I’m still breathing. Slowly dying. I can feel whatever remains leaving through my mouth. Visible puffs of red blood…air floating away. We haven’t got much time.
The basement floor is cold, the carpet striped away.
Okay, okay. I’m okay. But I’m not and we know it.
If I could lift my hands I would see you slowly washing yours. Calmly, orderly. I think I should say your name. Watch you stiffen and know that you’re not getting away. Ever. You think they won’t know. Maybe you’ll escape. Maybe from them.
But not from me. Never.
I see you at the memorial, everyone knowing you’re guilty. They’ll prove it one day, maybe today, maybe years after the fact. Maybe they won’t find me, maybe. I feel them walk above me, the ground shifting. You think you can hide me down below.
Will you think at me at all? I hope you do.
My skin is stained red, from all the lies you’ve said.
You think this is over.
Are you stupid enough to think you will be happy now?
I whisper from the floor. It isn’t too late. Rescue me now. I’ll close my eyes and forget. It all, for you. We breathe and we are one.
I need you like a heartbeat. Kill it; break it till it beats no more. This is what I gave you, bleeding and pulsing from me onto the floor. Clean around me. Do not save me.
I inhale love…exhale hate. Let me breathe over you and let you wilt to dust. This is what you’ve done to me.
You don’t think ahead enough to know that you will miss me. You are alone, always will be. No one will love you now.
You didn’t realize it. Yet. But you will one day.
We are all alone…dying from the inside out. Sometimes we are saved. But who will save you now?
I am falling down an abyss that you dug for me to fall. Goodbye, but we don’t speak. Cover me and hide me. You’ve lost me? Where have you put me?
Forget me and disguise me. No one will find me.
The ghosts of unpleasant reminders will haunt you. Won’t leave you alone for a minute…a second. We will breathe in your ear till you cry out. No relief for the guilty. Who will vindicate you?
Speak to the dying, but I am dead.
I bet you miss me now.

[Hannah Solo]

wow . . . Your writing is so incredible, Hey_jude.

[[deleted user]]

AMAZING, Hey_Jude!!!

[Hey_jude]

thanks, do you guys have any ideas for a write off?

[Cheylyne]

Three words for you Hey_jude. You. Are. Amazing.
Three more words for you. I. Am. Jealous.

Your writing, as always, has blown me away. Loved it:)

[Hey_jude]

Careful, you guys may give me a big head. (Funny mental picture)