-Pick several random ages (no more than five) and several random attributes (twice the amount of attributes for ages).  Put them on pieces of paper and then select them randomly out of a hat.  An example: 16, loudmouthed, unambitious.  Then, with the flip of a coin, assign a gender to each “character”.  You’ll end up with several completely random characters!  Write a scene involving all of them and see how they interact.  You may just fall in love with your next book character.

• Think of a really intense moment in your life, and then write what someone else would have done in your place, perhaps a character you’ve been thinking about for a while or just a character you’ve made up.  Your character will develop with the story.
• Describe a setting from two people’s points of view–one person who likes it, and one person who doesn’t.  This develops both a setting and two characters.  It also helps with your description.
• If you’ve already created a character, write a short story from their perspective as a child.  It doesn’t have to have a “point”.
• Write a list of your character’s biggest pet peeves, and why each thing bothers him/her
• Write a short story about two mismatched people on a blind date.  You can’t have one normal person and one crazy person–then you’re not going anywhere.  The people have to just be badly matched for each other.  Show how this bad match unwravels within the story.
• Think of someone who bothers you a lot and write about them.  Often we have more to say than we think we do.  The only catch is that the story has to be from the person’s point of view–and you have to be somewhat sympathetic.
• Pick a character off the top of your head and imagine how they would react to being offered the chance to do nude modeling.  Would they do it?  And if so, how would it go?
• Describe your character from the point of view of three people: his/her closes parental figure, his/her ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend (or, if a child, an ex-friend), and a stranger.  This might also help you create other characters (the ones describing your original character)
• What do you think about and what bothers you most in an average day?  This could help you think of a theme you are passionate about.
• Imagine a scene between yourself and one of your characters.  It’s a classic, but it’s fun.
• Create an imaginary animal.  It may not help with your story, but it will definitely increase your creativity.