10 Quick Writing Exercises

Writing can be one of the best ways in the world to get an idea out there, as well as be a very theraputic form of expression.  There are many ways to write, almost as much as there are forms of writing.  Whether you go more toward poetry and prose or tend to veer towards academic articles, the ideas and topics are endless.

Many people write what they know, seeing their writing as a form of expression, but it can be very theraputic as well.  Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing the all-american novel, there is nothing better then to sit down with a pen and paper and write write write.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 writing exercises that are very fast and simple, each taking ten minutes or less to do.  All are exercises I have used in the past, to get past writer’s block, or just to open up the channels of inspiration.  Here’s hoping you enjoy them, and find them useful.

1. Crack a book.
   

   Any book really, from great american novels to books of poetry, can work.  Open up the book at random and randomly select a passage.  Read it, and go from there.  For short stories and prose, use the last sentence as the beginning of your piece.  For poetry, use the last word as the first word in your poem. Write for ten minutes, and see what you can come up with.  You might be surprised at what will arise.

2. Sing a song.

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   Pick a few lines from any song, your favorite song, and use that as the title to your next short story or poem. 

3. Compile a list.

   Start randomly selecting obscure or common words and writing them down, making up a list as you go along.  Gather together about ten to twenty words and make that list.  Some ideas are all-food lists, genre lists, customized lists, etc.

4. Just write.
   

   Don’t think about it, just write for ten minutes, or even five.  Write about anything and everything, not worrying about how it sounds or how you’ll edit it later.  Just write.

5. Keep a journal. 

   Jot down ideas, day’s events, memories, passing phrases, something that moved you, dialogue you overheard, etc.  Any of these can be used later for plots, book ideas, titles, poem or short story subjects, opening lines in songs, or anything you like, really.  Get creative.

6. Brainstorm. 

   Brainstorm plot ideas, novel synopsis, scenarios, anything.  Let your imagination run wild and don’t worry about writing.  Right now is all about ideas.

7. What did you do today?

   Similar to jotting down a journal entry, but try to be specific on a few points and limit it to that.  The secret to this exercise is to be as specific as possible, focusing on one or two points from earlier in the day, whether they were words that caught your interest or something that happened.  Keep it specific.

8. Describe it.
   

   Again, like the above exercise, but you take one word, and describe what it feels like, tastes like, sounds like, what your personal experience with it was, what your feelings about it were, etc.

9. Do it again. 

   Repitition.  Repetition is the keyword here.  First, you pick a word, write a paragraph or two about that word.  Then you take the same word and write about it from another perspective, say the third-person point-of-view instead of first person.  Do this for five minutes.

10. Write write and write some more. 

    Writing, in my personal experience, really is the best way to get past writer’s block.  Often when I am stuck on a project, I get out a pen and paper, start an egg timer, and sit down.  Then I write down the first thing that pops into my head, whatever that may be.  Even if it’s just nonsense, I write nonstop for the five or ten minutes I’ve set myself.  I’m often surprised with what I come up with.

Keep in mind, the road to success is paved with a thousand words.  Keep on writing, whatever you do.