Exercise your Creativity with These Five Writing Prompts
The saying “practice makes perfect” has withstood the test of time, and rightfully so. In virtually all aspects of life, practice is important. Whether it’s for a sport or in your career, practice helps refine skill-sets and enhance your abilities.
When it comes to writing, these ideas hold true as well. Though some writers have a natural knack for writing, others have to put time and effort into their work to improve their craft.
It’s safe to say that there’s always room for improvement so that’s why today we’re sharing with you five writing exercises that’ll help you enhance your creativity and get those writing juices flowing. Consider as you’re working through these how you could apply the creative ideas that flow forth into your book.
Exercise 1: “I remember when …”
It’s time to take a trip down memory lane for this easy exercise. Simply write the phrase “I remember when …” on a piece of paper and recall a memory of yours. This could be a happy memory, or even one that stirs feelings of sadness within you. Whichever you prefer, let that memory dictate the words that are written on the paper. Include as much detail as you can and write as much as possible about this memory.
Exercise 2: Pick a picture
For this writing prompt, select a picture. This picture could be a personal photo or even one from your favorite magazine. Just choose a picture that interests you and jump starts your creativity. In this exercise, you’ll take that picture and write about it in detail. What do you see? What do you think happened before the picture was taken? How about after the picture was taken? Let the image influence your words for this writing exercise.
Exercise 3: The interviewer
Have you ever wanted to conduct your own interview with a famous celebrity, your favorite author or a political figure? It’s your chance to hold this interview because with this exercise, you’re going to pretend that you’re conducting an interview with the person of your choice. Craft a list of hard-hitting questions that cut right to the core of the information you want to know. Imagine the interviewee’s responses and build on those statements with follow-up questions that pack a powerful punch.
Exercise 4: Failing forward
We’ve all experienced failure at least once in our lives. Though failure can be a tough pill to swallow, it can also be a great learning experience. Think back to a time where you failed. Keep that memory in mind and write about the feelings that followed this failure and answer questions about why you failed. How did it make you feel? What could you have done differently? What did you learn from this experience? If you had to relive this experience all over again, what would you do this time with the information that you know now?
Exercise 5: Imagine this
It’s time to tap into your imagination and let your mind wander to a place that your creativity has created. Imagine traveling to a fictional destination. What’s this place like? Who do you meet along the way? Detail your experience along this journey and let your imagination and creativity run free.
Just like exercise is good for the body, it’s also great for the mind as well. Use these five writing prompts to get your pen on the paper or your fingers on the keyboard and let your creativity take the wheel.
Copyright Dorrance Publishing, 2016