Get the write idea: Creative writing exercises and prompts

Get the write idea

Write something different with these creative writing prompts and exercises to try right now

See through the eyes of a group member this creative writing exercise.

Imagine you ’ re one of the people in this summer garden party gathering.

Now, from their fictional point of view, write down that character ’ s thoughts about all the other people in the gathering.

SNAIL’S PACE

Write as slowly as possible in this exercise.

The aim is to slow down your writing, and the mental process that accompanies it. You might like to do it in longhand, with a pen, but it’ s your choice.

Thoughtfully and consciously, start writing. Be aware of the movements your hand makes with the pen or keyboard. Think about every aspect of what you ’ re doing. What are you writing about? Why? Think about each word as you write it. Why have you chosen that word? What do you like about it?

Write each letter of each chosen word with care and attention.

Write in this way for 15 minutes.

What have you come up with? How is it different from what you usually write?

Story starter:

Use a holiday on wheels as the starting point for some creative writing.

Who ’ s on holiday? Why are they in a caravan? Where is it? Is it static or are they travelling around? What do they like/ dislike about it?

How can you use this caravan in a piece of writing? Explore your ideas and have fun!

PICTURE

PROMPT: Playing out

Be inspired by this image of a game in the woods in this exercise.

What narrative could you create from this picture?

A story about friendship dynamics? About a team game in the past, or the present?

Perhaps you ’ll write about the game, or perhaps this scene will act as the introduction to the characters and then your story will take them in another direction...

You choose! Get creative, and get writing!

A S A S A S A S SCORCHER

h a s p l U n s o n w e l l s a r C a c i e n V o b y o t o P h FESTIVALFUN

Explore the possibilities of an outdoor gathering in your writing exercise.

Have you got a favourite festival memory? You could write about that. What ’ s the best way of conveying it in writing – poem, lyric, memoir?

Perhaps you could use a festival as a setting for a story! What happens, and how does the setting enhance the story?

Maybe you ’d like to write non-fiction about the history of festivals – might you home in on one in particular?

Whatever you choose, think about the elements that make your festival memorable – sounds, sights, scents, and more – and how you ’ re going to get that across in words.

Write for as long as you want (and at least ten minutes!) Start a new piece of writing with an extremely hot day in this timely creative writing exercise.

How does the heat contribute to the narrative? Who are the people in your story and how does it affect them?

How can you use the ‘hot day ’ theme most effectively in your writing - not just in terms of plot decisions, but also vocabulary choices?

Is there a wider context for your ‘hot day ’ story? If you ’ ve ever fancied experimenting with eco-fiction, why not try your hand?

BUNCH OF FLOWERS

Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash

Turn a gift of flowers into a significant plot point for this creative writing prompt.

What kind of story are you going to tell, where a bouquet is a significant element?

Who is giving or has given the flowers, to whom and why?

How are they a turning point in your narrative?

What is the effect of the flowers?

How does your story play out to the end?

Helpful CHARACTER

Invent a character who wants to be of assistance for this exercise.

Who is the character? What kind of help are they offering? Why do they want to be helpful?

How do they succeed in their efforts? What ’ s the effect of their helpful action?

You could widen the exercise out by thinking about the role the helpful character and their action take in a wider story context. Is the helpful person a central character, or a secondary character? In what way does their helpfulness impact on the way your story might play out?

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