Creative writers usually have the desire to write, but sometimes they just can’t come up with ideas to get started. Here are some exercises that will help. Maybe one of these ideas will lead to one’s next short story or play.
A writer should try an exercise that seems inspiring to him, and then write on the particular idea for at least ten to fifteen minutes. If after that time inspiration hasn’t “struck,” then the writer might try another exercise.
Choose Two Characters and a Setting
A writer can derive a lot of inspiration simply from choosing two different characters and then placing them in a location. The characters don’t necessarily have to be opposites or logical choices (a teacher in a school would be logical, for example) to work. The hope is just that having some options will get the writer started.
Following are some examples:
- A priest and a doctor, doctor’s office
- A serial killer and an old woman, in line at the grocery store
- A bank president and a stripper at the circus
- An actress and a farmer at a dress shop
- A zookeeper and a newspaper reporter, stuck in a traffic jam, cars side by side
Writers can just brainstorm these potential characters and locations in a list and then choose one at random on days when inspiration is a long time coming. The characters and locations can even be mixed and matched.
The Metaphor
Think of anything (literally anything) and write a character who is a metaphor for that thing. Write about that character for at least ten minutes. The metaphor doesn’t need to last for the entire writing; it just needs to inspire the writing. Here’s an example of a character inspired by the word “wind”:
Zephyr stood at the edge of the porch and waved as Mark walked away. He had handed her a ring, but he didn’t realize she wasn’t ready, might possibly never be ready. Mark hadn’t said much, had only turned away. She wanted to tell him that putting a ring on her finger would be like putting a bird in a cage, but she knew he wouldn’t understand.
Here are some words to act as metaphors:
- Sunshine
- River
- Rainbow
- Tiger
- Gun
- Cacophony
- Rhinoceros
- Mountain
- Stone
- Purple
- Classical music
Writers can brainstorm a list of other words for this exercise as well.
Mix Up
For this exercise, a writer will choose a favorite character from a book, play, or short story. Then she will place that character in her life, be it present or past. Or the writer can place the character in any other historical setting. How does that character react? Here are some examples:
- Holden Caufield (from J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye) at the presidential inauguration in January 2009
- Mitch McDeere (from John Grisham’s The Firm) visiting the writer’s high school
- Tom Sawyer (from Mark Twain’s book) visiting the writer’s first job
Writers would do best to come up with a list of favorite characters, then writing a separate list of different times and/or places in their lives or different historical events. For a variation, writers can also come up with lists of historical figures they find interesting.
Inspiration
The desire to write can hit a writer at any time, but sometimes he is left wondering what to write. Oftentimes all he needs is a little inspiration, and exercises like these can help.
Related articles: Getting Excited About Creative Writing
Routines and Location Can Help Creative Writers
More creative writing exercises: Creative Writing Exercises to Inspire
Cynthia Jones-Shoeman - Cynthia (“Cindy”) Jones-Shoeman earned her MA in English from Colorado State University in 2007; her thesis was "Toni ...
