Writing Exercises? - Writers Forum

Forge · 12-19-2005, 02:15 PM

Where do you guys get them? (... preferrably without resorting to spending money, which seems to be all I can find via search... ) Anyone happen to have a link library overflowing with specific tasks? (Well, more specific than flat out stream-of-consciousness writing, anyway) I feel I can concentrate better with a defined goal. Plus, I'm not actually looking to work on anything serious at the moment, merely to flex/build my vocabulary, style, and grammar muscles.

Forge · 12-19-2005, 10:26 PM

Nevermind... confusion of terminology. 'Writing prompts' is apparently how y'all refer to them these days. That realization made my search easier and I see that that is what the "Writing Challenge" forum is for. I'll get to know my way around sooner or later.

galt · 12-19-2005, 10:46 PM

I know of a good writing prompt: Listen to a song and base a short story off it.

Mike C · 12-21-2005, 05:34 PM

Forget exercises, forget prompts. Just write until your fingers bleed.

Verago · 12-21-2005, 07:15 PM

I can confirm that the above method works.

Cady · 12-21-2005, 07:59 PM

There a books full of promts. I reccomend writers book of matches, Also many writing books include excercises. Pen on fire includes one with each chapter.

Verago · 12-21-2005, 08:23 PM

In all realism, put sandpaper over your keyboard, and write your story. Then revise what you see wrong with it. And write some more. Revise that, and the part you wrote before it so that it looks good to you. Continue this until your fingers bleed.

I'm trying this tomorrow.

Forge · 12-21-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Forget exercises, forget prompts. Just write until your fingers bleed.

-- Mike C

Hah! I hear you. I have instincts; use them. My keyboard has an extra-light touch though, and it's partially ergonomic, so I'll have to work overtime to accomplish 'bleed' conditions.

Quote:

There a books full of promts. I reccomend writers book of matches, Also many writing books include excercises. Pen on fire includes one with each chapter.

-- Cady

I actually found a few sites with prompts from the 'book of matches', but I've already unwittingly begun to agree with Mike C. I thought I wanted a little structure to start out, but I'm finding prompts to be too stifling and limited.

In fact, I've started writing a bit (short story, at this point) that began as a random prompt, but keeps diverging to off-roads and is nothing like what I was supposed to be writing about, which is to be expected I suppose. Perhaps that is even the point, but I don't even like the original prompt at all now *laugh*

I'd say expect it in a couple weeks or so, but with the holidays upon us, it'll probably be more like ... eh, whenever, heh.

Forge · 12-21-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verago

In all realism, put sandpaper over your keyboard, and write your story. Then revise what you see wrong with it. And write some more. Revise that, and the part you wrote before it so that it looks good to you. Continue this until your fingers bleed.

I'm trying this tomorrow.

You're hardcore, man =D>

mistress_batty · 12-21-2005, 09:03 PM

http://www.writersdigest.com/writingprompts.asp

http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/#

http://www.writingfix.com/dailypromptgenerator.htm

http://teenwriting.about.com/library...lexercises.htm

http://208.183.128.3/write/create.htm

http://www.livejournal.com/community/hyakudai/766.html

some of them are kid prompts....but I like to use those when I'm getting in the mood to write for children.
Also, if in the future you do plan on spending some money, Writer's Digest has a great book..."The Writer's Idea Book" by Jack Heffron

Verago · 12-21-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forge

You're hardcore, man =D>

^_^

If I get a bleed, I'll post pics.

Cady · 12-21-2005, 09:12 PM

writing prompts are great when your uninspired, or just want to do a little practice, I think.

ODaley · 01-02-2006, 04:58 PM

Writing prompts are great. To find them cheep, to an internet search. There's a bunch out there.

kalrarii · 01-02-2006, 08:18 PM

I have one exercise I got from a book at the library... can't remember the title though, sorry.

It said you have to write exactly 3 pages of whatever you want everyday, but have to make everything flow nicely from one thing to another. You can't go from a paragraph about what you were dreaming to some paragraph of how good your mom's homebaked cookies are. Unless that was what you were dreaming about. (heh, that was the example in the book)

I did this but then I added some other things:

-To make myself use new vocabulary words, maybe five or so
-After a while I lengthened it to five pages
-I would check for grammar/spelling mistakes and work on it if I've done the same mistake recently

So go ahead and do the same if you want, and tweak it a bit to challenge yourself, and there you go. After a while it's pretty easy, and you can even lengthen it to 10-15 or so pages a day and that way write a story/novel.

wordwitch · 01-29-2006, 09:19 AM

What If? by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. You should be able to get it at Barnes and Noble or any of the other commercial book monsters; or ask your friendly neighborhood indie shop to order it if they don't have it. Great exercises for dialogue, character, building plot, starting your story, etc. A wonderful investment, I consult it often.