10 MINUTE WRITING EXERCISES
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Always remember, there are no dull subjects, only dull writers.
The writer's job to present the subject matter as an interesting read. Give careful considerable to the "angle" you take when talking about mundane stuff. Would humour make the topic more palatable? When writing fiction would the story come over better in a different viewpoint? |
Princess or Pauper?
You spot a very affluent friend intently looking through the clothes rail in the charity shop. You are very surprised because she's usually a bit sniffy about buying second hand. Do you sneak away or do you go inside to join her? Board Game
Write about a simple board game that turns its players into pie-eyed cutthroats. (from The Pocket Muse (ideas and inspiration for writing) by Monica Wood. |
Key
You have come across a key no longer in use. Put it on your desk. Try to remember or imagine what this key once unlocked. Start writing. Fact or fiction - it's up to you. Sentimental
Write about an in expensive item that you own. Explain why it means a lot to you. First person viewpoint. |
MONOLOGUE
Write a monologue in the form of one side of a telephone conversation. We can only hear you speaking. You can be making or receiving a call but we only hear your side of the conversation. We have to guess what the other person is saying from your responses. |
CHOOSE... one of the following
A mountain The sea A hurricane A wildfire Write a question you would ask your chosen subject. Then write the reply. You might even find a poem in the reply. |
GIVEN WORDS
Use these words in a piece of writing. It's OK if you have to leave one out but try to include them all. Phone Delirious Tea Oppose Cap Delicious Bewitch |
GIVEN WORDS
The following words are all single word titles of Carol Ann Duffy's poems: ECHO WATER BEES RINGS Choose one word as your title and write whatever comes to mind. It can be a very short story, the bones of a poem, a haiku, or just a thought. |
FEAR
What scares you? Are you terrified or just a little unnerved? How do you feel? How do you react? It can be anything... Tell us about it. |
WHAT'S THE STORY?
Green smoke swirled inside the only jar among the empty bottles. Its label read: "Don't open. Or do. It's up to you." |
UNNOTICED OBJECT
This prompt is taken from Jo Bell's 52 Project Book. The unnoticed object is your subject matter - something mundane, a door, a dustbin, window etc. Think sideways about the ordinary properties of your object. What does it do? What does it see? Write a short paragraph about your object, or write as if you are the object. Make it simple. You have ten minutes... get going! |
COIN A NEW PHRASE
Replace each of these clichés with a phrase of your own... aim to convey the same meaning that these hackneyed words express but in a new way. As sick as a parrot To coin a phrase As comfortable as an old shoe Just grasping at straws Leave no stone unturned A stitch in time NOTE: avoiding clichés and well worn metaphors will improve your prose - fresh new phrases will help your writing to "sparkle". |
POSTCARD HOME
Write a postcard home. You may be on holiday or staying with a friend or relative. Let us read between the lines about what you have been getting up to. Make it funny if you like. Whatever you write it must fit on the back of a postcard so choose your words carefully. One thing though: you are not allowed to say 'wish you were here.' [for this exercise hand out postcard size pieces of paper to make it more authentic] |
POINT OF VIEW
There are two people standing on a railway bridge. One is deaf. One is blind. The Flying Scotsman steam train is approaching. Describe the approach as it passes under the bridge from the perspective of one of the people on the bridge. |
HOOK YOUR READER
Write the first paragraph of a story that will hook your reader compelling them to read on. You might come up with a winner. |
BIRTH DATE
We all have a birth date. Write about yours. Do you share your birthday with someone famous? Would you like to change the date? Is it too near Christmas or New Year? Perhaps you were born on 29th February. What is special about your birth date and what do you like or dislike about the date? |
TREASURE OR TRASH
Write about something you find in the garden. It could anything - from treasure to trash... factor or fiction THE SENSES
The five senses are sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. What does a SIXTH sense mean to you? Describe it. Be as imaginative as you like. |
TONGUE TWISTERS
In the style of "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper," "Sally sells sea shells on the sea shore," etc... write one or more tongue twisters of your own. You could also consider writing them to a given theme, i.e. Christmas, gardening, in fact anything. (idea from the 100 Word Story website) USE DIALOGUE TO CHARACTERIZE
Write a short scene using dialogue only, between a retired teacher aged 70 and a teenager. Concentrate on how the type of character each person is by the way they speak and what they say. |
I REMEMBER...
start with these words (I remember) and see where it takes you. |
WORDS
Write a piece using the following words: Diplomat, balloon, jacket, conference room, |
WHERE DID THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN?
Who was hurt? Who helped? |
HINDSIGHT
Write a letter to the 10 year old child you once were. What advice would you give them in hindsight? WORDS
Write a piece which includes the following words: biscuit, barrel, hypocrite, city, telephone. |
EMPTY GLASS
Write a short piece about an empty glass. TRAVEL
How would you like to travel? What is your favourite form of transport. Yell us about a journey or one you would like to take on your preferred mode of transport. Write quickly for ten minutes - don't over-think the process and see what you come up with. |
CHARACTER
You are about to post a birthday card to someone. The card has an illustration of seven fluffy chicks. Tell us about the person to whom you are sending the card. |
WRITE A LETTER
Write a letter as your adult self to a teacher you very much disliked when you were at school. |
POLEMIC
Two young boys are walking home from school. An argument develops and they almost (or maybe they do) come to blows. Write the conversation. |
WHAT IS THE STORY?
Jake Masterson is walking through the village with a stuffed dog under his arm. Write a very brief story to explain this rather odd scenario. |
UNINVITED GUEST
Write about an invited guest. Consider the scenario - the conversation - the outcome. |
BLURB
Imagine you have written your autobiography and it is now ready for publication. Write the blurb - the brief description that appears on the cover to hook a prospective buyer. |
BE CONCISECondense one of the following stories to 60 word piece of flash fiction. Leave out the frills, adjectives, etc., just follow the basic plot.
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DESCRIBE AN OBJECT WITH ACCURACY (one for group work)
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ALLITERATION – repeating and playing upon the same letter. A figure of speech in which consonants, especially at the beginning of words or stressed syllables, are repeated usually to achieve special effect.
We all remember these little phrases Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper Sally sells sea shells on the sea shore EXERCISE: Choose a letter: write prose (or poetry) with every word beginning with the same letter. See how many words you can write with the words making sense. |
GIVEN WORDS
Write a piece incorporating all the following words. Try to include them without the piece seeming contrived. Consider using them in a context other than the obvious. Green-fingered, rake, rose, cloud, turf. |
COAT POCKET
Someone has left a rain coat in the meeting room. You slip your hand into the pocket hoping to identify the owner of the coat. What do you find in the pocket? |
BLUE
Write a piece taking inspiration from the colour blue. (or select another colour - it's good for the entire group to use the same colour so that you can all experience the diversity of responses. |