OUTLINE of a prose/poetic/dramatic text

AUTHOR
TITLE..
Taken from/ literary genre
Date..
SETTING
Time..
Place..
CHARACTERS
.
.
PLOT/STORY

.
.
NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE
Narrator..

LANGUAGE and STYLE

.
Figures of Speech
(these symbols convey the meaning, express, evoke, stand for, hint at )

THEMES
.
..
.
KEY WORDS
.
THE PASSAGE /the extract (a summary)
( It opens with, it deals with, it introduces the theme of, it is based upon, the last paragraph
sums up)..

INTERPRETATIONS
( This interpretation seems the most relevant one because
..
..

The AUTHOR
( S/he outlines, points out, focuses on, stresses, underlines, emphasizes, states, claims, gives
voice to, his/her approach was.)
S/he drew inspiration from, affected, played a key role
This work is a landmark, a touchstone because; it is a source of inspiration)
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..

FROM TEXT TO CONTEXT

Ties between the text and
the novel/ collection of poems/ play it belongs to
the authors biography (autobiographical elements) and works..
the social/historical and literary context ..
other texts belonging to the same or different periods
READERs RESPONSE
(In my opinion, I think that, What likes / strikes me, The text reminds me of..)
.

Creative-writing programs are designed on the theory that students who have never
published a poem can teach other students who have never published a poem how to write a
publishable poem.Louis Menand, Show or Tell: Should creative writing be taught?
For me, the question isnt should, its how.
How should creative writing be taught?

In The 3 A.M Epiphany, Brian Kitely writes that his approach is to make the
creative writing workshop a workshop in the sense of an artist or carpenter: a light, airy
room full of tools and raw materials where most of the work is hands-on.
The standard American workshop is a lazy construction. The teacher asks students to bring
in stories or poems to class, sometimes copied and handed out ahead of time, sometimes not.
The class and its final arbiter (usually the teacher) judge the merits of the story or poem. Few
ask the question, Where does a story come from? The standard American workshop
presumes that you cannot teach creativity or instincts or beginnings. It takes what it can once
the process has already been started. Most writing teachers say, Okay, bring in a story and
well take it apart and put it back together again. I say, Lets see what we can do to find
some stories. The average workshop is often a profoundly conservative force in fiction
writers lives, encouraging the simplifying and routinizing of stories.I use exercises in my
workshops to derange student stories, to find new possibilities, to foster strangeness and
irregularity, as much as to encourage revision and cleaning up after yourself, and I dont
worry much about success or failure.
I dont really like doing exercises, I like playing games. My own philosophy is: if
writing isnt a joy for the writer to write, it wont be a joy for the reader to read.
So, Ive spent the majority of my recent writing life trying to turn writing into a gameto push
it explicitly towards play. (Like, ahem, using newspapers and markers to make poems)
No one has influenced my thinking about this more than the writer and cartoonist Lynda
Barry, who I met in 2006. She has dedicated her to most-recent work to the question,
Where do stories come from?, first in her book, One! Hundred! Demons!, where she used
a japanese sumi-e brush to draw her demons, and second in her amazing collage-art/comixmemoir/writing textbook, What It is.
From an interview with the Comics Reporter:
What It Is is based on something I learned from my teacher, Marilyn Frasca, at the
Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. I studied with her for two years in the late 1970s.
Her idea seemed to be that everything we call art, whether its music or dance or writing or
painting, anything we call art is a container for something she called an image. And she
believed that once you understood what an image is, then the form you give it is up to you.
The question What is an Image? has guided all of my work for over 30 years. Because of
what I learned from Marilyn, there isnt much of a difference in the experience of painting a
picture, writing a novel, making a comic strip, reading a poem or listening to a song. The
containers are different, but the lively thing in the center is what Im interested in.
Can you teach creativity? Maybe not, but you can teach people what the energy flow of
creating something feels like (hint: its no different from how you felt smashing GI Joes
together in the driveway), and once youve felt that energy, you can set up processes to help
you tap into that energy.
Once you know how to drink from that tap, then its only a matter of spending a bunch of
time with a paintbrush, or a guitar, or an arc welder.
And to get back to the Kitely quote, dont worry much about success or failure. This is a
really important point. Theres a place for creating for writing for the sheer joy of writing, and
theres a place for figuring out whether its any good or not. In Lyndas workshop, there is
nothing but encouragement. No place for criticism.
My own stance is that art isnt made by committee. If you want to know whether your
stuff is any good, get a big bunch of readers (not just teachers [people paid to read your
writing] or students [people paying to read your writing]), and see what happens. The way I
did this was by starting a blogby putting my stuff up for free on the internet.
The key ingredient in all this is time. You need time to get good, and you need time to
build a readership.
So if its going to take time, how do you feed and clothe yourself after college?
The answer: get a day job and keep it.
I just finished Hugh MacLeods great new book, Ignore Everybody. Hugh has said the
book is advice I wish I had when I was in my early 20s that I learned the hard way after many
years. I had just finished college and I had a creative bug, but I had no way to make a living
3

doing it. It sprung from his piece How To Be Creative, which was a big deal to me when I
found it a year or so ago, specifically for his Sex and Cash Theory.
The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second
is the kind that pays the bills. Sometimes the task in hand covers both bases, but not often.
This tense duality will always play center stage. It will never be transcended.
Once you let go of the idea of making your money primarily by being an artist, youre set
free. You can make what you want. Get a day job, work 9-5, and squirrel a few hours each day
away for your writing, drawing, whatever. Start a blog, so you have an outlet. Once your art is
making more money than your day job, you can quit (I sure as heck still work my 9-5)
My big question, which Ive asked of many writers, and many have been unable to answer,
is: how can you be a decent family man and also be an artist?
Many of our favorite writers/artists werent so great as human beings. They couldnt keep
their marriages together, they neglected their kids, they lost their friendsall in sacrifice to
their art.
The world needs more great human beings. It doesnt necessarily need more artists.
I havent found many great books on balancing art and family. I have a sneaking suspicion
that any such books have been written by women. (Maybe you can suggest a couple?)
The one book I have read thats helped me out is Bruce Holland Rogers Word Work.
There are three great chapters on relationships in that book: Writers and Lovers, Writers
Loving Writers, and Writers Loving Non-Writers.
Grammar Rules: Further and Farther
Believe it or not, farther andfurther each have distinctly different meanings although
people tend to use them interchangeably.
And its no surprise, because these two words look alike, sound alike, and the difference in
meaning is quite subtle. Plus, there are a few circumstances when they are legitimately
interchangeable.
Lets solve the farther, further mystery for once and for all.
Ten Grammar Rules and Best Writing Practices That Every Writer Should Know
The more experience I gain as a writer, the more Im convinced that writing is one of the
most difficult skills to master. Its not enough to tell a great story, share an original idea, or
create an intriguing poem; writers are also obligated to pay diligence to the craft. While the
content (or message) of our writing is paramount, the way we use language can be just as
critical.
Bad grammar is a distraction. If you can write a riveting story, readers will probably
overlook a few grammatical problems. However, each mistake or incorrect construction will
momentarily yank readers out of the story. Sure, they can jump back in, but it makes for a
negative or unpleasant reading experience.
Breaking Grammar Rules in Poetry Writing
Accomplished writers respect the rules of grammar the way an acrobat respects the
tightrope grammar might be intimidating and complicated, but we need it in order to
perform.
Yet sometimes, an acrobat takes her foot off the tightrope. She does a flip or some other
trick of physical prowess that seems to defy the laws of gravity and exceed the potential of
the human body.
Grammar rules lend structure and clarity to our writing and gives us common ground rules
that we can use to communicate clearly and effectively, just like the tightrope gives the
acrobat a foundation upon which to walk.
So when does a writer take her foot off the rules of grammar so she can perform
spectacular tricks?
Good Grammar in Poetry Writing
Im often asked by writers and poets how they should handle grammar, capitalization, and
punctuation in poetry. When it comes to grammar rules, is poetry writing the exception?
Many poets demonstrate grammatical expertise, neatly parking periods and commas in
their designated spaces and paying homage to proper capitalization.
Consider the following poem and how it follows the rules of grammar. Note that in poetry
writing, the traditional rule is that the first letter of each line is capitalized regardless of
whether or not it starts a new sentence.
4

Aunt Jennifers Tigers

By Adrienne Rich
Aunt Jennifers tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifers finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncles wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifers hand.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
Writing Poetry Without Grammar Rules
Poets dont always follow the rules, which is why poetry is attractive to writers who are
especially creative, rebellious, and enjoy coloring outside the lines.
Grammar rules, particularly spelling and punctuation, are nothing more than a creative
tool for many poets who choose to dismiss these rules altogether or use the them to decorate
and add aesthetic elements to a poem.
Many poets have skirted grammar with great success. Many more have failed. E.E.
Cummings is well known for giving grammar the proverbial finger, but he takes his anarchy
one step further and actually alters basic sentence structure, and manages to do so quite
effectively.
anyone lived in a pretty how town
By ee cummings
anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didnt he danced his did.
Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isnt they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyones any was all to her
someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream
stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)
one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was
all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
with by spirit and if by yes.
5

Women and men (both dong and ding)

summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain
Cummings has dismissed capital letters altogether and he uses punctuation seemingly at
random. Yet the poem works. Imagine it with the proper grammar rules applied and youll
quickly realize that his way is more effective for this piece and what hes trying to accomplish
with language.
Poetry Writing Where Rules and Creativity Cooperate or Collide
As the poetry canon grows beyond measure, poets increasingly reach for creative devices
to make their work stand out.
Toying with grammar rules is one such device, but it is not something that can be
approached carelessly. If you choose to forgo the rules because you dont know them rather
than as a creative technique, your lack of knowledge will show and the poem will present as
amateurish. Of course, thats true for all types of writing: learn the rules, and only after you
have learned them, go ahead and break them.
I salute anyone who breaks the rules in the interest of art and great poetry writing just as
much as I admire poets who craft meter and verse within the confines of grammar. So for this
language-loving poet, either way is the right way. Walk the tight rope or jump from it and see
if you can fly.
Grammar Rules: Split Infi nitives
Its important that we, as writers, know the tools of our trade. Part of our job is to
understand the mechanics of language, which includes grammar rules. Yet many writers find
themselves asking
What are split infinitives?
Its a term that grammarians and linguists throw around a lot, yet few people, including
writers, seem to know what it means.
According to Wikipedia:
A split infinitive or cleft infinitive is an English-language grammatical construction in which
a word or phrase, usually an adverb or adverbial phrase, comes between the marker to and
the bare infinitive (uninflected) form of a verb.
So, whats an infinitive? Whats a bare infinitive? Understanding these terms will help us
figure out what split infinitives are.
An infinitive, or bare infinitive is a simple form of a verb. Examples include write, go, talk,
sit, andunderstand.
When a participle, such as to, appears before an infinitive, it is then referred to as a full
infinitive. Examples include to write, to go, to talk, to sit, andto understand.
So, how do we get split infi nitives?
Infinitives become split infinitives when another word is inserted between the participle
(also called a marker) and the bare infinitive:
We want to truly understand English grammar.
In the example above, the participle is to and the bare infinitive is understand. The full
infinitive to understand is split by the adverb truly.
Thats simple enough. So, whats the fuss?
As split infinitives became more popular in the 19th century, some grammatical authorities
sought to introduce a prescriptive rule against them. The construction is still the subject of
disagreement among native English speakers as to whether refraining from split infinitives is
grammatically correct or good style.
In 1926, Henry Fowler wrote, No other grammatical issue has so divided English speakers
since the split infinitive was declared to be a solecism in the 19c: raise the subject of English
usage in any conversation today and it is sure to be mentioned. (source: Wikipedia)
Today, however, most linguists agree that split infinitives are acceptable.
Grammar Rules, Style, and Split Infi nitives
While the grammar rules regarding split infinitives are being debated, style dictates that
we write our sentences to be clear and consistent. Lets take another look at our example
sentence, but lets move the adverb so our infinitive is no longer split:
We truly want to understand English grammar.
6

Note that this sentence sounds clearer, but weve changed the meaning. In the original
example sentence, the adverb truly modified the phrase to understand. Here, it
modifieswant. When splitting infinitives, we need to make sure the word doing the splitting is
modifying the right words in the sentence.
Lets rewrite the sentence while keeping the meaning intact:
We want to master English grammar.
Here, the split infinitive to truly understand is replaced with stronger, more precise
wording. Instead of truly understanding English grammar, we want to master it! This sentence
is far clearer than the original. It has more punch, it doesnt include a (somewhat
questionable) split infinitive, and it communicates the exact same idea.
Split infinitives can sound awkward or clumsy when theres a simpler, clearer way to
construct the sentence.
The Final Frontier
One of the most famous of all split infinitives occurs in the opening sequence of Star Trek:
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year
mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly
go where no man has gone before. Captain James T. Kirk
If you can find the participle (marker), the bare infinitive (simple form of the verb), and the
adverb (which is causing the split) in the excerpt above, then youre up to speed on split
infinitives. Finally, ask yourself how it could be rewritten without the split infinitive. Does it
sound better or worse?
Now you know all about split infinitives. You know:
What split infinitives are
How to identify split infinitives
Split infinitives are acceptable, but
Split infinitives can make a piece of writing awkward, so
Use split infinitives with care
Grammar Rules: That and Which
Theres a lot of confusion aboutthat and which. These two words are often used
interchangeably, even though theyre not necessarily interchangeable.
Historically, that and which may have carried the same meaning, and some English
dialects may allow for that and which to be swapped without affecting the meaning of a
sentence.
However, in American English, the grammar rules offer a distinct difference between the
two words. By the time youre done reading this post, youll fully understand the difference
between that and which, and youll be able to use both words correctly.
That and Which
As with most grammar rules, there are exceptions and exemptions from the standard
ways that andwhich should be used in a sentence. To gain understanding of confusing word
pairs, its always best to start with the basics. As we look at how to properly
use that and which, well focus on basic, standard usage.
That and which can be categorized into several different parts of speech. Both words can
function as adjectives and pronouns. Additionally, that can serve as a conjunction and as an
adverb. Today, were looking at how that and which should be used when they are working as
relative pronouns.
Relative Pronouns
From Wikipedia: A relative pronoun is a pronoun that marks a relative clause within a
larger sentence. It is called a relative pronoun because it relates to the word that it modifies.
Like adjectives and adverbs, relative pronouns modify other words. Adjectives modify
nouns:
I have a car.
I have a red car.
Adverbs modify verbs:
I am walking.
I am walking quickly.
The main difference between adjectives and adverbs is that adjectives usually modify
things (nouns) while adverbs modify actions (verbs). Relative pronouns also modify words, but
they often do so as clauses rather than as single, descriptive words. In the examples below,
the clauses are italicized.
7

Bring me the bucket.

Bring me the bucket that has apples in it.
The bucket, which has apples in it, is blue.
The difference between the words that and which, and how they are used as relative
pronouns, depends on whether the clause they belong to is restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses
Restrictive Clauses Are Necessary
A restrictive clause is necessary to the meaning of a sentence. For example:
The bucket that has apples in it is the one I want.
If you removed the clause that has apples in it, the meaning of the sentence would be
lost. The clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence and is therefore a restrictive
clause. Because its a restrictive clause, it should take the relative pronoun that.
Nonrestrictive Clauses are Unnecessary
A nonrestrictive clause is not necessary to the meaning of a sentence. In fact, it can be
removed from a sentence without affecting its meaning. For example:
The bucket, which is blue, has apples in it.
There are apples in the bucket, which is blue.
If you removed the nonrestrictive clause which is blue, from either of the sentences
above, the meaning of the sentences would not be lost. Wed still know that the bucket has
apples in it. Note that in the second example, the nonrestrictive clause adds information
about something that has already been identified. Because the clause is unnecessary to the
meaning of the sentence, we know its a nonrestrictive clause, and therefore should take the
relative pronoun which.
Use that before a restrictive clause.
Use which before a nonrestrictive clause.
The Easy Way to Remember the Diff erence Between That and Which
I Needed That
If you need the clause to maintain a sentences meaning, then use that. A quick trick for
remembering this grammar rule is the phrase I needed that.
Which?
Because which is also an interrogative pronoun used to mark questions, it is questionable.
You can take it or leave it. Its not necessary. Think of the word which with a question mark
(which?) to remind yourself that if the clauses presence is questionable and can be removed,
then you should use the word which to introduce the clause.
Exceptions and Notes
Here are some exceptions and notes to these rules.
Which can be used restrictively when its preceded by a preposition. For example, The
bucket in which the apples have been stored is blue.
Which is almost always preceded by a comma, parenthesis, or a dash.
In British English, there is little distinction between that and which.
Has this article helped clarify any questions youve had about grammar rules? Do you
have any other questions about that and which? Do you have any tips to share for
remembering how to use these two words? Leave a comment.
Sources:
The Chicago Manual of Style
Grammar Girl, Which Versus That
Wikipedia, Relative Pronouns
Grammar Rules: Who vs. Whom
It sounds pretty old fashioned: To whom have you sent those letters? Modern colloquial
speakers expect something more along the lines of Who did you send those letters to?
While whom may sound outdated, it can pose a problem, especially if youre writing for an
erudite audience or if you are a stickler for using words properly and adhering to all known
grammar rules.
In the example above, the second sentence (Who did you send those letters to?)breaches
the standards set forth by proper grammar by ending a sentence with a preposition, and it
breaks the rules of usage in the ongoing battle of who vs. whom.
Here are the two grammar rules violated by our example sentence:
It ends with a preposition
It uses who where whom is the correct interrogative pronoun
8

Its worth noting that many grammarians today are increasingly granting exception to
ending sentences with prepositions. As more and more writers and speakers place
prepositions at the end of sentences, the practice is becoming more and more acceptable.
However, were not here to talk about prepositions. Were going to take a look at how to
properly use the words who or whom in a sentence.
Interrogative Pronoun! Are You Kidding?
Yeah, I guess it sounds pretty high-brow, and no, Im not kidding. As Ive mentioned before,
Im not one of those grammar snobs. I do, however, believe that writers who learn the rules
can better get away with breaking them. If you are a writer, then it couldnt possibly hurt to
know what an interrogative pronoun is and how to use it in a sentence, correctly.
Plus, learning about interrogative pronouns will help you know the difference between who
vs. whom.
Interrogative Pronoun
Simply put, an interrogative pronoun is a pronoun that is used in a question. You know
these words: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Whence and whither are also
interrogative pronouns, but Ill spare you on those. For now.
Who Uses Whom Nowadays?
The word whom seems to have fallen out of favor, although some crotchety old aunt or
anal-retentive English teacher might force it into your vocabulary at some point. For all I
know,whom could still be used in British English, Canadian English, or Aussie speak. Its safe
to assume that a high profile writing assignment (Ph.D, anyone?) would require you to adhere
to strict rules, and to use whom where it would be expected. Also, if you were writing a
historical novel or perhaps a fantasy tale with a medieval flair, youd want to know such
things so your characters would have realistic dialogue.
Its also worth noting that as you learn the correct applications of who and whom, you may
acquire a taste for using these words more properly, especially in writing (but probably not so
much in your speech).
So, Whats the Diff erence between Who and Whom?
First Ill give you the technical answer, and then Ill follow up with a trick to help you
remember whether to use who or whom in your own sentence crafting.
Who refers to the subject of a sentence, while whom refers to the object.
Yep, its that simple.
Example:
I see you.
In the sentence above, I is the subject and you is the object. I always remember subject as
the giver (or doer) and object as the receiver (of an action). In this example, I am doing the
action (seeing) and you are receiving the action (getting seen). Now lets replace the subject
and object with an interrogative pronoun.
When the subject is an interrogative pronoun, use who.
Since who is the proper interrogative pronoun for representing a sentences subject, you
could say:
Who sees you?
(I do. I see you.)
When the object of a sentence is an interrogative pronoun, use whom.
I see whom? or Whom do I see?
(I see you.)
The following sentences would be incorrect: Who do I see? Whom sees you?
Quick Trick for Remember Who vs. Whom
Some months ago, while listening to Grammar Girl (one of my favorite podcasts), I picked
up a neat little trick for remembering when to use who vs. whom. Both whom and him are
pronouns that end with the letter m. So, all you do is remove the interrogative pronoun and
replace it with he or him.
If you would replace the interrogative pronoun (who or whom) with him, then you should
usewhom:
I see whom?
I see him.
Whom did I see?
I saw him.
9

But if you would replace the interrogative pronoun (who or whom) with he, then you should
use who:
Who saw me?
He saw me.
Grammar sure is fun.
Grammar Rules: Lay or Lie
One of the most common grammatical mistakes that we see in both speech and writing is
the misuse of the words lay and lie.
This error is so common, it even slips past professional writers, editors, and English
teachers all the time.
Maybe eventually these two words will morph into one and have the exact same meaning,
but until then, its worthwhile to learn proper usage. For now, their meanings are completely
different.
Lets take a look at this interesting word pair and find out whether we should be using lay
or lie based on each words definition.
Lay
Dictionary.com lists 42 different definitions for the wordlay. Of these, 28 are categorized as
a verb used with an object, eight as verbs used without an object, and six are
simply nouns. Plus, there are 15 verb phrases that use the word lay, as well as nine idioms.
This is a word that can be used in a lot of different ways!
Lets keep things simple by focusing on what differentiates lay from lie.
In short, lay is something you do to something else. You might think that sounds funny,
especially considering idiom number 58 (get laid), but its true and of course getting laid is
exactly what you should use to remember that you lay something (down).
Lie
The word lie only has 27 definitions, so thats a relief. Though, thats not taking into
consideration the nine additional definitions that deal with falsehoods.
Again, well keep it simple. Just remember that you should use the word lie when there is
no object involved.
Lay or Lie
Here are some tips to help you remember whether to use lay or lie in a sentence:
Every sentence has a subject and a verb. An example would be the following:
I write.
I is the subject, and write is the verb. Many sentences also have an object:
I write poems.
In this example, the word poems is the object. The object in a sentence receives the
action of the verb. The subject is taking or making that action.
Subject: I (does the action)
Action: write (the action)
Object: poems (receives the action i.e. gets written)
Learning to Use Lay or Lie is Easy!
The word lay should be used when there is an object receiving the action, i.e. something or
someone is getting laid (down) by something or someone else.
I always lay my pencil by the phone.
I laid the book on that chair.
I am laying down the law.
Conversely, the word lie is used when there is no object involved, i.e. the subject of the
sentence is doing the lying.
I lie down every afternoon.
The kitten lies there, dozing.
The dog is lying down.
Wait Theres More
As with every rule, there are exceptions. Consider the following line: Now I lay me down
to sleep . . . Well, in that sentence, the speaker (I) is laying himself or herself down. We dont
normally speak like this: I lay myself down. However, if you were to include yourself in a
sentence as both as subject and object, you would use lay rather than lie.
10

Matters get even more confusing when we look at the past tenses of these verbs. For
example, the past tense of to lie is lay:
Present tense: I am lying on my bed.
Past tense: I lay on my bed last night.
The past tense of lay is laid:
Present tense: I am laying my book right here.
Past tense: I laid my book right here yesterday.
Discerning between lay or lie is not an easy feat, but once you memorize the meanings
and conjugations of these two oddly similar words, using them correctly will be a snap.
Grammar Rules: i.e. and e.g.
Occasionally, we come across the abbreviations i.e. and e.g., but what do they mean, and
what is the difference between them? How do grammar rules apply?
These two terms originate in the Latin language and are just two of the many Latin
phrases that have survived into modern language.
Both i.e. and e.g. are abbreviations for longer Latin phrases, so one of the smartest ways
to memorize these terms is to learn what they stand for.
If you speak any of the Latin languages, youll have the upper hand in memorizing i.e. and
e.g. And if you dont speak any Latin languages, then here are some tips to help you better
understand these two terms.
That is (i.e.)
Id est means that is. It can also mean in other words. According to our grammar rules, when
this term is abbreviated, it is always written with periods between and after the letters: i.e.,
and it should always be followed by a comma, and then the remainder of the sentence. It
often acts as a conjunction, linking two separate phrases or ideas together. It is interesting to
note that the similar phrase il est is still fully alive in the French language, meaning he is or it
is.
Example:
I am writing, i.e., I am putting my thoughts into words on paper.
I am writing, that is, I am putting my thoughts into words on paper.
For Example (e.g.)
Exempli gratia means for the sake of example, but we often construe it to simply mean for
example. As with i.e., it is always written with periods between and after the letters when it is
abbreviated. It is usually followed by a comma, but there may be exceptions based on
context.
Example:
There are many Latin words and phrases that still exist in modern languages, e.g., carpe
diem, which means seize the day.
There are many Latin words and phrases that still exist in modern languages, for
example, carpe diem, which means seize the day.
Avoid a Mix-up: Tips for Remembering i.e. and e.g.
Abbreviated or not, these terms are not interchangeable. They simply do not mean the
same thing. Still, they are often used in ways that are confusing, and since they look similar,
they are easy to confuse. How to remember the difference?
These two abbreviations share the letter e. So, we must use the other letters, the i and
the g, respectively, to remember which is which. The trick is to just remember one of them,
and the easiest of the two is i.e., or that is.
If you can associate the i in i.e. with the word is, youll be fine, because e.g. doesnt have
the letter i, and neither does the phrase for example.
i.e. = that is
e.g. = for example
Another popular memory trick involves the made up word eggsample, which starts
withe.g. and sounds a lot like example (as in for example, which, of course, is the meaning
ofe.g.).
Can you think of any other ways to easily remember i.e. and e.g.? Which Latin terms do
you struggle with? Are there any grammar rules that confuse you? Leave a comment to share
your thoughts or ask questions.
FILED UNDER GRAMMAR RULES TAGGED WITH 28 COMMENTS
Grammar Rules: Fewer or Less
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Its a battle between words: fewer or less. Are they interchangeable? Do these words have
different meanings? How can we use them correctly?
Many people dont realize that these two words do not share the same meaning and
therefore cannot be used interchangeably. As a result, both fewer and less are often used
incorrectly.
The difference may be subtle but its significant and remarkably easy to remember. Lets
see what Dictionary.com has to say about these two words:
fewer: adjective 1. of a smaller number: fewer words and more action.
less: adjective 1. smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less
money; less speed.
The grammar rules are clear; let me break them down for you.
Fewer or Less? Which is Correct?
Fewer and less respectively refer to a number of items or an amount of something. The
easiest way to remember which of these adjectives to use in a given situation is this:
Fewer should be used when the items in question can be counted.
She has fewer books than her brother.
Less is used when the amount of something cannot be counted.
She has less interest in reading than her brother does.
Note that books can be counted item by item. However, interest is not a thing that can be
counted, though we can discuss how much of it someone has.
The basic difference here is countability. Use fewer for countable nouns like individuals,
cars, and pens. Use less for uncountable nouns such as love, time, and interest. Do note,
however, that there are some sticky spots to watch out for when determining whether you
should use fewer or less. For example, you might need less paper but you will
need fewersheets of paper.
Fewer or Less
Now you know how to tell the difference.
Grammar Rules: Capitalization
Proper capitalization is one of the cornerstones of good grammar, yet many people fling
capital letters around carelessly.
Not every word deserves to be capitalized. Its an honor that must be warranted, and in
writing, capitalization is reserved only for special words.
Most of the grammar rules are explicit about which words should be capitalized. However,
there are some cases (like title case) in which the rules are vague.
Capitalization of Titles
There are several contexts in which we can examine capitalization. When writing a title (of
a blog post, for example), almost all of the words in the title are capitalized. This is called title
case.
Title case is used for titles of books, articles, songs, albums, television shows, magazines,
movies you get the idea.
Capitalization isnt normally applied to every word in a title. Smaller words, such as a,
an, and the are not capitalized. Some writers use a capitalization rule for only those words
longer than three letters. Others stretch it to four.
Theres no fixed grammar rule for which words arent capitalized in a title, although they
tend to be the smaller and more insignificant words; you should check your style guide for
specific guidelines.
Capitalization of Acronyms
Every letter in an acronym should be capitalized, regardless of whether the words those
letters represent start with capital letters:
The acronym for Writing Forward would be WF.
WYSIWYG is an acronym that stands for what you see is what you get. Although the words
in the original phrase arent capitalized, every letter in the acronym is capitalized.
Most people use acronyms heavily in text messaging and online messaging. In common
usage, these acronyms are rarely capitalized: omg, btw, nsfw. However, if you were using
these acronyms in a more formal capacity, they would be entirely capitalized: OMG, BTW,
NSFW.
12

First Word of a Sentence

As Im sure you know, grammar rules state that the first word in a sentence is always
capitalized.
Capitalization of Proper Nouns
To keep things simple here today, well refer to a noun as a person, place, or thing. You
need not worry about the other parts of speech because only nouns are eligible for perennial
capitalization.
There are two types of nouns that matter in terms of capitalization: proper nouns and
common nouns. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, and things. Common
nouns are all the other, nonspecific people, places, and things.
When considering whether to capitalize, ask whether the noun in question is specific. This
will tell you if its a proper noun, which should be capitalized, or a common noun, which
remains in all lowercase letters.
Proper Noun Capitalization Example
The word country is not specific. It could be any country. Even if youre talking about the
country in which you live, which is a specific country, the word itself could indicate any
number of nations. So keep it lowercase because its a common noun.
Conversely, Chile is a specific country. You can tell because Chile is actually the name of a
particular land in which people reside. When you discuss the people of that land, you wont
capitalize the word people. However, if youre talking about Chileans, you definitely capitalize
because Chileans are a very specific people, from a very specific country, Chile.
Hopefully that makes sense. If not, keep reading because Im about to confuse you even
more.
Capitalization of Web and Internet
Have you ever noticed the word Internet capitalized? How about the word Web? The
linguistic jury is still out on these newfangled technology terms, but generally speaking, the
Internet is one great big, specific place. The Web is just another word for that same place.
Wait what about websites? Do they get capitalized? Only if youre referring to the name
of an actual site, like Writing Forward. A website can be any number of pages online. Think of
it like a city in Chile, which is similar to a website on the Web or Internet.
Capitalization of Web and Internet is not a hard and fast grammar rule. Lots of people write
these words in all lowercase letters. Do note, however, that when these terms are used
asadjectives (also known as modifiers or descriptive words), they should never be capitalized:
I was accessing the Internet from an internet caf.
The first occurrence of Internet uses capitalization because it refers to the (specific)
Internet. But an internet caf is a type of caf and in this example, internet is used as an
adjective rather than as a proper noun, and is therefore not capitalized.
Again, capitalizing Web and Internet is optional.
Common Capitalization Errors
Folks often think that capitalization should be applied to any word thats deemed
important. Heres an example:
We sent the Product to the local Market in our last shipment. Have the Sales Force check to
see if our Widgets are properly packaged.
Its not uncommon, especially in business writing, to see nouns that are crucial to a
companys enterprise capitalized. This is absolutely incorrect. Heres correct capitalization of
our example:
We sent the product to the local market in our last shipment. Have the sales force check to
see if our widgets are properly packaged.
Now, in a rewrite of the example, some of the words will be again capitalized, but only if
they are changed into proper nouns names or titles of things and people.
We sent the Widgetbusters (TM) to WidgetMart in our last shipment. Have our Sales
Manager check to see if our widgets are properly packaged.
What about Capitalization for Job Titles?
Ah, this ones tricky. Job titles are only capitalized when used as part of a specific persons
title:
Have you ever met a president?
Did you vote for president?
Do you want to become the president?
Nice to meet you, Mr. President.
13

He once saw President Obama in a restaurant.

Again, this has to do with specificity. The president or a president could be any
president, even if in using the phrase, its obvious by context who you mean. However Mr.
President or President Obama are specific individuals and they call for capitalization.
How to Abuse and Neglect Punctuation Marks
What is it about punctuation marks that cause so many bad sentence constructions?
You know the sentences Im talking about. Theyve got random commas, missing quotation
marks, and way too many exclamation points.
To make matters worse, some writers break the rules and get away with it while others are
chastised for doing (what appears to be) the same thing.
E.E. Cummings ignored most of the rules and made up a few of of his own, and now his
poetry is studied in universities. Cormac McCarthy didnt use quotation marks with the
dialogue in his novel, and he won a Pulitzer Prize.
And then theres the Internet. Now, everyones a writer with a blog and a bunch of social
media profiles. Bad grammar and badly placed punctuation marks have become rampant.
Common Mistakes and Abuses of Punctuation Marks
Typos are one thing. Not knowing the correct way to write a sentence is another thing. But
blatantly misplacing or misusing punctuation marks is just plain reckless.
Too many commas
Im a big fan of the serial comma, but lets not get carried away. Commas often indicate
pauses but they should not be used to tell the reader where to pause.
You can get away with placing commas at pause points to some extent, but only because
many of our natural pauses occur where clauses end or after each item in a list.
Lots of writers use commas, to tell readers where to pause, and take a breath, as if the
readers cant figure it out, on their own.
We all pause in different places and your writing will feel forced and unnatural if you use
punctuation marks as if they are musical notations.
Quotation marks for emphasis
I have to admit, this is becoming one of my pet peeves: putting words and phrases in
quotation marks for emphasis. Here are some examples:
You know, they just had to go fishing last weekend.
Oh, Im sorry. I didnt mean to rock your boat.
If you sign up, theyll send you a free book!
Quotation marks are for dialogue, quoted material, and sometimes for titles or headlines.
But for some reason, people have gone crazy with quotation marks. In fact, theres an entire
website dedicated to unnecessary quotes.
Writers who abuse quotation marks in this manner need to have a little more faith in their
readers. Trust that they will know where to place emphasis. If you really need to tell the
reader which word(s) get stressed, then use italics. But try to avoid that, too.
This use probably stems from the (informal) practice of using quotation marks to indicate
that something is so-called. Heres an example:
That writer over there doesnt seem to have a dictionary.
In this case, quotation marks are placed around writer to suggest that the person is a socalled writer, but actually isnt much of a writer at all. This usage is almost always derogatory
and sarcastic. Use with caution; insulting other writers is not going to do anything positive for
your reputation.
Too many punctuation marks!!!
Did you hear me??? I wrote a book!!! Let me tell you all about it ..
Some people are so passionate. Its inspiring, really, except when Im reading a novel or
some other piece of writing that should be of a professional quality. Its one thing when my
friend on Facebook tell me that her kid just said Mama!!! Its another thing entirely when a
character in a novel is really, really, very excited!!!
When you use three question marks instead of one, does the question become deeper?
More mysterious? Is an expression with three exclamation points more exciting or more
imperative than an expression with just one exclamation point? And what is up with using
more than three dots in an ellipsis? Does a five-dot ellipsis mean its taking you longer to trail
off than a three-dot ellipsis?
14

While this usage is acceptable in casual settings (and really, what usage isnt acceptable in
casual settings?), its a bit much when youre writing at the professional level. Too many
punctuation marks distract the reader and make the text look sloppy. They also render a
pushy, in-your-face, or desperate tone. But like I said, on Facebook, theyre kinda cute.
Theres this thing called an ampersand
A few weeks ago, I started reading this novel (whose name shall be withheld), & before I
finished page two, it occurred to me that something was wrong with the writing. I scanned the
page & realized that the author was using ampersands in place of the word and.
& let me tell you, it was annoying.
Prose is not a sign. Its not a tweet. The ampersand is not a word, its a symbol. & we are
not writing in hieroglyphics. We write in words & sentences. I dont have anything personal
against the ampersand. It looks nice on signage & it comes in handy on Twitter. It looks cute
on trees where two lovers have carved their names:
Jack & Kate <3
Aw. How sweet.
But it really makes the reading rough when its used to replace the word and through an
entire piece of writing.
Rough Writers
I know. Im a mean old grammar snob. Im sure folks who use these constructions are on
the edge of their seats right now, scouring my blog for some little mistake, some place where
I used an extra exclamation mark or an ampersand. Im sure some are getting ready to drop
comments letting me know that they like using quotation marks for emphasis, that its their
style. !!!
Thats fine. Im just pointing out what is correct usage and what is not. If writers want to
break the rules and take a few creative liberties, thats their business, and I hope it works out.
Some of my favorite writers have forgone the rules (and I love them for it).
But keep this in mind: when your text is peppered with extra, unnecessary punctuation
marks, its a distraction to readers. Like I said, the book with all the ampersands had me
thinking more about what was off about the text than what was happening in the story (and
the story wasnt very interesting either, which may explain why the author resorted to
gimmicks). For the record, I didnt make it past page thirty of that book, and Ill never
recommend it to anyone.
Taking Creative Liberties
Im all for breaking the rules, but only if theres a good reason for it. Cormac McCarthy
broke the rules and got into Oprahs book club. E.E. Cummings broke the rules became a
celebrated American author.
Why do some writers reap rewards when they break the rules while others just look like
amateurs?
I personally think this has to do with the logic behind breaking the rules. Cormac
McCarthys book was written in a minimalist fashion. The characters didnt even have names.
And E.E. Cummings wasnt writing prose at all; he was writing poetry, which naturally allows
for more creative liberties.
Theres a difference between tinkering with the rules as an expermiment in art or because
the style of the narrative calls for it and breaking the rules as a way to differentiate yourself
as a unique writer or simply because youre some kind of literary rebel.
Some writers believe they are branding themselves as an author or making their work
stand out because they dont capitalize the first word of every sentence, but these are just
gimmicks that distract readers from the content. Youre telling readers that your work doesnt
stand on its own and you need to resort to silly tricks to make it seem interesting.
What really sucks is when good writers use these constructions. More than once Ive read
prose and poetry that was great except for all the weird punctuation marks and bad grammar.
What would have been a wonderful story or beautiful poem gets lost in the mess. And thats a
shame.
The rules of grammar arent there to keep you in line, they are there to help you write
prose and verse that readers can navigate with ease. Always keep that in mind, and when you
do break the rules or use unusual punctuation marks and formatting, do so with good reason.
Have you seen writers break the rules effectively? Have you seen writers break the rules in
a way that interfered with your ability to enjoy the reading experience? What was the
difference? When is it okay the break the rules?
15

Homophones: Wreaking Havoc on Writers and Editors Everywhere

Homophones are those annoying words that sound exactly alike but have different
meanings and are often spelled differently.
They give English teachers nightmares, cause headaches in students, and drive editors
crazy.
We writers need to be diligent about homophones because spell-check wont catch them,
and many readers cite misspelled homophones as pet peeves.
And we never want to annoy our readers! Thats a cardinal sin.
Homophones and Spell Check
The problem with most homophones is that if were typing too quickly or not paying close
attention to what were writing, we could accidently end up with a properly spelled word,
except its the wrong word. It doesnt work in the context of the sentence.
As an example, lets look at the homophonesaffect vs. effect. If youre in a hurry or if
youre not fully concentrating on the task at hand, you could easily mistype the first letter of
either of those words and end up with something like the following:
That movie had great special affects. (wrong: it should be special effects)
That movie effected me deeply. (wrong: it should be affected)
In the examples above, just one little letter was mistyped in each sentence. Typos like
these happen all the time. Thats why we run spell check and proofread our work. But since
bothaffects and effected in the examples above are correct spellings, a program like Word
wont catch them. In other words, spell check cannot check to see if you are using words
correctly.
Homophone Check
Wouldnt it be cool if the built-in spell check on the worlds most popular word processing
software had a homophone filter? It would work like the find feature, except it would point out
all the words in your document that can be classified as homophones.
As far as I know, no such filter exists (at least not in the software I use, which is pretty
much industry standard). So writers and editors have to look for these nagging little
typos organically which is to say we have to proofread our texts closely.
The funny thing about homophones is that they are rarely misspelled because the writer
doesnt know the correct usage but because the writer made a typo and then missed that
typo during proofreading and editing (or failed to proofread and edit altogether).
Personally, I find that if a typo slips past my editing eyes, its almost always a homophone.
And it drives me crazy.
How do you feel when you find that youve misspelled homophones in a piece of writing or
a published blog post? Do these words give you more trouble in editing than other words?
Creative Writing Prompts from Far-Off Places
Travel and adventure are the themes behind some of the greatest poems ever written and
best stories ever told.
Blockbuster movies like Star Wars and the Indiana Jonesfranchise, TV shows like Lost, and
books such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnall use
adventure as a premise to telling a riveting tale.
Creative Writing Prompts Inspired by the Seasons
Writers and artists, and human beings in general, have always been inspired by the
seasons. After all, the seasons provide a rotating backdrop for our lives. They mark the
passage of time. They represent moving on and letting go.
A season can provide a setting for your story or the subject for your poem. Seasons can
function as metaphors. They can bring challenges for characters in the form of natural
disasters. Even the absence of seasons will affect a piece of writing.
On a tropical island, the weather doesnt change much. Seasons barely exist in some places,
and that shapes the rhythm of life there. On the other hand, in more common climates,
seasons dictate daily life. Plant in the spring and harvest in the fall.
Todays creative writing prompts look to the seasons for inspiration.
Creative Writing Prompts

16

All writers get stuck. Call it writers block, lack of inspiration, or absence of the muse.
Sometimes, ideas just dont come easily. Thats when creative writing prompts and other
writing exercises keep your creativity going.
These prompts are an accessible way to jump-start a writing session when youre fresh out
of ideas. Use these creative writing prompts to write a poem, a story, jot down a few thoughts
in your journal, or compose a blog post.
Summer
The sun is shining, the kids are out of school, and there are long lines at fairgrounds all
across the country. Its the season of heat, bright colors, and tan lines.
Youre relaxing in an easy chair with the fan blowing in your face and an iced drink by your
side. The aroma from a nearby barbecue makes your mouth water. In the distance, you hear
children splashing in the water and squealing with delight.
Four kids are meeting up at the movies for a summer afternoon matinee.
A woman is walking alone on a beach in the summer twilight (or at dawn).
Two words: road trip.
Flip-flops, tank tops, sundresses, and shades. The attire of summer is light and breezy.
Whos wearing what?
Fall
In the autumn, the leaves turn and then drift to the ground. The air grows cooler, our
clothes grow warmer. School starts. Harvest is just ahead. Before you know it, the holidays will
be here in full swing.
On the first day of school, two best friends discover a terrifying secret about one of their
new teachers.
A man is raking leaves on his lawn. He pauses for a breath and glances at his neighbors
lawn. They never rake their leaves, he thinks to himself.
Halloween is just around the corner and you have a lot do this year: candy, costumes, and
pumpkin carving. The house smells like apples and caramel. You look outside and see
something astonishing
Now that its off-season, there are tons of deals on flights and hotels. You can take a
vacation for half of what it would cost in the summer. Where do you go and why?
Its a great time of year for a garage sale. You can have one of your own or take a Saturday
to tour all the sales in your neighborhood. Maybe youll find a unique treasure with special
qualities.
Winter
Its really starting to get cold. Snow, rain, and cloudy skies loom overhead. But theres a
bright spot, too: all those twinkling, colorful holiday lights. Winter is warmed by crackling fires,
hot cocoa, and thick blankets.
All the kids are looking forward to the winter break. Theres a school-sponsored ski trip,
and one girl is aching to go so she can try snowboarding for the first time.
Puppies and kittens arent always born in spring. This winter, a special puppy is born, one
that will change peoples lives.
Get out your hockey sticks, skates, and skis. Winter sports are in full swing. Are you on a
team or do you play solo?
Its the most wonderful time of the year! Wait no its not! The holidays are cheesy. Bah
humbug!
Hot soup, freshly baked bread just out of the oven, and a steaming cup of cocoa set the
stage for a perfect winter night.
Spring
From budding flowers to torrential downpours, the entire season provides a wide canvas of
colors, shapes, and sounds.
The only place anything interesting is happening is outside. One kid in a big city is bored.
School wont be out for a couple of months. There are no holidays to look forward to. He (or
she) wishes the family lived in the country. (Where do kids get these ideas?)
There is a light drizzle. The skies are mostly cloudy but the sun is doing his best to show
his face. A man and woman stand beside a car outside of a convenience store. They are
arguing.
There are seeds to plant! Its time to create your very own garden. Will it be a flower
garden or a vegetable garden? Maybe youd prefer a grove of trees instead?
17

This just might be the last snowfall of the year. What do you do? Go sledding? Build a
snowman? Head to the pond for spring skating?
Everyone is getting tired of the cold and eagerly anticipating summer. But this summer is
going to bring more than sunshine and easy days at the beach . . .
Be Imaginative and Have Fun!
Got Any Creative Writing Prompts?
If you use any of these creative writing prompts, come back and tell us how they worked
for you. Feel free to make up your own seasonal creative writing prompts and leave them in
the comments. And keep on writing.
FILED UNDER CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS TAGGED WITH 1 COMMENT
Creative Writing Prompts for Music Lovers
Some days, ideas just dont come easily. You may find yourself staring at a blank screen or
doodling in your notebook with nothing to write about. You may find that youd really rather
just listen to some music or go out dancing. Maybe youd rather play your guitar?
If youre a writer and a music lover, then these creative writing prompts are perfect for
you. Theyll infuse your words with musicality and make your writing rock.
Creative Writing Prompts
Creative writing prompts are a great way to break through writers block.
There are two sets of prompts to choose from. First youll find a series of word lists. Pick
any of these lists and use all the words from the list youve chosen in a piece of writing. Or
mix and match the words. The possibilities are endless.
Below the word lists, youll find a series of music-related creative writing prompts to spark
a writing session. Some get you thinking about your own relationship with music while others
give you a scene where music is a key player.
Use these prompts to write anything you want: a short story, poem, essay, article, or fill a
page in your journal.
The
Composer
Measure
Signature
Staff
Baseline
Key

The Player
Instrument
Notes
Chord
Band
Play

The Singer
Vocal
Lyrics
Riff
Stage
Microphone

The Listener
Radio
Song
Ears
Tune
Listen

The Dancer
Music
Rhythm
Stretch
Kick
Hips

More musically inspiring creative writing prompts:

A six-year-old girl comes home from school one day to find a piano sitting in the living
room. Whats that for? she asks her mother. Today, you start piano lessons, her mom
says.
What was the first record you ever bought? Do you still like listening to it?
After a twenty-year career as a successful, underground singer with a voice that gives
audiences chills, a singer with no other skills or experience loses his or her voice.
Have you ever played an instrument or performed music to a live audience? Ever recorded
yourself singing?
A talented and homeless twenty-something is busking in the subway. A well-to-do Juliard
student passes by, then stops, turns around and approaches the busker with the offer of a
lifetime.
Do you prefer to sing in the shower or in the car while youre driving?
After years of writing commercial jingles and cheesy, B-movie scores, a composer writes a
masterful piece that propels him (or her) into the limelight.
Are you one of those people who dont dance? Why? Do you think everyone is watching
you?
A young, professional dancer injures her knee and can never dance professionally again.
She decides if she cant move to the music, shell make it. Which instrument does she choose
and why?
18

Creative Writing Prompts for Animal Lovers

Animals have played a huge role in literature throughout history. They appear in poems
and stories, and plenty of nonfiction works have been written about animals and humans
experiences with animals.
From E.B. Whites Charlottes Web to Jane Goodalls books on primatology, authors and
readers alike have delighted in writing and reading about animals.
And its no wonder. We humans have forged strong bonds with animals. Our pets are like
family members. In fact, Americans spend $41 billion dollars a year on their animal
companions (source). Billions more are donated to wildlife preservation, animal welfare
advocacy, and conservation efforts.
Naturally, animals fit comfortably into the stories we tell. Todays creative writing prompts pay
homage to our animal friends by inspiring a writing session that features animals.
Creative Writing Prompts to Honor the Animals
Below, youll find a series of creative writing prompts. Each one sets a scene. Your
challenge is to bring that scene to life by writing about it. Turn it into a short story, a poem, a
play, or an essay. Write anything you want (if you cant decide what to write, then do a
freewrite).
A mama cat gives birth to a litter of five orange tabbies and one little gray runt.
A young man on his first hunting trip has a deer in his sight and suddenly remembers the
day his dad took him to see Bambi.
A school of dolphins is too trusting and approaches a boat whose passengers are intent on
capturing the dolphins and bringing them to a theme park for a swim with the dolphins
attraction.
A bird and squirrel live together in the same tree (like the odd couple).
Two children, a brother and sister, respectively capture a butterfly and a moth, then
proceed to argue over which insect is superior.
Make up Your Own Creative Writing Prompts
Feel free to make up your own animal-related creative writing prompts, leave them in the
comments, and Ill pull them into this post during a future update.
Be Imaginative and Have Fun!
If you use any of these creative writing prompts to spark a writing session, come back and
tell us how they worked for you. What did you write? Did you learn anything new? Share your
thoughts by leaving a comment. And keep on writing.
FILED UNDER CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS TAGGED WITH 4 COMMENTS
25 Creative Writing Prompts
Dont you just hate writers block? Some say its a disease that only attacks creative
workers. Some say its a curse. Others argue that it doesnt exist at all. But just about
everyone has been there sitting in front of a blank screen, fingers itching to create a
masterpiece. And nothing comes.
For me, the most bizarre thing about writers block is that it strikes randomly. Most of the
time, Im overwhelmed with ideas more than I can possibly write about. Then, out of the
blue, Ill sit down and just go blank. Sure, I flip through my notebooks and review all the ideas
Ive had, but nothing feels right. I want something fresh. I need a new angle.
Here at Writing Forward, Ive published poetry prompts, journal prompts, fiction and poetry
writing exercises, but today Id like to try something different. Heres a mash-up of creative
writing prompts. There are no rules. Write a poem. Write a short story. Write an essay. Aim for
a hundred words or aim for a thousand. Just start writing. Take off and fly, and have fun.
Creative Writing Prompts
Youre digging in your garden and find a fist-sized nugget of gold.
Write about something ugly war, fear, hate, cruelty but find the beauty (silver lining)
in it.
The asteroid was hurtling straight for
A kid comes out of the bathroom with toilet paper dangling from his or her waistband.
Write about your early memories of faith, religion, or spirituality; yours or someone elses.
Theres a guy sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper
Write a poem about a first romantic (dare I say: sexual) experience or encounter.
He turned the key in the lock and opened the door. To his horror, he saw
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Silvery flakes drifted down, glittering in the bright light of the harvest moon. The
blackbird
The detective saw his opportunity. He grabbed the waitresss arm and said
There are three children sitting on a log near a stream. One of them looks up at the sky
and says
There is a magic talisman that allows its keeper to read minds. It falls into the hands of a
young politician
And you thought dragons didnt exist
Write about nature. Include the following words: hard drive, stapler, phone, car, billboard.
The doctor put his hand on her arm and said gently, You or the baby will survive. Not
both. Im sorry.
The nation is controlled by
You walk into your house and its completely different furniture, decor, all changed. And
nobodys home.
Write about one (or both) of your parents. Start with I was born
The most beautiful smile I ever saw
I believe that animals exist to
A twinkling eye can mean many things. The one that is twinkling at me right now
Good versus evil. Does it truly exist? What are the gray areas? Do good people do bad
things?
My body
Have you ever been just about to drift off to sleep only to be roused because you
spontaneously remembered an embarrassing moment from your past?
Get a package of one of your favorite canned or boxed foods and look at the ingredients.
Use every ingredient in your writing session.
Now Its Your Turn
If none of these prompts inspired you, dont despair. Come up with some creative writing
prompts of your own, and then share them in the comments. Later, Ill publish them in a post
or republish an updated version of this post with your prompts added to the list. Anyone who
contributes will be credited!
Character-Driven Creative Writing Prompts
Most authors agree that fiction is primarily driven by characters. Successful authors talk
about characters who take over the story, who have their own separate and independent
consciousness. Outlines and plans for plot go out the window as characters insist on moving
the story in a direction of their own design.
Because characters are central to most stories and because their primary function is to
explore the human condition, its essential for characters to be believable. In other words,
characters may not be real, but they most certainly should feel real.
Its not easy to write believable and realistic characters. People (and therefore characters) are
highly complex and layered, full of contradictions and flaws. Because writing imposes spacetime limitations, we can never craft a character that is as complicated as a real person, but
we can certainly try.
Todays creative writing prompts encourage you to explore the characters in your writing.
By working outside of your project on a series of exercises that force you to explore and
engage with your characters, you will get to know them better. Youll also get to use
techniques for creating characters that have depth and dimension.
Creative Writing Prompts
These creative writing prompts are broken into various categories. You can mix and match
the prompts according to which ones are most attractive to you or choose the ones that you
think will help you resolve character problems that youre struggling with.
Feel free to let these character-related writing prompts inspire new prompts in other
words, you dont have to write exactly what the prompt says. One set of prompts deals with
character fears and flaws. These might inspire you to write about your characters strengths
and virtues.
Be creative, have fun, and keep on writing!
Background and Family
Unearth your characters roots. What is the characters ancestry or cultural background?
How does ancestry shape your character? Is the character at odds with family traditions?
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Write a series of short paragraphical biographies of each of the characters closest family
members: spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.
Write a monologue in which your character summarizes his or her life story; be sure to
write it in the characters voice.
Motivations and Goals
What motivates your character? Money? Love? Truth? Power? Justice?
What does your character want more than anything else in the world? What is he or she
searching for?
What other characters or events are interfering with your characters goals? What
obstacles are in the way?
Flaws and Fears
What is your characters single greatest fear? How did your character acquire his or her
fears?
What are your characters flaws and weaknesses?
How does the characters fears and flaws prevent them from reaching their goals?
Appearance
What does your character look like? Make a list and include the following: hair, eyes,
height, weight, build, etc.
Now choose one aspect of the characters appearance, a detail (bitten nails, frizzy hair, a
scar) and elaborate on it.
Write a short scene in which your character is looking in the mirror or write a short scene
in which another character first sees your character.
Personality
How does your character feel on the inside? What kind of person is your character and
what does the characters internal landscape look like?
We dont always present ourselves to others in a way that accurately reflects how we feel
inside. We might be shy or insecure but come across as stuck-up and aloof. How do others
perceive your character?
Write a scene with dialogue that reveals your characters external and internal
personalities. Good settings for this dialogue would be an interview, appointment with a
therapist, or a conversation with a romantic interest or close friend. Write the scene inthirdperson omniscient so you can get inside your characters head as well as the other
characters head; this will allow you explore how your character feels and how he or she
is perceived.
If you try any of these creative writing prompts, come back and tell us how they worked for
you. What did you write? Did you learn anything new about your character or how to write
about your character? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
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COMMENTS
12 Nature-Inspired Creative Writing Prompts
Creative writing prompts are excellent tools for writers who are feeling uninspired or who
simply want to tackle a new writing challenge. Todays creative writing prompts focus on
nature.
For centuries, writers have been composing poems that celebrate nature, stories that
explore it, and essays that analyze it.
Nature is a huge source of inspiration for all creative people. You can find it heavily
featured in film, television, art, and music.
Creative Writing Prompts
You can use these creative writing prompts in any way you choose. Sketch a scene, write a
poem, draft a story, or compose an essay. The purpose of these prompts is to inspire you, so
take the images they bring to your mind and run with them. And have fun!
A young girl and her mother walk to the edge of a field, kneel down in the grass, and plant
a tree.
A small team of graduate students are conducting research at sea when they overtaken by
a wild storm.
A middle-aged man wakes up in a seemingly endless field of wildflowers in full bloom.
A family of five from a large, urban city decides to spend their one-week vacation camping.
An elderly couple traveling through the desert spend an evening stargazing.
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A woman is working in her garden.

Some people are hiking in the woods when they are suddenly surrounded by hundreds of
butterflies.
A person who lives in a metropolitan apartment connects with nature through the birds
that come to the window.
A group of college students launch a project to grow their own food so they can eat
healthier and be closer to nature.
A rural family moves into a big city, or
A city family moves to the country.
Two adolescents, a sister and brother, are visiting their relatives farm and witness a sow
giving birth.
As you work through these prompts, contemplate them as scenes and ask questions about
what is going on. Give the people and places names. Come up with unexpected reasons why
the people are in the given circumstance. Let nature be a character in the scene by making it
vivid and active.
Again, you can use these creative writing prompts to write anything at all poems,
stories, songs, essays, blog posts, or just sit down and start freewriting.
Creative Writing Prompts from the Future
Questions: How would people in the Middle Ages respond to a television? What would
someone from the 1700s think of a helicopter? What would a person from the early 1900s
think of a computer, or more specifically, the Internet?
They would think these things were magical either illusions or genuine supernatural
occurrences. They might even believe the persons yielding the magical objects were witches,
wizards, or gods.
But you and I both know thats just not the case. Televisions, helicopters, and computers
are all very real, and thanks to modern technology, most of us have access to them.
We humans have a tendency to believe that we are at the apex of knowledge; that right
now, we know as much as we ever will. As much as we love stories like The Time Travelers
Wife or Star Wars, we tend to think of them as fanciful. Sure, a great writer or a skilled
filmmaker can help us suspend our disbelief for the duration of a book or a film, but sitting in
your living room on an ordinary day, it all seems rather unlikely, doesnt it? People bouncing
around in time? Fighting intergalactic wars in outer space? Come on.
But if you stop to wonder what our world will look like 100 or 1000 years in the future,
these fantastical ideas dont seem so crazy. What incredible inventions will be developed over
the course of the next millennium? Todays creative writing prompts are one way to find out.
Creative Writing Prompts
These writing prompts are designed to flex your imagination. Youll need to envision what
the world looked like in the past, what it looks like today, and what it might look like in the
distant future.
You can use these creative writing prompts to write anything you want a poem, story,
personal essay, or just a brief scene. The goal is to engage your imagination, remove barriers
that block all the possibilities, and open your mind.
Medicine
Some of humankinds greatest achievements have been in medicine. We now use all the
technologies at our disposal to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness from pills and vaccines
to x-rays and MRIs. From a device as simple as a stethascope to one as complex as
microscope, weve made wellness possible in ways that couldnt have been imagined a few
hundred years ago. What is yet to come? How will health care change in the future? Will we
walk through a machine that scans our bodies to detect any possible ailment? Will there be a
heal-all pill? And for each advance we make, will another new devastating disease rear its
head?
Travel
Advances in travel are awe-inspiring. There was a time when humans were limited to
travel by foot. Then came the wheel, which made the cart possible. Later, ships carried people
across water. Eventually, trains made high-speed, long-distance travel possible. Next, the
airplane. Then, spaceships took us higher and submarines took us deeper. Where will we go
next? Will intergalactic travel ever be possible? What about teleportation? Time travel? A
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thousand years ago, its doubtful most people believed traveling to the moon was possible.
Where will we go in a thousand years from now?
Technology
Technology has grown rampantly in the past few decades. Since the 70s, almost every
household in developed countries is equipped with more than one television, stereo, and
computer. We can store an entire libary of books, movies, or music into a device that fits in
the palms of our hands. Two hundred years ago, if you wanted to talk to someone, you had to
go to their house. Fifty years ago, you had to find a phone and dial their number. Today, you
reach into your pocket, pull out your device, and press a button. How will personal technology
further advance in the next 100 years?
Have Fun!
As you work through these creative writing prompts, you might get stuck. After all, its not
easy for everyone to imagine things that dont exist yet. It might help if you can summon your
old history lessons. If you can conceptualize where weve been and contrast it with where we
are now, you might start getting ideas about where well be at some point in the future.
Run with your ideas, even if they seem crazy, absurd, or impossible. The purpose is to let
your imagination run wild and to have fun.
Once youre done, come back and tell us how these creative writing prompts affected your
writing session. What did you write? Was it fun to explore the future? Will you keep on writing?
Emotionally Charged Creative Writing Prompts
In fiction and poetry, one of the greatest skills that a writer can possess is the ability to
make the reader feel. If you can engage readers on an emotional level, youll have them
hooked.
Think about it. Most of the books, poems, movies, and TV shows that you love best are the
ones with which you forged an emotional connection. You felt like the characters were your
friends, so you felt for them. You felt with them.
Sounds easy, but emotionally effective writing can be a complex and difficult endeavor.
Todays creative writing prompts include a few simple guidelines and a list of prompts that you
can use to launch a writing session that will produce emotionally compelling creative writing.
Rules of the Road
To engage a reader, we have to create scenes that are so vivid they seem real, even if they
are not. Through scenes, imagery, and dialogue, writers can actively engage readers with
whats happening on the page. Here are a few tips for engaging readers:
Show, Dont Tell
The best writing shows readers whats going on instead of telling them. If a character is
sad, you dont write, Kate was sad. You write, Kate lowered her eyes and swallowed hard,
choking back a sob and blinking away the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
Use Imagery
Using imagery goes hand in hand with showing rather than telling. Instead of writing
something like Jacks heart was broken, use a compelling image to show the reader that Jack
has a broken heart: Jack stood in the street with his hands clenched at his sides, and he
watched her walk away. She didnt care anymore. Maybe she never had. His entire body
shook and tears streamed down his face. She had betrayed him and now he was all alone. It
was over.
Try Dialogue
Feelings can be revealed through dialogue, and dialogue can also incorporate imagery.
When you use imagery and dialogue together to show (rather than tell) the reader what is
happening and to reveal the emotional aspect of the situation, the reader visualizes the action
and becomes a part of it, often experiencing the characters emotions right along with them:
Jack, stop talking. Im not going with you, Elizabeth said.
What do you mean youre not going with me? Were supposed to go together.
Were not together, Jack. We were, but not anymore.
Jack couldnt believe his ears. Youre leaving me? he asked.
Thats right, she said. You and me wed never work anyway. She started to turn and
paused briefly. Jack thought she had changed her mind. He saw her hand flicker and for an
instant, he knew she was about to reach for him, but then she pulled her hand back, turned
on her heels, and walked off.
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Thats it? Youre just going to walk away? he screamed. She didnt stop, didnt even
flinch. Jack hung his head. Youre just going to walk away, he whispered.
Its a lot easier to tell the readers whats happening. Kates sad. Jack has a broken heart
because Elizabeth left him. But when you show the readers whats happening through
imagery and dialogue, they can enter the scene and become a part of it. This makes reading
an experience and it helps readers connect on an emotional level.
Creative Writing Prompts
Apply the guidelines above to show readers the feeling in a piece of writing. The creative
writing prompts below will help you kick-start your sentence, paragraph, poem, or short story.
These prompts allow you focus on effectively generating emotion instead of trying to come up
with characters, plots, and other basic writing ideas.
The creative writing prompts tell you, the writer, what is going on in a scene or situation.
Its your job to craft words that show the reader whats happening.
While on vacation and shopping in a department store, a middle-aged man comes face to
face with the guy who kidnapped his son ten years earlier.
A woman has three sons, all of whom are soldiers in a military that is at war. Within the
span of three days, she learns that two of her sons were killed in combat. Six weeks later,
theres a knock at the door. When she opens it, she finds her third son standing there.
A family of five is driving across the desert on their way to vacation in California. They get
lost, then the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. The cell phone is dead and the sun is
setting. The kids are hot, tired, and hungry. Mom is scared and frazzled. Dad, a mid-level sales
manager with no survival skills, is frustrated and angry. An animal howls in the distance.
The only thing that Daniel ever wanted was to be a musician. He loved playing piano more
than anything in the world. But after his mom and brother died in a car accident, Daniels dad
insisted he become active in sports and drop the music. And being active wasnt enough. He
had to be captain of the team or suffer through endless jibes and insults that his father
uttered through a beer-induced haze. Then, on his eighteenth birthday, a delivery man brings
him a piano, and tells the boy that its from his father.
Rose and Bernie met in high school and married as soon as they graduated. Life wasnt
easy. They had five kids and money was tight. Rose worked as a domestic servant and Bernie
had a job with a waste management company. Every day was a financial hardship, but they
loved each other. Three years after their youngest child leaves home, Rose and Bernie win the
lottery and they win big.
A little girl has a sister with a rare and terminal illness, one that eventually takes her
sisters life. The girl vows to become a doctor and cure this rare disease. At the age of 42, she
successfully cures a patient with the disease.
A ten-year-old boy comes home from school and heads out to the backyard to play with his
beloved dog, but he finds the dog lying dead underneath a big, shady tree.
As you can see, each of the situations presented in the creative writing prompts above has
characters in an emotionally volatile situation. But the prompts are flat. They tell you whats
happening but theres no essence no imagery and no dialogue. Craft one (or more) of these
creative writing prompts into a scene, a poem, or a short story. Be sure to use images, action,
and dialogue to demonstrate what is happening emotionally. Avoid words that describe
feelings (sad, angry, excited, remorseful, etc.).
When youre done, be sure to edit and polish your piece to make it as sharp and
compelling as possible. Then, come back here and either share what you learned from these
creative writing prompts or go ahead and post an excerpt from what you wrote using these
creative writing prompts. Good luck, and keep on writing!
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Creative Writing Prompts for Sci-Fi & Fantasy Lovers
In the world of creative writing, weve only begun tapping the possibilities in speculative
fiction, a genre that includes science fiction, fantasy, supernatural and superhero stories, or
anything that ventures beyond known reality.
Speculative fiction is an under-recognized genre: Academia and literary elitists traditionally
havent given it much credence, although it has been gaining acclaim in recent years.
But the genre fans are rabid. In fact, you wont find a more dedicated group of readers
anywhere else.

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Plus, its a lot of fun to step outside of reality and see just what your imagination can do.
You can write about knights and dragons, spaceships and far-off planets, the apocalypse,
ghosts, or strange islands with magical properties. In the world of speculative fiction, anything
goes.
The creative writing prompts below can be used in any way you want. Use your
imagination. Have fun with a freewrite, compose a poem, or draft a short story. Who knows?
Maybe one of these prompts will inspire a novel idea. And if youve never given science fiction
or fantasy a shot, this is your chance to test the waters and find out just how deep they are.
15 Creative Writing Prompts
The Speculative Fiction Edition*
A plane is flying from Australia to Los Angeles. As the passengers disembark, they start to
experience amnesia all of the passengers except for one. The farther they go from the
plane on which they flew, the more severe their amnesia.
Four friends on a nature hike discover a deep cave, complete with running water. As they
go deeper and deeper into the cave, they find strange objects human skeletons, an old
computer from the early 80s, a gas mask, and strange mango-sized orbs that emit a glowing
blue light.
The earth has been ravaged by war, famine, disease, and devastating storms. In less than
a decade, the population has dwindled from six billion to less than 42,000. There is no law or
order. The grid is gone. Everyone is struggling to survive.
The year is 1623. A visitor comes to a small, tribal village in Nigeria. The visitor is wearing
blue jeans, a Janis Joplin t-shirt, and a baseball cap and is carrying a pack that contains a
solar-powered laptop computer.
Two children, a boy and a girl, decide to make a time capsule and bury it at the edge of a
farm, under a big oak tree. While digging, they unearth a metallic object the size of a
shoebox. Its shaped like a bullet and has the number 8 engraved 8 on it. It appears to be a
container, since it rattles when they shake it. But there is no obvious way to open it.
A man who sees ghosts checks himself into a mental institute, not realizing that the facility
has been closed for almost thirty years.
After a near-death experience, a soldier starts to experience a drastic kind of karma
every good deed he does is almost immediately rewarded and every bad deed results in
something horrible happening to him. Is the karma real or just a series of coincidences?
A surgeon who happens to be an adamant man of science and does not believe in miracles
is diagnosed with aggressive, terminal cancer and given six months to live. But three years
later, hes alive and the cancer is gone.
A con man who convinces people theyve been abducted by aliens and takes their
money is abducted by aliens.
A deadly virus hits a highly populated metropolitan area, killing thousands of people. And
after it passes, those who survived start realizing they have acquired bizarre and impossible
new talents.
A traveler picks up a souvenir, a strange and colorful rock with one side that is completely
flat. As she goes about her travels, she realizes that when she has the rock with her, she can
understand any language that people are speaking, but she can only speak her own native
language.
While on vacation in Hawaii, a young couple spots a strange, huge green bird with a 16foot wingspan. One of them is terrified as the bird swoops down and lands just a few yards
away from them, but the other one is intrigued. When the bird takes off again, the one who
was intrigued insists on following it. So they do.
A sixteen-year-old who is growing up on a farm is out in a storm, gets hit by lightning, and
survives. After that, the kid can hear the thoughts of animals.
A young girl starts having recurring dreams about a dragon. In one of the dreams, the
dragon says, You made me. The girl becomes obsessed with dragons and decides her life
purpose is to become a genetic biologist so she can, indeed, make a real dragon.
A team of researchers in a submarine are caught in a deadly sea storm. The instruments
on board go haywire. They submerge deep into the ocean in search of calm waters until the
storm passes. When it does, the sub surfaces but the instruments are still not functioning
properly. They cant get a fix on their location and cannot find land, which should be nearby.
Then, the researchers realize their are two moons in the sky and the constellations are
completely unfamiliar.
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Remember, these creative writing prompts are meant to be inspiring. If one of them gives
you an idea, run with it. You dont have to stick with what the prompt says. Change the
characters, the situation, the setting. Just go with the flow, and keep on writing. And if you
have any creative writing prompts of your own, feel free to share them in the comments.
*All of these creative writing prompts were inspired by the television show, LOST.
Creative Writing Prompts for Crafting Compelling Imagery
In writing, imagery is the key that can unlock a readers imagination. When an image is
rendered with the right combination of words, it magically appears in the readers mind like a
photograph or film clip.
Heres an example:
A woman wearing a black dress is lying on the floor in a disheveled room.
Compare the example to the image on the left. Note the missing details the tilting couch
and mirror, the shiny hardwood floor, and the brightly colored plastic flower in the foreground.
These details were left out of the example sentence to create a white space, which the
readers can fill in for themselves.
One reader might envision clothing scattered across a carpet, a broken lamp, and a
woman who has been injured lying on the floor and waiting for help. Another reader might
picture the aftermath of a party dirty dishes, empty bottles, and a woman passed out from
drinking too much wine.
The perfect balance of description and white space provides just enough detail to make
the image manifest, but not so much that the readers own imagination fails to be engaged.
As the writer, its your job to know how much detail you need in order to bring out the most
important elements of any image.
Creative Writing Prompts
Todays creative writing prompts deal with creating imagery in writing. Each prompt
consists of an item, which functions as the inspiration for a larger image. Youll need to paint
in the final strokes so the image and its emotional implications become clear.
As you work through these creative writing prompts, try asking questions about the item
youve chosen from the list. Where is it? Who put it there? Why? When you determine the
background of the item youve chosen, the image will slowly come into focus. Then, all you
have to do is use your words to paint the picture.
You can use these writing prompts to create a poem, short story, or a quick freewrite. You
can write a few paragraphs or a few pages. See how the item evolves into an image, and then
follow wherever the image takes you. Does it evolve into a scene? A story? Ride it to its
conclusion.
A pair of baby shoes
A torn photograph
A broken bottle
A guitar pick
A rusty hand saw
A no smoking sign
A pair of fishnet stockings
An oxygen tank
A partially deflated basketball
A fishing rod
Once youre done, come back and tell us how these creative writing prompts worked for
you. And keep on writing.
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15 Yummy Creative Writing Prompts
We all want our writing to be compelling, even mesmerizing. One effective way to
captivate readers is to engage their senses.
When you trigger a readers sense of sight, smell, sound, touch, or taste, you illicit a
physiological response to your writing, and the reader will connect with it on a deeper,
sensory level.
Food is a great way to stimulate readers senses because food has the rare ability to affect
any or all of the senses. We see food, smell it, touch it, and taste it. We even hear it. Just think
about french fries sizzling in a greasy skillet. Mmm.
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Writing about food or incorporating food into our writing is an ideal way to engage readers
senses. Thats why todays creative writing prompts focus on food and drinks and other tasty
delectables.
Taste These Creative Writing Prompts
Each of the creative writing prompts below presents a specific sensory stimuli, telling you
which sense is being engaged (sight, smell, sound, touch, or taste) and which food or drink
item is involved. Your job is to choose a prompt and build a scene around it, write a poem
about it, or compose a short essay that includes it. You can write anything you want, but the
goal is to get the prompt in there.
You dont have to use the prompt verbatim in your piece of writing. Feel free to reword the
prompt in any way you see fit. Youll see that some prompts include a lot of detail while others
just provide basic information. The details are available with some prompts to give you ideas.
They are absent from others to challenge you. Choose accordingly.
Bonus Challenge: Each prompt engages one sense. Try to expand that to include other
senses as well. Earlier, I mentioned the sound of french fries sizzling in a skillet. How do they
look, taste, and smell? If you touch them, how do they feel? (Hot, I bet!).
Sight a banana split: Three scoops of ice cream with split banana on either side and a big
mound of whipped cream on top laced with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with chopped nuts.
All topped off with a plump, red cherry.
Smell pizza: Doughy, saucy and spicy, cheesy pizza baking in the oven.
Sound fizz: Cola being poured into a glass full of ice cubes.
Touch greasy fingers: Digging your fingers through a box of hot, buttered and salted
popcorn in a dark movie theater.
Taste - medicine: Cherry-flavored cough syrup.
Sight feast: The spread of a holiday feast (think Thanksgiving). Are your eyes bigger than
your stomach?
Smell coffee: Waking up to the smell of hot, freshly brewing coffee.
Sound crunch: The sound in your head when you munch on crispy chips or crackers.
Touch dough: The squish of kneading dough between your fingers, the smooth texture of
it when you pat it and roll it out.
Taste hot/spicy: You dip your chip into a bowl of salsa and when you take a bite, your
mouth goes up in red-hot, spicy flames.
Sight fruit: Its a hot day. You open the fridge and theres a big bowl of chilled, fresh,
summer fruit colorful, juicy, and sweet.
Smell fast food: Youre driving through town with your windows down and pass that
intersection where you can smell all the fast food restaurants.
Sound whistle: Youre not feeling so hot, so you put the teapot on. Soon, it starts to
scream
Touch water/apple/teeth: Its Halloween and youre bobbing for apples. You stick your
face in the cool water, chomp around looking for purchase, and feel the apples bobbing
against your face, floating away from you. Then, you get a ripe little apple lodged firmly
between your teeth.
Taste sweets: After a light but satisfying meal, you order your dessert. Its rich, sweet,
and freshly baked. You bite into it and your taste buds explode with delight.
Did you find these creative writing prompts helpful or challenging? Share your thoughts or
leave an excerpt from the piece you wrote by leaving a comment. And keep writing!
From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Moral Dilemmas
Todays creative writing exercise comes from 101 Creative Writing Exercises, my recently
published book on the craft of writing.
This book guides writers through an adventure in writing. Youll explore different forms and
genres of writing, including freewriting, journaling, memoir, fiction, storytelling, poetry, and
article or blog writing.
101 Creative Writing Exercisesimparts proven writing techniques while providing
writing practice and creative inspiration.
Today, Id like to share an exercise from Chapter Nine: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and
Problem Solving. This creative writing exercise is titled Moral Dilemmas. Enjoy! Read more
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From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Your Gang

Todays writing exercise comes from my book, 101 Creative Writing Exercises.
This book takes you on an adventure through the world of writing. Youll explore different
forms and genres while learning practical writing techniques. Youll also get plenty of writing
experience and ideas for publishable projects.
Each chapter focuses on a different form or writing concept: freewriting, journaling,
memoirs, fiction, storytelling, form poetry, free verse, characters, dialogue, creativity, and
article and blog writing are all covered.
Today, well take a peek at Chapter Three: People and Characters with an exercise called
Your Gang. Enjoy!
Your Gang
Writing about one or two people in a story or piece of nonfiction isnt too hard. Even a
scene with three or four characters can be well executed by a beginning writer. When you
start approaching casts and ensembles with seven, eight, nine primary characters, you risk
turning your story into a riot. Everybody gets out of control.
Ensemble stories in fiction tend to be epics; they span long periods of time (sometimes
several generations). Often in these stories, there are many main characters but only a few
are in focus at any given time. Youre more likely to find a good ensemble on television or in a
movie than in a novel. But in all mediums, there are great stories about groups and families.
Writing a true ensemble piece requires considerable mastery in writing. As the author, you
have to constantly keep all your characters in play, rotating them and managing their
complex personalities. You cant forget about any of your characters and you cant let any of
them hog the spotlight. Its a balancing act.
The Exercise
Choose an existing ensemble from a book, movie, or TV show and write a long scene or a
short story featuring all of the characters. Dont retell some story about the characters from
the source material. Take the existing characters and make up your own story or scene for
them.
As an added challenge, relocate the characters to a different setting. For example, take the
cast from a book and put them in the setting of a movie.
The minimum number of characters you should work with for this exercise is six. Aim for
eight.
Tips: You can write big scenes with all characters present. You can also put the characters
in different locations and write a series of scenes that take place in these various locations.
One example would be a huge family gathering for a holiday weekend. The characters will
disperse to different rooms. You have to move through the house showing the reader what
everyone is doing, and it all has to tie together in a meaningful way.
Variations: Come up with your own ensemble. Write a series of short character sketches
and establish a setting in which these characters would be thrown together. They could be
family, coworkers, passengers on a subway, or students in a classroom. You can also attempt
this exercise with real people and write either a scene from a real-life experience or make up
a scene featuring your friends and family (a holiday gathering, school field trip, or work
meeting). Make sure you give all the characters equal weight. Remember, its an ensemble.
Applications: If you can write an ensemble scene, you might be suited for television
writing!
From 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Haiku
Todays writing exercise comes from my recently published book, 101 Creative Writing
Exercises, which takes writers on an exciting journey through different forms and genres while
providing writing techniques, practical experience, and inspiration.
Each chapter focuses on a different form or writing concept: freewriting, journaling,
memoirs, fiction, storytelling, form poetry, free verse, characters, dialogue, creativity, and
article and blog writing are all covered.
Today, well take a peek at Chapter Seven: Form Poetry with a poetry exercise simply
called Haiku. Enjoy!
Haiku
Although haiku appears to be one of the simplest poetry forms, its actually quite complex.
To truly understand haiku, you need to know a little bit about the Japanese language, or more
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specifically, some key differences between Japanese and English. Also, traditional haiku
adhere to a few pretty strict rules regarding form and content.
A haiku consists of seventeen moras or phonetic units. The word mora can loosely be
translated as syllable.
A haiku is a seventeen-syllable verse. Traditionally, haiku were written on a single line, but
modern haiku occupy three lines of 5-7-5 syllables.
Haiku also use a device called kireji (cutting word). This word breaks the haiku into two
parts, which are distinctly different but inherently connected. The kireji is not a concept used
in English, so poets writing haiku in English often use punctuation marks instead of kireji,
usually a hyphen or ellipses.
The kireji provides structure to the verse and emphasizes imagery used on either side. It
may not always be easy to identify the kireji in a haiku, but if you look for a word or
punctuation mark that abruptly breaks the train of thought and severs the haiku into two
parts, youve probably found it.
Another basic element of haiku is the kigo (season word). A true haiku is set in a particular
season and is fundamentally concerned with nature. The kigo might be an obvious word like
snow (indicating winter) or it could be vague as with a word like leaves (which can be present
in any season).
Contemporary Haiku
There is much debate (and some controversy) over what technically qualifies as a haiku.
Some poets merely adhere to the 5-7-5 syllabic and line structure and disregard the kireji and
kigo elements. Purists insist that a poem is not haiku if it does not meet all of the traditional
requirements.
Additionally, many modern poets do not write haiku that exclusively focus on nature.
Contemporary haiku explore just about any subject imaginable.
The Exercise
Try your hand at writing a few haiku. For this exercise, focus on writing a poem that is
seventeen syllables on three lines with the following meter: 5-7-5.
Tips: The most captivating haiku are quite lovely and use imagery that is almost tangible.
Many haiku have an element of surprise or use turns of phrase that are clever, reminiscent of
puns.
Variations: Write a few haiku that follow stricter, more traditional rules. These haiku are
concerned with nature and include the kireji (cutting word) and kigo (season word).
Applications: Haiku remain popular and can be found in literary and poetry journals. They
are also ideal for social media (especially Twitter) and are fun and quick to write. They
promote clear, concise writing and can help you cultivate the art of using vivid imagery.
Final Sneak Peek at 101 Creative Writing Exercises: Body Language
101 Creative Writing Exercises is slated for publication in early February.
This book of creative writing exercises will take writers on a journey through different
forms and genres while providing writing techniques, practical experience, and inspiration.
Each exercise teaches a specific concept and each chapter focuses on a different subject
or form in writing: journaling, storytelling, fiction, poetry, article writing, and more. Every
exercise is designed to be practical. In other words, you can use these exercises to launch
projects that are destined for publication.
Before the official announcement and publication, I wanted to share one more sneak peek
at an exercise from the book. This is from Chapter Four: Speak Up, which focuses on
dialogue and scripts. The exercise is called Body Language. Enjoy!
Body Language
Sometimes what people say without actually speaking tells us a whole lot more than what
comes out of their mouths. Using body language to communicate is natural. We all
understand it intuitivelysome better than others.
As a writer, you can closely observe peoples body language and learn how humans speak
without words so you can bring unspoken communication into your writing.
Imagine two characters, a man and woman, who are complete strangers. They are in a
bookstore. Their eyes meet across the room. You wouldnt write Their eyes locked. They
were instantly attracted to each other. That would be boring and unimaginative.
Instead, you would let the scene unfold and describe it to the readerhow their eyes met,
29

how he gulped and she blushed, how they both suddenly felt warm, how the two of them
slowly worked their way toward the center of the store until they finally met in the horror
section.
The Exercise
Write a scene between two (or more) characters in which there is no dialogue but the
characters are communicating with each other through body language. You can also write a
nonfiction piece. Surely you have experienced nonverbal communication. Take that
experience and describe it on the page.
Your scene can be a lead-in to two characters meeting or conversing. The scene should
comprise at least two pages of non-dialogue interaction with two or more characters. Here are
a few scene starters:
A cop, detective, or private investigator is tailing a suspect through a small town, a big
city, a mall, amusement park, or other public area.
Strangers are always good for body language exercises. Think about where strangers are
brought together: public transportation, classes, elevators, and formal meetings.
Kids in a classroom arent supposed to be speaking while a teacher is giving a lecture but
they always find ways to communicate.
Tips: What if one character misinterprets another characters body language? That could
lead to humor or disaster. Maybe the characters are supposed to be doing something else
(like in a classroom where theyre supposed to be listening to the teacher) but instead, theyre
making faces and gestures at each other. One helpful technique might be to go inside the
characters heads, but dont get too carried away with he thought and she wondered as
these constructs are basically inner dialogue.
Variations: As an alternative, write a scene in which one character speaks and one
doesnt: an adult and a baby, a human and an animal.
Applications: There are depictions of nonverbal communication in almost all types of
storytelling from journalism and biography to memoir and fiction.
Fiction Writing Exercises for Developing Setting
Setting is one of the most important elements in fiction writing. If your readers dont know
where the story is taking place, theyll get lost and confused, and it will be hard for them to
enjoy your tale.
Some stories have simple settings based on real places. You can use your own hometown
or a major city. A setting can also be completely dreamed up, which is often necessary in
speculative fiction writing (Wonderland and Never Land, for example). You can keep a setting
in the background, referring to it only when necessary, or you can bring it to the forefront and
allow it to function as a character in your story.
Some authors go to great lengths to take the reader through a storys setting. Just last
year, I read a book in which the character drove around Los Angeles. The author took us down
L.A. streets, past parks, and into real neighborhoods and establishments. It was a bit much,
but Im pretty sure if I was a resident of L.A., I would have gotten a little thrill out of the
familiarity.
Today, well take a deeper look at setting with a few fiction writing exercises designed to
help you establish the places in your story.
Fiction Writing Exercises: Place and Time
There are two sides to setting: place and time. If youre writing a contemporary novel, the
time in which your story is set is relatively straightforward. However, if youre writing
historical fiction, futuristic fiction, or a story that includes time travel, youll need to pay
special attention to ensuring readers always know what time it is.
Setting it Up
For this exercise, you will choose several settings and write short, opening descriptions
that tell the reader when and where the action is taking place. Contemporary readers arent
crazy about lengthy descriptions, so keep it simple: a couple of sentences or a short
paragraph of description will suffice. Here are a few prompts to get you started:
A ghost town in the wild old west.
A contemporary metropolis.
A medieval household.
A made-up fantasy land.
Aboard a vessel, such as a space ship in the far-off future.
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Setting as Backdrop: Too Much vs. Not Enough

For this exercise, youll write a short scene that kicks off the story and establishes the
setting. Instead of presenting a snapshot of the landscape before moving into your story, you
can bring readers right into the setting by combining your description with action and
by using active language rather than passive:
Instead of describing busy streets packed with shoppers, explain that shoppers
coursed through the streets like rats in a maze.
You can bring characters into the setting: Kate craned her neck and spied a tiny
patch of sky amidst the towering skyscrapers.
In establishing time, you can simply state the date (the year was 2012) or you can place
something in the setting that identifies the era: A brand new 2012 Porche sped by and
Kate whirled on her heels just in time to see it disappear around the corner of
Lexington.
Setting as Character
Places that have a life of their own are hugely popular. Many science fiction and fantasy
stories are set in places that function as characters: the U.S.S. Enterprise from Star Trek and
Pandora from Avatar are two good examples. But cities, towns, and rural landscapes can also
have personality. For example, New York has been called the fifth main character in Sex and
the City. Houses, vehicles, cities, planets, nations, and rooms can all have personalities of
their own.
For this exercise, write a character sketch for a place. Make a list of its traits: personality,
style, attitude, class, and philosophy. Is it relaxed and laid back or dark and dangerous? Does
it swallow people or brighten them up? Is it friendly to newcomers or is it exclusive?
If youre inclined, go ahead a write a scene or outline to show off your settings personality.
Remember, however, that just because the setting is functioning as a character doesnt mean
it is the protagonist or antagonist. It can be a minor character and still be largely the backdrop
(rather than forefront). Make sure you keep the focus of the story on the plot and characters.
How Do You Approach Setting?
Some writers may not think much about setting. They know exactly where their story takes
place and the setting emerges naturally through the writing. But sometimes, a poorly
established setting is unclear or confusing. Do you pay heed to setting? Do you work it out
before you start your first draft?
Fiction Writing Exercises for Exploring and Developing Theme
Good fiction is comprised of many parts: plot, characters, setting, scenes, and dialogue.
But we rarely talk about theme, even though its critical to good storytelling.
Theres no clear and easy way to define theme. It has been called the worldview,
philosophy, message, moral, and lesson within a story. However, these labels, taken alone or
together, dont quite explain theme in fiction.
We can think of a theme as an underlying principle or concept. Its usually universal in
nature. Some common themes include redemption, sacrifice, betrayal, loyalty, greed, justice,
oppression, revenge, and love. Themes can be philosophical and they can ask questions or pit
two ideas against each other: science vs. faith, good vs. evil, why are we here, and what
happens when we die?
Themes in Storytelling
You need look no further than some of your favorite stories to explore and identify themes.
Keep in mind that most stories have multiple themes. For example, in Harry Potter, I would
say the most significant themes are love and good vs. evil. However, there are also themes of
friendship, sacrifice, and redemption. One theme might stretch across an entire story while
other themes appear at the chapter or scene level.
And themes are not unique to fictional literature. Any form of storytelling can (and should)
contain thematic elements, including movies, television shows, songs, and poetry. Themes will
also be present in nonfiction and in some cases, will drive a work of nonfiction, whether it is a
memoir or documentary. For example, a documentary about the lives of Susan B. Anthony and
Elizabeth Cady Stanton will focus on the theme of justice in the context of a womans right to
vote. Such a documentary wont look closely at their personal lives but will focus on their
founding of the womens suffrage movement, keeping to the theme.
Todays fiction writing exercises encourage you to explore theme by identifying it in some
of your favorite stories. Then, work on theme development in your own projects.
Fiction Writing Exercises: Exploring Theme
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If you and I both watch the film Titanic, we might identify different themes in the film. I
might identify social class as a theme and you might say that freedom is a theme. In this
case, wed both be right. For the fiction writing exercises below, you will choose one of your
favorite stories and identify its themes.
Choose a favorite book, movie, or television show (for a TV show, you should just choose
one episode). Make a list of all the themes you can identify in the story. Try to find 5-10
themes. Go over your list a few times to make sure youre identifying themes (big, sweeping
concepts) rather than conflicts or plot twists.
Next, determine one key theme that is woven through the entire story. You might find there
are two or three major themes. List them all but choose just one to explore in the next step.
Now, explain how the storyteller presented this theme through plot, character, and scenes.
Make a list of events and situations from the story that embody the theme.
You can do these exercises over and over for various stories in order to get a good handle
on theme so that you can use it deftly to enrich your own writing. You might also use the
Internet to look for other peoples ideas about theme for any given story. As an example, I
found an interesting site that identifies theme in Catcher in the Rye.
Fiction Writing Exercises: Developing Theme
Once you understand theme and have learned to identify it, you can start bringing it into
your own work. Theres a good chance that themes will manifest even if you dont put any
special effort into theme development. Themes are so closely tied to human nature that its
almost impossible to tell a story without a theme of some kind. But if you approach theme
with intent (even vague intent), your work will have greater depth and meaning.
The fiction writing exercises below walk you through the process of finding or developing
theme in your own work.
Choose one of your completed poems, stories, or essays. The exercise will work better with
a story, but poetry and essays will do. Now, go through the exercises above (for exploring
theme) to list all the themes in your piece, identify the main theme(s), and examine how you
executed the themes.
Starting from theme: some writers might approach storytelling by using theme as a
starting point. You might want to write a novel that deals with revenge in the context of good
vs. evil. Choose three themes and for each, sketch ideas for how you could make the theme
manifest through character, plot, or scene. Example: A thieving woman is fired because a coworker reported her for stealing. Instead of accepting responsibility, she blames the co-worker
and frames him so he gets fired too, even though he is innocent.
Work with the theme youve got: if you are working on a story, try to identify a few
themes that are appearing in your work and elaborate on them. Look for ways to integrate the
theme with your plot and ask how your main conflict can be connected with a primary theme.
A Few Final Tips
Theme is not cut and dry and it shouldnt be overly obvious. If youre working a theme
involving sacrifice, you dont want to have your characters making sacrifices in every chapter.
Theme works best when its subtle.
Since themes can contain messages and morals, make a conscious effort not to force your
personal beliefs and values onto your readers. Theres a difference between making a
statement and being preachy. Most readers dont like novels that preach at them. In fact,
some themes work best when they work as questions and the reader gets to experience
contrary viewpoints. For example, we all accept that stealing is wrong, but we feel differently
about it when its done by a small child who is starving.
Finally, have fun with theme. You can go through your outline and make notes about where
themes are addressed. Or, you can look for opportunities in your story where theme would be
appropriate.
Creative Writing Exercises: Report It
Today, Im sharing another sneak peek into my forthcoming book, 101 Creative Writing
Exercises.Writing this book has taught me a lot about publishing in general and selfpublishing more specifically. The final proof is on my desk now, and once I give it a good, solid
polish, publication will be right around the corner.
This exercise comes from Chapter Two: Its Personal. The creative writing exercises in
this chapter focus on writing of a personal nature: personal essay, memoir, and journal
writing. I chose this exercise because its challenging and fun. It asks you to look at your own
life from a fresh perspective and make yourself the subject of a news report.
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Is your life newsworthy? Have you ever witnessed, committed, or been the victim of a
crime? Have you ever participated in a protest or a performance? Have you ever had an odd
or unusual (paranormal or supernatural) experience?
Traditional and professional journalism is concise and factual. It adheres to a set of
journalistic ethics, focusing on the facts and details of the story and presenting those facts
thoroughly and honestly. True journalism is objective. The ethical journalist does not inject his
or her feelings or opinions.
But journalists are human. The news media in general is increasingly accused of using a
variety of creative tactics to spin the news in favor of their own religious, political, or
philosophical beliefs. For example, in a report, a journalist should not badmouth a suspected
criminal but that journalist can include a quote from a witness who has badmouthed the
criminal while intentionally not including a positive quote from some other witness.
Journalists can pick and choose quotes, facts, and even which stories to report.
When you think about the fact that journalists and reporters are responsible for feeding us
information about whats going on in the world and then consider that they are mere human
beings, flawed, emotional, and opinionated just like the rest of us, you can only begin to
imagine and wonder just how spun all the news actually is.
The Exercise
Your challenge is to revisit your past and write a news report about something you
experienced firsthand.
The rules are simple: straight journalism. What does that mean? True journalists are not
allowed to include personal emotion or opinion in their writing. Be as objective as possible.
Dont take sides!
Write about the event or incident as if you are a journalist looking in on your own story
from the outside. Make sure you include a headline that will attract readers attention.
Tips: To get a feeling for how journalism is written (its tone and style), visit a reputable
news site and read a few articles.
Variations: Instead of reporting on a story, write a paparazzi piece. Were you spotted
while out on a hot date? If youre at a loss for subject matter, get creative and write a fictional
news story; make up something or change something from your past or better yet, write a
news story from your future (maybe you win the Pulitzer Prize in ten years).
Applications: The most obvious application is that you could, someday, become a
journalist. Journalism in general is an objective style of writing (at least, its supposed to be),
and this is a style that is difficult to achieve. This exercise encourages you to write about
something you care about but to refrain from including your feelings or personal views.
Sneak Peek at 101 Creative Writing Exercises
Posted by Melissa Donovan on September 13, 2011
Sneak peek at forthcoming book: 101 Creative Writing Exercises
Im putting the final touches on my forthcoming book, which is titled 101 Creative
Writing Exercises.
These exercises take writers on a journey through different forms and genres.
Each exercise teaches a specific concept and each chapter focuses on a different subject
or form: journaling, storytelling, fiction writing, poetry, article writing, and more. All of the
exercises are designed to be practical. In other words, you can use these exercises to launch
projects that are destined for publication.
Today, Id like to present one of the exercises to give you a taste of what to expect from
the book. I hope you like it! From Chapter Six: Storytelling, this exercise is called Oh No He
Didnt!
Oh No He Didnt! (from 101 Creative Writing Exercises )
Plot twists, cliffhangers, and page-turners. Oh my! These are the sneaky techniques writers
use to keep readers captivated. And weve all been there:Its late, and Im tired. After this
chapter, the lights are going out. Then theres a cliffhanger, a shocking development in
the story. Forget sleep! I have to find out what happens next.
Some writers are criticized for overusing these devices or for planting twists that are
contrived or forced. But a good plot twist or cliffhanger is natural to the story and doesnt feel
like the writer strategically worked it in.
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Some stories feature major twists in the middle of chapters. Its placing such a twist at the
end of chapter that turns it into a cliffhanger. Soap operas and television dramas are known,
loved, and loathed for their application of these devices. Its how they hook viewers, and its a
way you can hook readers.
Each writer has to decide whether to use these techniques in storytelling. You might think
theyre too formulaic or rob your story of its artfulness. Or, maybe you like the exciting edge
that a good twist or cliffhanger brings to a story.
The Exercise
Write an outline for a chapter that ends on a cliffhanger. You can also use a TV episode as
your model or a serialized short story. Approach the cliffhanger by building tension to the
moment:
Bad guys are chasing the good guys. The bad guys are gaining on them. Theyre
getting closer! One of bad guys draws his gun, lifts it, cocks it, and aims right at
our hero. He pulls the trigger. See you next week!
You can also plant a cliffhanger that comes out of nowhere. The chapter is winding down,
everything is moving along as expected and suddenly a character walks into a room and tells
her ex-lover that shes pregnant and hes the father. Uh oh!
Both types of cliffhangers work equally well.
Tips The best cliffhangers leave huge questions hanging in the air. Who did it? What just
happened? Will they survive? How is that possible? What will happen next?
Variations: You can expand on this exercise by writing out a scene that ends on a
cliffhanger. To expand further, write the follow-up scene and satisfy readers curiosity by
answering the big questions raised by your cliffhanger.
Applications: If you want to be a commercially successful author, you will probably find
that mastering the cliffhanger is a huge asset to your writing skills. The cliffhanger is almost
mandatory in horror and mystery genres, so if thats what you want to write, youll need to be
able to execute a good clincher.
3 Fiction Writing Exercises
Fiction writing exercises can help you discover storytelling techniques and provide ideas
and inspiration for your fiction writing projects.
For writers who are young or just starting out with fiction, these exercises provide practice
and experience. For more experienced writers, these exercises offer inspiration and can help
you see a story from new angles.
Todays fiction writing exercises are carefully chosen to help you develop some of the most
critical components in a story. If you can create a few characters; identify a conflict, climax,
and resolution; and choose a theme, youre well on your way to writing a short story or novel
that will resonate with readers.
These exercises are similar to assignments you would complete in a college-level fiction
writing class, exercises that push you in the direction of writing material that can be
submitted or published. You can tackle these exercises separately but I recommend using
them to develop ideas around a single story.
1. Character Exercise: Sketching a Protagonist and an Antagonist
We often think of them as the bad guy and the good guy or the hero and the villain, but
those terms are becoming outdated as modern storytelling increasingly embraces
protagonists who are highly flawed and antagonists who arent especially evil.
The Exercise: Sketch two characters who are in conflict with each other.
Do not identify a protagonist or antagonist, just create two characters. Both characters
should have the potential to be good or evil. Start with physical descriptions, then get inside
the characters heads to establish their inner landscapes, and finally, work up a bit of
backstory for each of them. Remember, these two characters have a fundamental conflict
with each other. What is it? The core of this exercise is identifying that conflict.
If youve never done a character sketch or have trouble coming up with details for your
character, check out this character development worksheet.
2. Plot Exercise: Confl ict, Climax, and Resolution
The three-act structure is one of the simplest and most effective way to break down a
story. Often, the acts are 1) Setup, 2) Confrontation, and 3) Resolution. I think of the three-act
structure as 1) Conflict, 2) Climax, and 3) Resolution because those are the three pinnacles in
each of the three acts. In the first part of a story we learn what the conflict is. The second
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(and largest portion) of the story builds up to a climax in which the conflict hits boiling point.
Finally, the third act resolves the conflict.
The Exercise: Determine a conflict, climax, and resolution for a story.
You can use the two characters you created in the first exercise for this.
Conflict examples: Two people vying for the same job, a natural disaster, people-eating
aliens landing on Earth.
Climax examples: In a big showdown, one job candidate smears the other and knocks the
opponent out of the race. A natural disaster claims the lives of half of Earths population.
Humans engage in a final battle with the people-eating aliens!
Resolution examples: The job candidate who got smeared makes a comeback and gets the
job. Earths survivors rebuild after a planet-wide natural disaster. Against all odds, humans win
the battle against aliens with superior technology.
3. Theme Exercise: Universal Ideas
Theme is difficult to explain, but Wikipedia does a good job:
A theme is a broad idea, message, or moral of a story. The message may be about life,
society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and are almost
always implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character, setting, and style,
theme is considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.
I usually think of theme as the big questions that a story asks or its underlying philosophy.
The exercise: Choose a theme and write a list of ways in which a theme can be executed
through the course of a story.
You can choose a theme for the characters you sketched in the first exercise or for the
three-act structure you developed in the second exercise. For example, in a story where two
characters are vying for the same job, the theme might be dream fulfillment (if its one or
both of the characters dream job).
As an alternative, try to identify themes in other stories. Think about your favorite books,
movies, and TV shows and make lists of some themes youve found in storytelling.
Fiction Writing Exercises
Do you think about character, plot, and theme when youre working on a story? Do you
plan these elements in advance or let them unfold through discovery writing? Who are some
of your favorite characters? Can you think of a truly original plot in modern storytelling? What
themes in fiction appeal to you the most? And finally, do you use fiction writing exercises and
if you do, how have they helped you improve your writing?
Three Poetry Writing Exercises
If youre going to exercise, its a good idea to warm up first. That way, youll get your body
geared up to do the heavy lifting, the hard running, and the strenuous workout.
Writings no different.
Poetry writing exercises are ideal for times when youre feeling uninspired or lazy, or
maybe your poetry is getting stale and you need to take it in a fresh direction. Maybe youre
getting ready to embark on a big, long writing project and want to warm up first.
Todays poetry writing exercises are good starters and dont require you to know anything
about poetry or have any experience writing poems. In fact, some of these exercises are just
that exercises no poetry writing required.
Poetry Writing Exercises
These poetry writing exercises are designed to get you thinking about rhythm, language,
and imagery in your writing. Lets jump right in!
1. Alliteration and Assonance Lists
Create a list of word pairs and phrases that are built around alliteration or assonance.
Remember, alliteration is when words in close proximity start with (or contain) the same
consonant sound (as in pretty picture). Assonance is when words in close proximity echo
vowel sounds (bent pen). Try to come up with at least ten of each. The more, the better.
Bonus exercise: Use the words from your lists to write a poem.
2. Metaphors for Life
Make a list of significant life events birth, death, graduation, marriage, having children,
starting your own business. Next, come up with a metaphor for each of these events.
Remember: a metaphor is when we say one thing is another thing. A simile is when we say
one thing is like another thing.
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Metaphor: Life is a dance.

Simile: Life is like a box of chocolates (as a metaphor, this would be life is a box of
chocolates)
Tip: Choose metaphors that are visually interesting. Metaphors for life as a dance or box of
chocolates are both concrete and easy for readers to visualize.
Bonus exercise: Write a poem about one of your life events using only the metaphor you
have chosen. When its done, your poem should be a bit ambiguous; a reader will wonder
whether the poem is literally about the metaphor or metaphorically about the life event.
3. Lyrics and Musicality
Choose a catchy song that you enjoy and rewrite the lyrics, but stick to the rhythm and
meter. Try to go way off topic from what the original lyrics were about. You can play the song
while you work the exercise or search for the lyrics online and use those as your baseline. The
idea is to get your mind on the musicality in your writing.
Top Secret Fiction Writing Exercises
Ssh, dont tell anyone. Put it in the vault!
Most of us have had those very words whispered into our ear. In fact, most of us have
probably whispered those words into someone elses ear.
They say everyone has a secret. I dont know if thats true, but I do know that secrets sure
pique peoples curiosity.
And if you can capture a readers curiosity, youll have them hooked.
Thats the essence of todays fiction writing exercises.
The Power of Secrets
Dont your ears perk up just a little bit when you hear the word secret? And dont you just
get all quiet and attentive when someone says, I have a secret to tell you? Secrets are
powerful. They imply mystery and drama, they evoke suspense and build tension, and they
capture peoples attention. Most importantly, they keep readers turning the pages.
Characters with Secrets
Secrets can be integral to a plot, but usually the secrets belong exclusively to the
characters. In fact, sometimes a secret will shape a characters personality. How would
keeping a secret for decades impact a persons behavior? What kind of secret would weigh on
someones conscience? How do the other characters view someone who cant keep a secret?
There are big secrets and little secrets, important ones and silly ones. Some secrets are
clich (she had a baby and gave it up for adoption!) and others are funny (one time, at band
camp).
The best secrets are surprising. Im not talking about the sitcom variety of the overheard
misunderstanding, where one character overhears another and gets the wrong idea. Think
about the secrets in books like The Da Vinci Code or in films like The Usual Suspects secrets
that make you drop your jaw or think about the world in new ways.
Then, try to come up with some interesting secrets for your fiction. You can use the fiction
writing exercises below to write a scene, a whole story, or maybe youll just come up with
some really great character traits or plot twists.
Here are ten fiction writing exercises built entirely around secrecy:
Ten Secret Fiction Writing Exercises
A character is harboring a secret that is preventing him from fulfilling his true desire.
Two characters share a secret but its not what everyone thinks it is.
Its an old family secret and theres only one person alive who knows about it. Will she take
it to the grave?
Theres a secret and everyone knows about it except one particular character and it
happens to affect that character the most.
There is a small group of people who meet in secret at regular intervals.
A character has a secret and if anyone found out, it would destroy his life.
One character discovers another characters shocking, sad, or terrible secret.
A character thinks she has a very private secret, but actually, most of the people close to
her know about it.
A character knows a secret that would destroy one persons life but save the life of another
person.
There is a secret that would affect everyone on the planet but only a small, elite group of
characters know the secret.
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Secret Tips
Writing secrets into your story can make it a lot more exciting, and you can conjure up
secrets whenever a character seems flat or the plot is thinning out. But you have to be careful
with secrets. Here are a few final secret tips:
Avoid common or stereotypical secrets unless you can give them a really intriguing twist.
Examples: sordid affairs, the family member you never knew you had, the person who went to
prison didnt commit the crime, etc.
Usually, the audience gets in on the secret before the key character does, but dont let it
out too early. If you can, reveal the secret over time and make it a guessing game for the
reader to figure out.
If you build a lot of tension, you better have a secret that delivers. Theres nothing worse
than a lot of big build-up for something like Im the one who broke your favorite snow globe
in second grade. Try to come up with a real doozie.
Fiction Writing Exercises: A Story for a Song
Art Begets Art
A compelling story speaks to us much the same way that music does, communicating
thoughts, feelings, and ideas in ways that go beyond concrete language.
The result?
A click takes place within the psyche. When you hear a song or read a story that resonates
in this manner, you connect with it on a deep level. It almost feels like the author or
songwriter was speaking for you, about you, or to you.
Some say that truly great art communicates directly with the subconscious. Thats why the
arts coexist so naturally. Where you find a buzzing music scene, you can be sure a booming
literary crowd is nearby. And where filmmakers toil with scripts and cameras, you can bet
dancers arent too far off.
Creativity breeds creativity and we are like magnets, drawn not just into our own passion,
but those that complement and support it. Music, film, and art all enrich and inform one
another. So do the musicians, filmmakers, artists, and of course, writers.
Fiction Writing Exercises
Some people say that everything has been written, every story told. But thats not true.
Theres always another angle, a different perspective that can be taken. And writers have all
the tools they need to grab that perspective and run with it. You just need a starting point
and fiction writing exercises can help you find it.
Try starting with a song.
Some of the greatest stories of all time have been told through song. Remember Janis
Joplins Me and Bobby McGee? John Mellencamps Jack and Diane? What about Bob
Marleys I Shot the Sheriff? Each of these songs tells a clear and distinct story.
On the flip side, we have ambiguous lyrics, like Hotel California, by the Eagles or Losing
My Religion by R.E.M. Tunes like these have inspired lively debates that ask, what are these
songs about, anyway? And if we dont know what the songs are about, why do they
succeed at speaking to us? How do they become enormous hits that cross genre lines?
Story for a Song
For one of our fiction writing exercises, lets double up on creativity and take advantage of
hindsight. Choose a song and write the story behind it. This is kind of like traveling backward
and trying to find those one thousand words that represent the value of a picture.
Some tips to make this more interesting:
Choose a song that doesnt have an overly obvious storyline.
Make sure you arent familiar with the songs video and that you dont rewrite the video
treatment.
Pick a song you like, something you can tolerate listening to several times over. In fact the
more you enjoy the song, the greater the chance youll have fun with this experiment.
Storytelling
Throughout history, great artists have collaborated and mixed mediums and media to
come up with fresh takes on ancient truths. This writing exercise provides a new source for
inspiration, gets you working in collaboration with other artists (musicians), and gives you
creative license to put a new spin on something thats been around for awhile.
And if you can do this with a piece of classical music (with no lyrics), I for one, will be
doubly impressed!
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You can write a paragraph, a few pages, or an entire novel. Write it as a piece of journalism
or a script. And if you dont feel like writing it down, just work it out in your head. Find the
connection between music and storytelling and let it capture your imagination.
How to Find and Choose Ideas for Writing a Book
Every writer on the planet wants to write a book.
Some have finished a manuscript and others are already published, but many more dream,
talk, and think about completing a full draft and seeing their name on a book cover.
Some already have a book in the works while others have several half-finished drafts
floating around. Some cant even get started. They have too many ideas to choose from, or
they are waiting for the right idea.
10 Ideas for Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing is the art of painting a picture with words.
In fiction, we describe settings and characters. In poetry, we describe scenes, experiences,
and emotions. In creative nonfiction, we describe reality.
Classic literature was dense with description whereas modern literature usually keeps
description to a minimum.
Compare the elaborate descriptions in J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings trilogy with the
descriptions in J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series. Both series relied on description to help the
readers visualize an imagined, fantastical world, but Rowling did not use her precious writing
space to describe standard settings whereas Tolkien frequently paused all action and spent
pages describing a single landscape.
This isnt unique to Tolkien and Rowling; if you compare most literature from the beginning
of of the 20th century and earlier to todays work, youll see that we just dont dedicate much
time and space to description anymore.
I think this radical change in how we approach description is directly tied to the wide
availability of film, television, and photography. Lets say you were living in the 19th century,
writing a story about a tropical island for an audience of northern, urban readers. You could be
fairly certain that most of your readers had never seen such an island and had no idea what it
looked like. To give your audience a full sense of your storys landscape, youd need pages of
detail describing the lush jungle, sandy beaches, and warm waters.
Nowadays, we all know what a tropical island looks like, thanks to the wide availability of
media. Even if youve never been to such an island, surely youve seen one on TV.
Descriptive Writing in the 21st Century
This might explain why few books on the craft of writing address descriptive writing. The
focus is usually on other elements, like character, plot, theme, and structure. While modern
readers dont require lengthy descriptions, descriptive writing is an essential skill, even in the
21st century.
For contemporary writers, the trick is to make the description as precise and detailed as
possible while keeping it to a minimum. Most readers want characters and action with just
enough description so that they can imagine the story as its unfolding.
Descriptive writing is especially important for speculative fiction writers and poets. If
youve created a fantasy world, then youll need to deftly describe it to readers. Lewis Carroll
not only described Wonderland; he also described the fantastical creatures that inhabited it. In
poetry, the challenge is to describe things in a way that is visceral.
Simple descriptions are surprisingly easy to execute. All you have to do is look at
something (or imagine it) and write what you see. But well crafted descriptions require writers
to pay diligence to word choice, to describe only those elements that are most important, and
to use engaging language to paint a picture in the readers mind.
10 Descriptive Writing Ideas
Here are some descriptive writing ideas that will inspire you while providing opportunities
to practice writing description. If you dont have much experience with descriptive writing,
you may find that your first few attempts are flat and boring. If you cant keep readers
engaged, they will wander off. Work at crafting descriptions that are compelling and
mesmerizing.
Go to one of your favorite spots and write a description of the setting: it could be your
bedroom, favorite coffee shop, or local park. Leave people, dialogue, and action out of it. Just
focus on explaining what the space looks like.
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Who is your favorite character from the movies? Describe the character from head to toe.
Show the reader not only what the character looks like but also how the character acts. Do
this without including action or dialogue. Remember: description only!
Thirty years ago we didnt have cell phones or the Internet. Now we have cell phones that
can access the Internet. Think of a device or gadget that well have thirty years from now and
describe it.
Since modern fiction is light on description, many young and new writers often fail to
include descriptions, even when the reader needs them. Go through one of your writing
projects and check to see that elements readers may not be familiar with are adequately
described.
Sometimes in a narrative, a little description provides respite from all the action and
dialogue. Make a list of things from a story youre working on (gadgets, characters, settings,
etc.) and for each one, write a short description of no more than 75 words.
As mentioned, Tolkien often spent pages describing a single landscape. Choose one of your
favorite pieces of classic literature, find a long passage of description, and rewrite it. Try to cut
the descriptive word count in half.
When you read a book, use a highlighter to mark sentences and paragraphs that contain
description. Dont highlight every adjective and adverb. Look for longer passages that are
dedicated to description.
Write a description for a child. Choose something reasonably difficult, like the solar system.
How do you describe it in such a way that a child understands how he or she fits into it?
Most writers dream of someday writing a book. Describe your book cover.
Write a one-page description of yourself.
If you have any descriptive writing ideas to add to this list, feel free to share them in the
comments.
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20 Fun and Inspiring Character Writing Ideas
One of the most difficult things to execute well in a piece of fiction is a realistic character.
Weve all read stories in which the characters were dull or hollow; they come across like
clones of the same characters weve met in dozens of stories before.
Readers want characters who are as unique and complex as real people.
Are we, as writers, obligated to deliver such characters?
Not necessarily. Plenty of stories are plot-driven or centered around theme rather than
character. But the stories that resonate the most have vivid, layered characters. Readers and
writers often sing the praises of character-driven fiction. So, the single best way to intrigue
readers is to give them characters they cant forget.
Character Writing Ideas
You can spend hours, days, weeks, or months developing character ideas. Whether you
launch into your story with little knowledge of your characters or create full sketches and
backstories for each one, there are plenty of tricks and techniques you can use to inspire
characters and to breathe life into them.
Use real people as models for your characters. Think of all the people you know intimately,
people you love as well as people you despise. Take their strongest and most interesting traits
and qualities and give them to your characters.
Need a face for your character? You can use people you know for this too, but you can also
use celebrities and other public figures. Some writers find that putting a face to a character
brings out a more robust personality. Try it!
Baby name dictionaries are a great starting place for names, and names can help you
generate ideas for your character sketches. Think about how names influence our perceptions
of people and sketch a character that fits his or her name.
Start with a predicament. Then, you may need to create characters who have the skills to
get out of that predicament. Thieves, for example, can pick locks, so if your characters need
to get something out of a locked room or building, one of your characters may have some
experience in burgling.
Live out your dreams. When you were a kid, did you want to be a rock star or an
astronaut? Well, now you can live vicariously through your characters!

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Turn to fiction. Books, movies, and TV shows are packed with incredible characters that
audiences have already fallen for. Dont try to copy these characters, but by all means, use
them for inspiration. Ask yourself what made your favorite characters so compelling.
We all have quirks, so it makes sense for characters to have quirks too. Freckles, bitten
fingernails, a limp, or a lisp are all ways you can set one character apart from the others.
Family and friends make us who we are. Draft sketches for your characters family and
friends (even if theyre not going to appear in the story) and you may learn a thing or two
about your character.
Have some style! From a modern urban princess to a bum on the street, every person has
his or her own style. Your characters should too! What do they wear? How does she make up
her face? Does he wear cologne?
Most people have interests, hobbies, and passions. Even if your characters personal
interests arent tied directly to the plot, they could enrich it, and theyll certainly make your
character more believable.
Ive always found mannerisms and gestures fascinating. You often see the same
mannerisms mirrored throughout a family or group of friends. In fiction, give each character
his or her own unique gestures biting the bottom lip, scratching ones forehead, and tapping
ones toe on the floor are all good options.
Have you ever noticed that everyone you know has their own special way of talking? We
each have a unique voice comprised of how we string words together, expressions that we
frequently use, and our intonation. You can make a character more realistic by simply giving
the character a unique voice through dialogue.
Some of the best characters are extreme or over the top. Think of Luke Skywalker, Robin
Hood, and Indiana Jones. These characters have strong personalities and are deeply driven by
higher values and personal desires. Think about how your characters philosophies and goals
shape their personalities.
Not all characters are human! Stories can be enriched with pets; they may not be
necessary to the plot, but they can add to the emotional value of a story.
Do you write science fiction or fantasy? Forget non-human pets. Try creating characters
who are not of this earth: androids, aliens, and mythological or fantastical creatures.
When youre fresh out of good character writing ideas, try taking your characters out of
the story altogether. Write a scene from a characters backstory, or draft a monologue in your
characters voice.
Spend some down time with your characters. What do they do when theyre not struggling
with conflict or saving the world? Where do you characters eat, how do they organize their
closets, and what do they listen to while working out? Sometimes taking a peek at your
characters most normal moments will give you insight to who they are.
Balancing traits among a group of characters means that each character brings something
different to the table. Harry Potter was a hero, but where would he have been without smartypants Hermione and loyal Ron? Distribute different strengths and weaknesses among your
characters, especially if youre writing an ensemble piece.
The literary canon is full of ancient and archetypal characters. From the herald and the
hero to the trickster and the villain, myths, legends, and fairy tales can inspire and inform
your characters. Put a new twist on these old favorites by forming (rather than copying) your
characters from these proven standards from storytelling.
What about you? Its the oldest trick in the book: basing a character on yourself.
What are some of your favorite character writing ideas and activities? How do you come up
with new characters or make your characters realistic?
Tips for Developing Story Writing Ideas
Short stories, flash fiction, novels, and novellas: there are countless stories floating around
out there and those are just the fictional works.
Its no wonder writers get frustrated trying to come up with a simple concept for a story.
One look at the market tells you that everything has been done.
But what makes a story special is your voice and the unique way that you put different
elements together. Sure, there might be something reminiscent of Tolkien in your work, but so
what? Echos of Lord of the Rings can be found in some of the most beloved stories of the
20th century: Harry Potter and Star Wars, for example.
Im not saying J.K. Rowling and George Lucas intentionally used elements of Tolkiens work
in their stories. Maybe they did; maybe they didnt. But I would bet both of them read and
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appreciated Lord of the Rings. Whether they were conscious or not of its influence on their
work doesnt really matter.
Developing Story Writing Ideas
There are a myriad of ways to develop story concepts. You can start with an event from the
news or a character youve created. You can base your plot on an old legend or fairy tale, or
you can combine two of your favorite genres.
What happens when you mix Hamlet with Star Trek? Well, you might get something that
looks like Star Wars. Take a traditional legend or folk tale and send it to space or place it in a
magical fairyland to give it a new twist.
It works both ways. You can take a modern story and put it in a historical setting. Star
Trek is about explorers who are deeply humanitarian. Could there have been such explorers
on Earth thousands of years ago?
If you can create a believable and complex character, then chances are, you can also
evolve a story from the characters emotional landscape and personal experiences.
A romance horror story, a western set in space, a chick-lit war story, and a fairy tale about
the business world are all ways you can combine genres to inspire writing ideas.
Instead of starting with a story, start with a big idea. How do you explore abstract concepts
like sacrifice, redemption, rebirth, and wrath through story?
Sometimes, by brainstorming through all these established genres, stories, and themes,
youll find that a pretty original idea emerges.
More Specifi c Story Writing Ideas
Lets say youre writing a story about a homeless teen who squats in a familys Manhattan
apartment during the day while theyre at work and school. It occurs to you that there are
some parallels to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Instead of writing your idea off as
unoriginal, use the fairy tale to infuse your story with archetypes and symbols that are
universally recognized: three teddy bears on the childs bed, three differently sized chairs in
the living room, the family eating porridge for breakfast.
Here are some more specific idea starters based on fairy tales:
Little Red Riding Hood in Suburbia: Theres a stranger at grandmas house.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears in the Big City: A squatter makes herself at home.
The Gingerbread Phone: A smartphone becomes self-aware.
Dystopian Cinderella: This fairy tale been done and redone. Cinderella is apparently an
exhaustive source of story writing ideas. Set your version in a bleak future.
The Little Badass Mermaid: Take any old fairy tale and turn the heroine into a badass.
Beauty is the Beast What if the gender roles were reversed?
Whats Your Story?
Our world is full of patterns and cycles that repeat infinitely. Every story you write comes
from every story youve read. Some writers consciously use old tales as a foundation for their
work; others are surprised when they realize there are blatant similarities in their work and
someone elses.
Im not suggesting you go out in search of stories to rewrite (and Im definitely not
suggesting you avoid coming up with your own original ideas). I hear from writers, on a
regular basis, who are frustrated because they analyze every detail in their stories and stress
out when they realize certain elements already occurred elsewhere in the literary canon.
So, I want to put forth the simple truth that everything has been done. Your job is to do it
your way.
Where do you get your story writing ideas?
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Essay Writing Ideas, Topics, and Publishing Tips
Around here, were usually so focused on fiction, poetry, and journaling that we often
forget about another form of creative writing: the essay.
The first essay that captured my attention and got me interested in essay writing was
Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal, which was also my first introduction to satire:
Written and published anonymously in 1729, the essay suggested that
impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling their children as food for rich
gentlemen and ladies. This satirical hyperbole mocked heartless attitudes towards the poor,
as well as Irish policy in general. (Source)
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A Modest Proposal is a harsh piece of writing but is both creative and socially conscious.
Essays can also be academic, personal, or analytic. In terms of subject matter, essays can run
the gamut. And while essays are often associated with academia because they are often
assigned by schoolteachers and professors, plenty of writers have eked out careers publishing
essays on a wide range of topics.
Today, well focus on developing essay writing ideas, but first lets look at a few types of
essays.
What is an Essay?
The word essay comes from the French word essayer, which means to try or to
attempt. An essay is a short format of writing, which usually presents an authors personal
point of view and can include criticism, arguments, observations, recollections, and reflections
around a focused topic. Usually written in prose, the essay falls somewhere between an article
and a short story.
According to Wikipedia there are three branches of essay writing:
Personal and autobiographical essays: these use fragments of reflective
autobiography to look at the world through the keyhole of anecdote and description.
Objective and factual: in these essays, the authors do not speak directly of themselves,
but turn their attention outward to some literary or scientific or political theme.
Abstract-universal: these essays make the best of all the three worlds in which it is
possible for the essay to exist. This type is also known as Giraffe Style Writing.
So, how does one come up with essay writing ideas? One place to start is by thinking
about the type of essay you want to write.
Types of Creative Essays
Because essays are so broad and can range from academic or analytic to being highly
personal, we can further place various types of essays in an unlimited number of categories.
Lets look at a few types of creative essays:
Narrative Essay: Narrative essays are similar to short stories except they are nonfiction
and usually relate to a core topic or theme. Such an essay usually makes a point using story
as an example. These are excellent essays for journal keepers and short fiction writers.
Descriptive Essay: A descriptive essay avoids the authors personal thoughts and
feelings and focuses on the who, what, where, when, why, and how. These essays are ideal for
anyone who likes to examine a subject from every angle and for writers who enjoy composing
descriptive prose.
Personal Essay: A personal essay relates an authors thoughts or feelings on any given
subject. Subject matter can range from food, health, and parenting to political or philosophical
beliefs. The writers personal experiences may be the basis for such an essay; however,
personal experiences may be absent.
Reflective Essay: Weve examined reflective journal writing, and a reflective essay isnt
much different except that its a stand-alone piece and usually meant for publication. This is
an essay about a personal experience, which is intertwined with thoughts (reflections) on it.
Response Essay: A response essay is similar to a personal essay in that it relates the
authors thoughts and feelings, except it speaks specifically about the authors reaction to
something books, movies, travels, and other events and experiences are all fair game.
Argumentative of Persuasive Essay: These essays present the authors position on an
issue and apply logic, reason, and often, statistics and research, to back up the authors
opinions. Persuasive essays are designed to convince readers to do something or see some
issue from a certain perspective.
This is just a small sample of the various types of creative essays you might write. You may
find that just by reviewing the different types of essays, something clicks and youre struck
with inspiration. However, you may need to look to your passions and interests to generate
essay writing ideas; you may need to start with a topic.
Writing Ideas: Choosing a Topic
In the world of essays, there are unlimited topics that you can explore. In fact, topical
essays are considered one of the many types of essays that you can write.
Here are a few good strategies for selecting a topic if youre looking for essay writing
ideas:
What are you most passionate about? What gets your blood boiling or makes you want to
do a happy dance? Write an essay about it.
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What do you know a lot about? It could be something you studied in school or it could be
career-related. Your knowledge base provides great fodder for essay topics.
What do you want to learn more about? You can always conduct research for an essay, and
if theres some subject youd like to learn about, then conducting that research for an essay is
a great way to get started.
Lets say youre writing a science fiction novel and want to learn more about our solar
system so you can depict space travel. You could write a descriptive essay of our solar system
and start the project by writing a long list of questions to which you need the answers in order
to get started.
Tips for Publishing Essays
Many publications accept essay submissions. You can write an essay for a specific
publication or you can write an essay and find a publication for it later. Be sure to check the
publications submission guidelines and follow them accordingly. For example, some
publications only take academic or analytic essays; others may be looking for essays that deal
with specific subject matter.
If youre a prolific essay writer, you can also self publish on your blog or website or you can
make a collection of essays and publish it via any number of self pub tools. Amazon singles
provides a great way for authors to publish individual essays.
In legacy publishing, you might find essay collections difficult to place. You usually need a
few publication credits (clips) or expertise in a field before landing a publishing deal in this
form.
Do You Write Essays?
Essay writing is a great field for writers to explore. Some of the greatest artists, thinkers,
and leaders have been essayists and contributed their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives to
the greater culture through the written word. Have you ever written an essay that wasnt
assigned? What subject matter do you like to explore in essays? Where do you find essay
writing ideas?
Poetry Writing Ideas and Activities
A poem can come out of nowhere and land on the page fully-formed in just a few minutes.
A poem can also be the result of hours (or weeks) of laboring over line breaks, word choices,
images, and rhythm.
Poems are funny little things, appearing out of nowhere and disappearing for no apparent
reason. Poets have to be diligent: be prepared when a poem arrives and if it doesnt, go out
and chase it down.
There are many ways to write a poem, and not all of them involve sitting at a desk staring
at a glaring screen or curled up in a chair with a pen and notebook. Instead of waiting for
poems to fall out of the sky, try some of these poetry writing ideas and activities, and go
catch them!
Poetry Writing Ideas & Activities
Below are some poetry writing ideas mixed with activities to get poetry flowing.
Take a poetry walk. Grab a recorder or a notebook and then set out on foot. You can use a
timer and stop every five minutes to jot down a line, or take a break whenever you see
something interesting or inspiring and note it. When you get home, work it all into a poem.
Take a snapshot. Write a descriptive poem, choosing a simple subject or scene. The idea is
to write a poem that feels like a picture.
Cut and paste. Grab some old magazines, pamphlets, and junk mail and cut out the most
interesting words and phrases, then tape or paste them together to make a poem.
Get personal. Your deepest secrets, innermost desires, regrets, dreams, and fantasies are
all excellent sources of inspiration.
Write a response poem. Choose a poem that you admire or that confounds you perhaps
one that disturbs you or contains some element you disagree with. Then, write a poem in
response to it.
State your positions. Write a political poem, a philosophical poem, or just explore your
ideals through image-rich language.
Translate a poem into modern language. Many modern readers dont care to read poetry
that was written hundreds of years ago because the language has changed so much since
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then. So take one of those poems and update it into a more contemporary vernacular. Or, if
youre bilingual, translate a poem between two languages.
Explore your beliefs. What do you value? Which morals do you hold dear? Share your
beliefs and express your spirituality through a poem.
Write to music. You can use a song with or without lyrics: give it words or give it new
words!
Pay tribute. Write an ode to someone you admire, respect, or love. For a more interesting
twist and a challenge, write a tribute poem to someone youre not that crazy about.
Go big. Get large sheets of paper or use chalk on the driveway and draft a poem in huge,
sweeping letters.
Get in form. Many of todays poets dont experiment in form. Surprisingly, it tends to open
rather than stifle creativity. Its definitely worth a try.
Make temporary art. Chalk and whiteboards are great for temporary poems. The idea is to
create something, and then let it go. You can also write on paper and burn it, shred it, or black
it out but its not quite the same.
Use doodles. Get a blank piece of paper and allow yourself to doodle on it as you write a
poem. See if your doodles give your poem a new angle, either as part of the piece or by giving
you new ideas.
Get in shape. Choose a shape in silhouette form, and then fill the shape with words to build
a poem into the shape: hearts, animals, people, and symbols (anything recognizable in outline
form) work well.
What do you do when your poetry isnt flowing? Do you have any poetry writing ideas or
activities to share? If so, leave a comment, and keep on writing.
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Ideas for Writing Creative Nonfi ction
In fiction writing, were often inspired with a what-if question: what if an innocent man is
convicted of murder? What if humanity finds itself facing total extinction? What if that rabbit
hole leads to a fantastical wonderland? Fiction is driven by imagination.
Ideas for writing creative nonfiction often arise from experience and interest rather than
imagination. Instead of asking a what-if question, creative nonfiction writers set out to share
their experiences, knowledge, and ideas.
Young and new writers often wonder what they should write about. Where should they
focus their efforts? Creative nonfiction is a vast genre and can be quite lucrative. Readers are
always looking for advice and information. People love reading real-life accounts by writers
with first-hand experience. Whether you write a memoir about a personal experience youve
had or launch a blog related to your field of expertise, creative nonfiction offers a world of
possibilities.
Creative Nonfiction: Ideas for Writing
Writers who are on a quest for inspiration can look inward to find a wealth of ideas for
writing creative nonfiction.
1. Start with yourself. Writing an autobiography involves telling your life story. You get to
share your experiences, successes, and failures. The ideas for such a project come directly
from your own memories. The trouble with autobiographies is that readers are rarely
interested in reading biographical information about total strangers. Unless youre a public
figure, there might be little interest in your project. The good news is that you can fictionalize
your life story, turn it into a novel, and pursue fiction readers. Or, you can narrow your focus
and write a memoir.
2. What is a memoir? A memoir is not a life story; its a personal account of a particular
experience. For example, if youve survived an illness, disaster, or trauma, that experience
might provide the foundation for a memoir. Writing of this nature is more appealing to readers
because it speaks to a specific audience. Young parents whose children are struggling with
autism, for example, will be highly interested in reading a memoir by a parent who raised a
child with autism. What makes memoirs so popular is the promise that through personal
experience, the writer has obtained expertise, and is now sharing it with the world.
3. Are you an expert? Creative nonfiction does not have to come from personal
experience. If youre an expert on any subject, you can write about it. It might be the subject
you studied in school, the work youve done throughout your career, or a hobby that youve
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enjoyed and mastered. Many writers avoid this type of writing, assuming that there is already
enough information out there. But new works are being published every day on a wide range
of topics. What makes them succeed is not necessarily the information that is imparted, but
the manner in which it is presented. A unique voice, a new take on the subject, and a fresh
way to organize the information are all viable strategies.
4. Whats your passion? You can take your personal experience and acquired expertise
on anything in the world and turn it into a writing project. These days, writers share their
thoughts and insights on everything from their favorite TV shows and video games to the
meals they eat and books they read. You can write about the philosophy of Star Trek. You
could share tips and strategies for playing (and winning) popular video games. If you love
coffee and have a penchant for taking pictures, set out to make a coffee table book about
coffee. If you spend your mornings gardening and your evenings creating delicious homecooked meals, you can launch a blog packed with tips and ideas for gardening, cooking, or
healthy eating. You dont have to be an expert or a professional to talk about your passion.
5. Set out on an adventure or run an experiment. Elizabeth Gilbert set out on a year
of adventure and then wrote about it and became a best selling author. A.J. Jacobs has built a
life and a career around experimental adventures. He read all 32 volumes of
theEnclycopedia Britannica and then wrote about it. He spent a year living biblically and
then wrote about it. He also experimented with outsourcing his entire life, and then wrote
about it. If youve ever wanted to embark on a grand adventure or found yourself concocting
experimental lifestyles, you may find ideas for writing creative nonfiction within your own
curiosity.
Where Do You Get Ideas for Writing Projects?
Ideas for writing books, blogs, and articles are all around you. These ideas also exist inside
you. Your questions, curiosities, experiences, and interests all have the potential to launch
your next writing project.
Where do you get most of your ideas?
FILED UNDER WRITING IDEAS TAGGED WITH CREATIVE NONFICTION 15 COMMENTS
How to Develop Your Best Novel Writing Ideas
Writing a novel is no small task. In fact, its a momentous task. Some writers spend years
just eking out a first draft, followed by years of revisions. And thats before they even think
about the grueling publishing process.
In other words, youre going to spend a lot of time with your novel. So you better love
it. No waitloving it is not enough. You have to be in love with it. You have to
be obsessed with it.
And obsessions cannot be forced. If youre losing interest in your plot or characters, the
problem is not with you or your novel. The problem is that you tried to commit to something
you didnt love. Thats never a good idea.
For many writers, the trick to sticking with a novel is actually quite simple: find an idea
that grips you.
Get in Touch with Your Passions
Before you chase every crazy idea into the ground, stop and take a breath. Think about
what moves you. Books you couldnt put down. Movies you watched dozens of times. TV
shows you couldnt stop talking about. Songs you played so many times, youre sure they
have bonded with your DNA.
By identifying your passions, you can figure out what makes you tick, and thats a great
start to your quest for novel writing ideas that you can really sink your teeth into.
All of your past and present obsessions hold the clues to your future obsession with your
own novel. Pay close attention to your preferences for genre, theme, setting, style, character
archetypes and above allemotional sensibility. Make lists of what you love about your favorite
stories and soon, youll see the shape of your own novel start to emerge.
Generate and Gather Plenty of Novel Writing Ideas
Once youve made some general decisions about the novel youre going to write, its time
to start generating specific ideas.
Of course, the best novel writing ideas come out of nowhere. Youre on your hands and
knees scrubbing the floor and suddenly that big magic bulb over your head lights up. Or
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maybe you have so many ideas, you dont know where to start. Its even possible that youre
aching to write a novel but are fresh out of ideas. Your mind feels like a gaping void.
Actually, story ideas are everywhere. The trick is to collect a variety of ideas, and let them
stew while you decide which one is worth the effort. Here are some quick tips for generating
ideas:
Hit the bookstore or your own library and jot down some of your favorite plot synopses.
Then, rework the details to take these old plots and turn them into new ideas. Try combining
different elements from your favorite stories. And use movie synopses too!
Load up on fiction writing prompts and develop each prompt into a short (one-paragraph)
summary for a story.
Harvest some creative writing ideas from the news.
Create a stash file for your ideas. It can be a folder on your computer or a box you can fill
with 35 note cards. You can also write all these ideas in a notebook. Just make sure you keep
them together so you can easily go through them.
Let Your Novel Writing Ideas Marinate
Some ideas are so great, you just cant wait to get started. If youre writing a poem or a
piece of flash fiction, then have at it. If things dont work out, youll lose a few hours or maybe
a few weeks. But imagine investing years in a novel only to realize your hearts not in it. Try to
avoid doing that by letting ideas sit for awhile before you dive into them.
The best ideas rise to the top. These are not necessarily the best-selling ideas or the most
original ideas. Theyre the ideas that are best for you. Those are the ones that will haunt you,
keep you up at night, and provoke perpetual daydreams.
These are the ones worth experimenting with.
Experiment to See Which Novel Writing Ideas Can Fly
Theres a reason people test drive cars and lie around on the beds in mattress shops.
When you make a big investment, you want to feel right about it. You cant know how a car
will drive until you actually drive it. And you cant know how a bed will feel until you relax on
its mattress for a while. And you definitely cant know what your relationship with your novel
will be like until you experiment with it.
In truth, the experimental phase is when you start writing the novel. Just like the test drive
is when you start driving the car. But you havent committed yet. Youre still open to the idea
that this is not for you. This might seem like Im nitpicking over semantics but youll find that
discarding partially written novels wears on you after a while. If you play around with your
story with the understanding that youre experimenting and things dont work out, you can
always walk away without feeling guilty or like you gave up. Go back to your idea stash, and
start tooling around with the next one.
How do you experiment with novel writing? Im so glad you asked. Theres a lot you can
do. Start by brainstorming. Sketch a few characters. Poke around and see what kind of
research this novel might demand. Draft a few scenes. Write an outline. If you keep going
through these motions and cant shake your excitement, then you are finally . . .
Writing Your Novel
At this point, youve already started writing your novel. But suddenly, youre not just
writing a novel. Youre deeply, passionately, obsessively writing your novel. If a couple of
weeks go by and you havent had time to write, you miss your characters. When you get stuck
with a scene, you simply work on some other part of the story because youre so obsessed.
You have to fight the urge to tell everyone about how the story is coming along. Your trusted
buddy, whom you bounce ideas off of, is starting to think youre taking it all too seriously.
Maybe you should watch some television a couple nights a week, he says, looking
concerned.
This is a story thats captured your full attention. And thats a good sign that it will capture
the attention of readers.
Many (or most) of your novel writing ideas might end up in a trash can or a bottom drawer.
But every one of them will be worth it when all of that idea generating, planning, and
experimenting finally pays off. Every idea that doesnt work will pave the path to the idea that
will set you on fire.
So no matter what, no matter how many ideas come and go, no matter how many drafts
you discard, never give up. Just keep on writing!
FILED UNDER WRITING IDEAS TAGGED WITH NOVEL WRITING 13 COMMENTS
5 Ways to Prioritize All of Your Writing Ideas
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There are always too many writing ideas or not enough of them.
Some days, we writers are so overwhelmed with ideas, its impossible to get anything
done. Should you work on your novel? That essay youre writing for your favorite magazine?
You have an original premise for a short story. And you feel a poem coming on.
Other days, we just cant find any inspiration.
Prioritizing Your Writing Ideas
Prioritizing your writing ideas will help you stay focused on projects youve already started.
Too often, we writers run around chasing one idea after another, never finishing the big
projects weve begun. A priority list that we follow with due diligence will encourage us to
finish what weve started. And when inspiration is fleeting, we can turn to our priority list and
it will remind us that we have plenty of ideas ready and waiting to be explored.
Its a good idea to keep track of all of your ideas, and most writers are already good at this.
We jot our ideas down in our notebooks. We litter our work areas with writing ideas scrawled
on sticky notes. We scrawl concepts on random bits of scrap paper and cocktail napkins. You
probably already have a boatload of projects incubating all around you. Now, you just need to
get them in order.
Keeping a master list of projects (including your works-in-progress and future project ideas)
is a good way to start prioritizing. Electronic lists work well because you can move things
around. Notecards are also good organizational tools because you can spread them out, colorcode them by form, genre, or deadline, and keep them in a box or bound them with rubber
band for easy storage and access.
How to Prioritize Your Writing Ideas
Before you prioritize your writing ideas, create a neat and manageable list using a
spreadsheet, word processing document, or set of note cards. Then, you can starting putting
things in order.
1. Finish What Youve Started
Youre three chapters into a novel when you come up with a breakthrough story idea
foranother novel. So, you promptly drop your project and move on to the next. This is no way
to get things done. Make a list of all your unfinished projects the ones you fully intend on
completing. Tackle those first. Add any new ideas to the bottom of the list and refrain from
working on your new ideas until youve wrapped up the old ones.
2. Do it for Money
Im not a big believer in doing things just for the sake of money but we all have to eat. So,
if you have projects that will ensure there is food on the table and a roof over your head, then
get to those first. Business before pleasure, my friends.
3. Do it for Love
Nothing carries a creative project like passion. If you have tons of writing ideas and arent
sure which one to focus on first, follow your heart. If youve finished your other projects and
are eating well, then do what you love.
4. Little Things Come First
When you have a huge list, it can help to work through the little projects first the ones
that will only take a few hours or a couple of days. This is a great way to shorten your project
list and get a lot done in a short amount of time. But take care little projects have a way of
popping up all over the place. Make sure you dont let small projects keep piling up in front of
your bigger projects.
5. Even Distribution
If you have big projects, little projects, ongoing projects, and one-time projects, short-term
and long-term projects, try prioritizing one of each. In other words, write a poem, then a short
story, then an essay, then start that novel, then go back to your poetry. You can go around
and around. Youll chip away at everything a little more slowly, but youll be well rounded for
your efforts.
How Many Writing Ideas Are You Juggling?
Do you have more writing ideas than you know what to do with? Are you short on time or
not sure what to tackle first? Try organizing your projects into a list and then prioritize them
using these five methods for putting your projects in order. Keep adding all your new writing
ideas to your list, but more importantly, keep on writing.
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Borrowing, Stealing, and Building Upon Other Peoples Writing Ideas

From epic romances to fantastical adventures, stories have been captivating audiences for
centuries, and they have been inspiring writers (and other artists) for just as long.
There is a longstanding tradition among storytellers of reimagining or extending the
greatest legends, myths, and fairy tales ever told, from the greek classics to last summers
blockbuster films.
Certainly, many derivative works are frowned upon. You can find lists of authors who do
not allow (and pursue legal action against) stories written in their worlds. You can find reviews
that call such stories rip-offs or refer to authors as hacks who have done nothing more than
steal someone elses writing ideas.
But you can also find some impressive and respectable derivative works in films, novels,
and television. In fact, many derivative works are embraced, beloved, and achieve critical and
commercial success, plus massive fan followings.
So, when is it acceptable to use other peoples writing ideas? Why do some of these stories
get heavily criticized while others are widely celebrated?
Once Upon a Story
There are many sources of inspiration for storytellers. Some writers rely on their own life
experiences while others rip stories from the headlines. Existing stories, both true and
fictional, have always had a heavy influence on the tales we tell and retell. How many
variations of Little Red Riding Hood have been written? How many fictional movies have
been set during World War II? Lets take a look at the different techniques writers use to tell
stories that are built on other stories.
Formulas
Plenty of writing ideas are culled from great tales that have been told throughout history.
Some of these have been converted into formulas that writers can use as storytelling
guidelines.
In 1929, Joseph Campbell told the world about the monomyth, a universal pattern in
storytelling that he found across cultures and throughout history. Writers turned the pattern
into a formula, but perhaps nobody did so as effectively or famously as George Lucas, who
used it to write Star Wars.
From the three-act structure to the heros journey, formulas have been criticized as making
stories dull and predictable yet they have also been credited with providing writers a
framework in which to create.
Historical Fiction
Historical fiction takes factual events from true stories of the past and overlays them with
made-up characters or plots.
In James Camerons film, Titanic, two fictional characters fall in love on the historic ship
that sank into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean back in 1912. Countless novels, short
stories, poems, movies, television shows, and video games have taken a bite out of history
and used it as the setting for their stories.
While this practice is widely accepted as legitimate, its worth noting that China recently
banned time travel stories because they retell history untruthfully (for the record, I think this
is ridiculous and a violation of basic human rights, but lets not get too political here). There is
an argument to be made about the dangers of retelling history (take the holocaust deniers, for
example) and a much stronger argument to made about making art that examines history.
Fan Fiction
Fan fiction is a favorite pastime for hobby writers who are loyal fans to their favorite
franchises. Google fan fiction and youll find loads of stories set in the worlds of Lord of the
Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, and Twilight all critically and commercially
successful science fiction and fantasy movies and television shows. But thats not all. Fans are
also writing fiction from TV shows like Bones, Glee, and 80s nighttime
soap Dynasty (yes,Dynasty! I couldnt believe it either).
Some authors strictly prohibit writers from publishing material set in the worlds theyve
created (although they certainly cant stop you from writing stories in your notebook). They
feel that these works will negatively impact the integrity of their stories or compromise them
in some way. Other creators either look the other way or encourage fans to play in their
worlds. The television show Lost spewed a veritable onslaught of fan fiction and artwork, and
the shows frontrunners enjoyed the homages all the way to the bank. This relationship
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between creators and fans proved to be mutually beneficial. Lost became a worldwide
phenomenon and one of the most-talked-about shows in history.
Generally speaking, writing fan fiction is not the best path to becoming a respectable or
published author. The work is copyrighted by someone else, so you cant publish a book or
short story and get paid for it (there may be some exceptions as with contests or other
programs by the few authors who are extremely supportive of fan fiction). I think fan fiction is
actually a good training ground for young or new writers. Its an ideal place to practice
storytelling because all of the elements are provided, amateur writers can focus on specific
aspects of their work, such as characters or plot.
Public Domain
In 2010, Tim Burton brought us Alice in Wonderland (3-D). This film told the story of a
20-something Alice revisiting Wonderland, so its essentially a sequel to Lewis Carrolls
original Alice stories. In their 1951 animated film, Disney took Carrolls work to the screen,
combining elements from various stories and poems that Carroll had written to create a
timeless classic that secured Carrolls heroine a permanent place in our collective, cultural
mythology.
This is basically fan fiction breeding fan fiction, but we categorize it differently because
Lewis Carrolls works are all in the public domain, which means anyone can take them and do
whatever they want with them. You too can write an Alice story, publish it, and be safe from
copyright infringement or intellectual property lawsuits.
When we take our writing ideas from the public domain, the work is generally referred to
(not as fan fiction, but) as a reimagining, repurposing, retelling, or recycled story. Why are
stories based on public domain works viewed and treated so differently from fan fiction? In
these projects, writers are using material that is decades old, and the new work basically
keeps the old work alive and makes it accessible to future generations.
Where Do You Get Your Writing Ideas?
All around us, there are stories being told and retold, revised and reimagined, stretched
and skewed. Today, we have such easy access to stories (theyre all right at our fingertips)
that its almost impossible not to be influenced by our favorite works. Consciously or
unconsciously, many of our writing ideas come from other writers. The only question that
remains is this: where do you think you get your writing ideas?
How to Come Up With Writing Ideas When Your Muse is on Vacation
Have you ever sat down to start a new writing project and then realized an hour later you
were still sitting there, staring idly at the blank page?
Sometimes writing ideas dont come easy.
In a writers ideal world, the blank page is something we always look forward to, a fresh
canvas that we can color with ideas and texture with language. When our muse is dancing
around, we feel motivated and inspired, so that blank page feels like the start of an exciting
adventure.
But if our mind isnt in the right place, if our muse is on vacation, that same page is
nothing but a source of frustration.
When I became a freelance writer, I had to learn how to write whether the muse was
present or not. You know how muses are, fleeting little hooligans. I couldnt rely on mine all
the time. So I learned how to get along without her. That meant coming up with my own
creative writing ideas.
Outsmarting the Missing Muse
Yes, you can get along without your muse. I wont lie to you and tell you that writing
without your muse is the same. Its less pleasant, more time consuming, and makes you feel
like a struggling hack rather than the brilliant writer that you are. Still, life (and work and
writing) goes on whether the muse is at your beck and call or not.
First, you have to figure out why your muse failed to show up. Here are some reasons mine
runs off and hides:
Im just not that into this particular project and neither is she.
The muses secret entrance is blocked by my mental stress or physical exhaustion.
She put her time in for the day and has clocked out (the wells run dry and weve run out
of writing ideas).
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Once I recognize the problem, its a little easier to cope with the muses absence. I still
miss her, but now that I know why shes a no-show, Im ready to forge ahead without her.
Forget the Muse, Discover Willpower
You see, the secret to facing the blank page without the muse is sheer determination. You
achieve this by getting into the right frame of mind and using clever tricks to convince your
brain that it can, in fact, function without the muse. I do this by telling myself any or all of the
following:
Once I get the first sentence out, the piece will start to flow.
I dont have to get it right (this is a rough draft, after all). I just have to get it written.
If I hurry up and get this done, I can do something else.
Sometimes these simple reminders are all it takes to get your word machine in good
working order. By forcing yourself to push ahead or promising yourself a fine reward, you can
actually convince your brain to become productive without its mischievous little friend. That
would be your muse, for anyone who hasnt been paying attention.
Try a New Approach for Coming up with Writing Ideas
What? You say your brain is smarter than you are, and these tricks dont work for you?
Dont worry, I have more magic up my sleeve. After all, Ive been outsmarting the muse for
over two decades.
Take a break and work on a different project.
Take a break and do something fun.
Take a break and get your blood pumping.
Now, you have to be careful when it comes to taking breaks. You dont want to stare at
that blank page for five minutes, take a twenty minute break and then just repeat that cycle
all the livelong day. That wont do you any good and your absent muse will have won.
Theres a good chance your brain just needs to do a little stretching. Ever wake up in the
morning and your muscles are all stiff? You yawn and stretch (and try to come alive).
Sometimes your brain needs to do that too.
When you switch gears and get your wheels turning on a different project, you can build
momentum for when you return to the one thats giving you a hard time. Or, you could just be
overworked and need to pamper yourself by having some fun. Play with the dog or the kids,
watch some hilarous YouTube videos, or turn up the music and dance around in your
underwear.
Uh oh. I said underwear. Here we go again.
That brings us to getting the old blood pumping. Im not a doctor and I dont play one on
TV, so I cant give you the biological physiological diatribe about how blood flow and oxygen
getting to your brain can make you more alert and get those creative juices flowing. But take
my word for it. A little workout can do wonders for encouraging the word current. (Yes,
dancing around in your underwear to really loud obnoxious music counts as a workout. Plus
its fun, so you get two for the price of one.)
You Say None of These Solutions Work for You?
If all else fails, pretend that muses are make believe and declare that youve come down
with a case of severe writers block. Take two aspirin and go lie down in a cool, dark room with
a warm washcloth on your head, pillows under your feet, and play some music for meditation.
You can go back to work and start all over tomorrow.
Yes, Im still not a doctor. No, Im not lying. This is an ancient home remedy thats been
used by non-writers for centuries, if not millennia. Dont tell me youve never heard of it. If
youre overworked, then maybe you just need to rest for a while.
When the Muse Returns
When your muse gets back and discovers all the work youve done without her, you might
want to gloat. This could discourage her from taking any sabbaticals in the future. Maybe you
dont want to hurt her feelings. If shes sensitive, then gloating might only encourage her to
take off more frequently. All muses are different and I can only suggest you learn how to deal
with yours through trial and error. But be sure to feed her plenty of cream puffs and chocolate
clairs.
You know whats coming next, dont you? Of course, because Im so predictable. I want you
to tell us all about your muse. How often does she take a vacation? How do you cope with her
absence? Have you found ways to write without your muse or are you fully codependent on
her writing ideas? Is your muse a dude?
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Do you have any tips for how to outsmart the muse and come up with your own
writing ideas? Leave a comment but dont tell the muses were talking about them.
We wouldnt want it to go to their heads.
FILED UNDER WRITING IDEAS TAGGED WITH 20 COMMENTS
Questions, Curiosity, and Writing Ideas
Even though writing ideasabound all around us, we writers sometimes get stumped.
We search for topics, plot ideas, models for our characters, and interesting language.
Unfortunately, our searches dont always yield desirable results.
But by fostering curiosity, we can ensure a constant stream of inspiration.
Some of the best writing ideas come from simply asking questions: Who? What? Where?
When? Why? How?
By using these interrogative pronouns to trigger your curiosity, you can develop questions
questions that need answers. And your answers will lead you to new writing ideas.
Curiosity Saved the Writer
Most writers are curious by nature. We look at the world around us and wonder at it. Who
are these people? What are we all doing here? Where are we heading? Why do we do the
things we do? How will we achieve our goals?
Remember how curious you were as a child? Everything you encountered spawned a series
of questions because you were trying to learn and understand the world around you.
Bring that childlike curiosity back, and youll never need to look far for now, inspiring
writing ideas.
Questions and Writing Ideas
By fostering curiosity, we can create a fountain of ideas. It doesnt matter what form your
writing takes or what genre youre writing in. By coming up with intriguing questions, youll
soon find yourself overwhelmed with inspiration.
Below are some questions that you can use to generate writing ideas. Mix them up,
change them around, and come up with your own list of questions too:
Who
Who is this story about?
Who does my main character trust? Who is the enemy?
Who in my life could inspire a poem?
Who am I?
Who does this character/person care about?
What
What are the characters goals?
What images do I want to create with a poem?
What related topics could be included in this project?
What motivates people to take drastic actions?
What if?
Where
Where can I feel this poem physically? Head? Heart? Hands?
Where did it all begin?
Where will the characters end up?
Where does this story take place?
Where do these people want to be?
When
When does a child become an adult?
When did things change for this character?
When did this story take place?
When should this story end?
Why
Why does this story matter?
Why is the protagonist evil?
Why did he/she do it?
Why would a person take a great risk?
Why are there stars in the sky?
How
How did the character land in this situation?
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How will this story make people feel?

How do the characters know each other?
How do you describe something that doesnt really exist?
How far will the main character go to achieve the goal?
Keep Asking Questions
If you can keep your curiosity on fire and continue coming up with new questions all the
time, youll find that you can write your way into answers and constantly discover new writing
ideas along the way.
Try using any of the questions above for creative writing prompts. Simply copy and paste a
question at the top of a new document (or write it in your journal) and then go just start
writing and let the answer come to you, through you, onto the page.
As you work through your writing projects, you can also use questions to help you
overcome hurdles that are preventing you from crossing the finish line. Not sure how to move
a plot forward? Start asking questions. Dont know how to make a character believable? Ask
questions. Want to write a piece that is informative and entertaining? Ask away.
Throughout time, many great thinkers have used questions to prompt creative thinking.
Sometimes, one question will simply lead to the next, and thats fine. As long as you keep
your curiosity well oiled and let those questions flow, youll never be at a loss for writing
ideas.

Creative writing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes
outside the bounds of normal professional,journalistic, academic, and technical forms of
literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, andpoems.
Writing for the screen and stage, screenwriting and playwriting respectively, typically have
their own programs of study, but fit under the creative writing category as well. Somewhere in
the educational scheme there must be encouragement for the dreams and imaginings of
youth. The student must be permitted emotional expression in order that he may be taught to
discipline his emotions. His shy fancies must be drawn out of him for the good of his soul. [1]
Creative writing can technically be considered any writing of original composition. In this
sense creative writing is a more contemporary and process-oriented name for what has been
traditionally called literature, including the variety of its genres. The practice of
"professional writing" is not excluded from creative writing one can be doing both in the
same action. In her work, Foundations of Creativity, Mary Lee Marksberry references Paul
Witty and Lou LaBrants Teaching the People's Language to define creative writing.
Marksberry notes:

Witty and LaBrant[say creative writing] is a composition of any type of writing at

any time primarily in the service of such needs as
the need for keeping records of significant experience,
the need for sharing experience with an interested group, and
the need for free individual expression which contributes to mental and physical
health.[2]

Creative writing in academiaUnlike its academic counterpart of writing classes that

teach students to compose work based on the rules of the language, creative writing is
believed to focus on students self-expression. [3] While creative writing as an educational
subject is often available at some stages, if not throughout, K12 education, perhaps the most
refined form of creative writing as an educational focus is in universities. Following a
reworking of university education in the post-war era, creative writing has progressively
gained prominence in the university setting. With the beginning of formal creative writing
program:

For the first time in the sad and enchanting history of literature, for the first time in
the glorious and dreadful history of the world, the writer was welcome in the academic
place. If the mind could be honored there, why not the imagination? [4]

[edit]Programs of study
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Creative Writing programs are typically available to writers from the high school level all
the way through graduate school. Traditionally these programs are associated with the English
departments in the respective schools, but this notion has been challenged in recent time as
more creative writing programs have spun off into their own department. Most Creative
Writing degrees for undergraduates in college are Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees (BFA).[citation
needed]
Some continue to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, the terminal degree in
the field. At one time rare, PhD. programs are becoming more prevalent in the field, as more
writers attempt to bridge the gap between academic study and artistic pursuit.
Creative writers typically decide an emphasis in either fiction or poetry, and they usually
start with short stories or simple poems. [citation needed] They then make a schedule based on this
emphasis including literature classes, education classes and workshop classes to strengthen
their skills and techniques. Though they have their own programs of study in the fields
of film andtheatre, screenwriting and playwriting have become more popular in creative
writing programs, as creative writing programs attempt to work more closely with film and
theatre programs as well as English programs. Creative writing students are encouraged to
get involved in extracurricular writing-based activities, such as publishing clubs, school-based
literary magazines or newspapers, writing contests, writing colonies or conventions, and
extended education classes.
Creative writing also takes places outside of formal university or school institutions. For
example, writer Dave Eggers set up the innovative 826 Valencia in San Francisco, where
young people write with professional writers. In the UK, the Arvon Foundation runs week long
residential creative writing courses in four historic houses.
[edit]In the classroom
Creative writing is usually taught in a workshop format rather than seminar style. In
workshops students usually submit original work for peer critique. Students also format a
writing method through the process of writing and re-writing. Some courses teach the means
to exploit or access latent creativity or more technical issues such
as editing, structural techniques, genres, random idea generating orwriter's block unblocking.
Some noted authors, such as Michael Chabon, Kazuo Ishiguro, Kevin Brockmeier, Ian
McEwan, Karl Kirchwey,[5] Rose Tremain and reputed screenwriters, such as David
Benioff, Darren Star and Peter Farrelly, have graduated from university creative writing
programs.
[edit]Controversy in academia
Creative writing is considered by some academics (mostly in the USA) to be an extension
of the English discipline, even though it is taught around the world in many languages. The
English discipline is traditionally seen as the critical study of literary forms, not the creation of
literary forms. Some academics see creative writing as a challenge to this tradition. In the UK
and Australia, as well as increasingly in the USA and the rest of the world, creative writing is
considered a discipline in its own right, not an offshoot of any other discipline.

To say that the creative has no part in education is to argue that a

university is not universal.[6]

Those who support creative writing programs either as part or separate from the English
discipline, argue for the academic worth of the creative writing experience. They argue that
creative writing hones the students abilities to clearly express their thoughts. They further
argue that creative writing also entails an in-depth study of literary terms and mechanisms so
they can be applied to the writers own work to foster improvement. These critical analysis
skills are further used in other literary study outside the creative writing sphere. Indeed the
process of creative writing, the crafting of a thought-out and original piece, is considered by
some to be experience in creative problem solving.
It is also believed by some in the academic sphere that the term "creative writing" can
include "creative reading" which is the reading of something not typically understood to be a
creative piece as though it were creative. This expanded concept further addresses the idea
of "found" materials being of literary value under a newly assigned meaning. Examples of this
might be product assembly directions being considered "found poetry."
Despite the large number of academic creative writing programs throughout the world,
many people argue that creative writing cannot be taught. Louis Menand explores the issue in
an article for the New Yorker in which he quotes Kay Boyle, the director of creative writing
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program at San Francisco State for sixteen years, who said, all creative-writing programs
ought to be abolished by law. [7]
[edit]Elements of Creative Writing
Character
Point of View
Plot
Setting
Dialogue (fiction)
Style (fiction)
Theme and Motif
[edit]Forms of creative writing
Autobiography/Memoir
Collaborative writing
Creative non-fiction (Personal & Journalistic Essays)
Epic
Flash fiction
Novel
Novella
Playwriting/Dramatic writing
Poetry
Screenwriting
Short story
Songwriting
Bibliography
Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)
[edit]See also
Asemic writing
Author
Book report
Creativity
Electronic literature
Expository writing
Fan fiction
Fiction writing
High School for Writing and Communication Arts (in New York City)
Iowa Writers' Workshop
Literature
Oneword.com
Show, don't tell
Writer's block
Writing
Writing circle
Writing process
Writing style
Tips and tricks for beginners
Do some short exercises to stretch your writing muscles if youre short of ideas,
read the Daily Writing Tips article on Writing Bursts. Many new creative writers find that
doing the washing up or weeding the garden suddenly looks appealing, compared to the effort
of sitting down and putting words onto the page. Force yourself to get through these early
doubts, and it really will get easier. Try to get into the habit of writing every day, even if its
just for ten minutes.
If youre stuck for ideas, carry a notebook everywhere and write down your
observations. Youll get some great lines of dialogue by keeping your ears open on the bus
or in cafes, and an unusual phrase may be prompted by something you see or smell.
Work out the time of day when youre at your most creative. For many writers, this
is first thing in the morning before all the demands of the day jostle for attention. Others
write well late at night, after the rest of the family have gone to bed. Dont be afraid to
experiment!
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Dont agonize over getting it right. All writers have to revise and edit their work its
rare that a story, scene or even a sentence comes out perfectly the first time. Once youve
completed the initial draft, leave the piece for a few days then come back to it fresh, with a
red pen in hand. If you know there are problems with your story but cant pinpoint them, ask a
fellow writer to read through it and give feedback.
HAVE FUN! Sometimes, we writers can end up feeling that our writing is a chore,
something that must be done, or something to procrastinate over for as long as possible. If
your plot seems wildly far-fetched, your characters bore you to tears and youre convinced
that a five-year old with a crayon could write better prose take a break. Start a completely
new project, something which is purely for fun. Write a poem or a 60-word mini saga. Just
completing a small finished piece can help if youre bogged down in a longer story.
Creative Writing Activities for Short Stories
Color Coded. Ask students to write a short story that begins with the word "blue," and in
which the first word of every paragraph is a color. Use the "color word" only once in each
paragraph, but suggest the colar in as many ways as possible. For example:
The world had turned grey. Nothing but mud and asphalt surrounded the unpainted house,
little more than a box made of concrete blocks. Charlie, dressed in faded work pants, rubber
boots, and a thick wool sweater, steadied himself with a hand on the top rail of a weathered
cedar fence. Behind him, nothing but ash-coloured sky, bare trees, and plumes of smoke
belching from the factory in the distance. A lone sparrow rested on a branch, one beady eye
watching.
Turn a poem into a short story. A poem uses tight language to convey emotional or
intellectual ideas in an imaginative and new way. A single poem can provide a rich source of
creative writing ideas for fiction writers who can use specifics in the poem as a starting point
for a narrative. Using the poem of their choice for inspiration, have group members create a
character, a setting, a situation, and a character goal, from the poem and write a short story.
For example, a whimsical visual poem by the late poet bp nichol contains only two
words,blob and plop. If you write the word blob, draw a line under it and align the
word plop under it, the visual suggestion is that of the word blob reflected in water, and
overturned, to plop. (It's a clever little poem that has to be reproduced visually for its full
effect.)
What sort of character do these two words suggest, in what setting, and what situation?
What would a character in this setting and situation want more than anything else, and what
obstacles would he or she have to overcome to attain that goal? With these components or
ones inspired by a more conventional poem, individuals may construct a story.
Dictionary Detail. A somewhat easier creative writing activity is to have each individual
choose ten random words from a dictionary and use them to suggest a character, a setting,
and a problem. Put the character into a situation where the problem is not easily overcome
and write a short story.
Unusual Sretches Often ideas come when strange or contradictory words or phrases are
strung together. When you use this creative writing activity, provide a list of mixed nonsense
proverbs and have students literalize them and write a paragraph on whichever one fires their
imagination. Explain that the paragraph needn't be perfect or polished but should "free their
muse."
[a] Beauty visits once a year.
[b] Bad news is the best medicine.
[c] Silence makes the heart grow fonder.
[d] Strike while the head wears the crown.
[e] A rolling stone is worth two in a bush.
[f] Uneasy lies the head that gathers moss.
[g] A penny is the mother of invention.
Creative Writing Activities for Dialogue
Persuasive Dialogue. Dialogue needs some form of tension or suspense to hold reader
interest. Sometimes suspense is created intrinscially, as when readers know more than the
character, and sometimes it is created extrinsically, through character conflict. Imagine two
characters. One wants to do something and the other does not. Or one wants something the
other has. Write a dialogue between these two characters, where one character is determined
not to give in to the other, to create extrinsic tension.
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Argumentative Dialogue. Dialogue simulates real conversation, it is not an exact copy.

Dialogue must be pared back to remove redundancies, mistakes, and filler words. To illustrate
this, pair individuals off and provide each pair with a subject of debate. Whichever side one's
character will take, the other's must take the opposing view. Have each pair politely and
respectfully debate their subject for five or ten minutes.
When the time is up, have each individual transcribe the dialogue as closely as possible.
Then have them remove all niceties such as please and thank you, any repetition, all filler
words, etc., to capture the essence of the argument rather than the argument in its entirety.
When they have finished, have both members of each pair read their transcriptions aloud to
see how the accounts differ. If you have time for a "Part II" to this exercise, have each pair
revise their dialogue set to include "beats," or the the "action tags" that show the small
actions characters take as they engage in dialogue.
Creative Writing Activities for Character Development
Know Your Characters. This exercise may be used in pairs or small groups and is designed
to test how well each writer knows his or her characters. Have a writer ask the person next to
him a question about his or her protagonist. This individual will answer the question and then
ask a question of another person, who will answer and ask a question of someone else.
During this creative writing activity, encourage group members to ask questions that
reveal character, rather than only questions about appearance. For example, someone might
ask "How does your character express anger?" or "Has your character ever shoplifted?"
The answers may be kept short or, if you have time, answers may explain the "why" of the
response, such as "My character suppresses his anger because when he was a teenager, in a
fit of rage, he slammed the car door as hard as he could and caught his dog in the door as the
dog tried to jump out after him. This broke his dog's spine, and the animal had to be put to
sleep. Ever since, the character avoids confrontation, and when faced with the anger of
another turns pale and stutters."
Memorable Characters. An individual in the group names a character from a book or short
story and explains in detail what made this character memorable. Then, using word
association, the person next to him or her picks up on something the first individual said, tells
the group what triggered the association, and then names another character, providing a
similar explanation.
Name That Character Give each small group or pair a photograph of a person. The
photographs can be close up headshots, distance shots, or activity shots. Ask each group to
suggest a name for the character, based on whatever they can learn or intuit from the image.
The groups should discuss this for several minutes and then choose a spokesperson to
present the group decision to the class with an explanation of why they chose the name they
did.
Creative Writing Activities to Encourage Dramatization (Show Don't Tell)
Show and Tell Learning to "show" rather than "tell" is an important writing skill, but
showing is not always appropriate, and there is also a place for narrative summary,
particularly between active scenes. Discuss the appropriate use of dramatization and
narrative summary, and provide students with an example of each.
Then present individuals or small groups with a statement that inappropriately "tells," such
as "Jane was angry with her father." Have them change the telling into active showing by
writing a passage that first dramatizes the statement. Then have them summarize the same
passage in vivid and appropriate detail. When everyone has finished, have each individual or
a member from each group read the passages aloud to the entire class or workshop.
Creative Writing Activities for Setting or Description
Everything but the Eyes Many of us are visually oriented. We forget that others may
respond equally well to a sense of smell or hearing. Ask writers to describe a place of
importance to them using sensory details of taste, smell, hearing or touch. Anything except
the visual.
Photo Shuffle This exercise encourages vivid description and also illustrates how
perception will vary from person to person. Have each member in the class or workshop bring
in a photograph or image, along with a short written passage describing what the image
signifies to the individual. Collect the images, shuffle them and pass them out, so that no one
56

has the image with which he or she arrived. Now have each person write a passage that
describes the subject or event shown in the photo and what it signifies. Then have each
individual read his work aloud. Following this, ask the owner of the image explain what the
photo meant to him or her.
Skimping on Adjectives
Creative writing instructors often caution against using too many adverbs, but adjectives
too can become problematic if overused. To combat that, have students or workshop
members perform a simple creative writing activity: Describe something in detail without
using adjectives. Notethe use of color is permitted.
Creative Writing Activities That Put the Focus on Diction
Consider the extraordinary sentence below, by Vladimir Nabokov, from his novel Pnin.
The brook in the gully behind the garden, a trembling trickle most of the time, was tonight
a loud torrent that tumbled over itself in its avid truckling to gravity, as it carried through
corridors of beech and spruce last year's leaves, and some leafless twigs, and a brand-new,
unwanted soccer ball that had recently rolled into the water from the sloping lawn after Pnin
disposed of it by defenestration. (p.108)
Ask students to name the ways this sentence imitates or draw parallels with the brook it
describes?
Word String Good diction can make the difference between an ordinary piece of writing
and a spectacular one. This exercise is designed to have individuals notice the language used
in a piece of writing and encourages them to expand their own repertoires. Distribute a short
story to everyone in the group and have them read it. Ask them to make an A-Z list of
appealing words from the story, one word for each letter of the alphabet. When everyone has
finished, suggest a starting word, and have someone choose a word from his or her list that
begins with the final letter of your original word. Have each person in turn add a word that
begins with the final letter of the word that came before it. Alternatively, have them create a
piece of flash fiction one word at a time, with each student contributing where possible.
Alphabetical Sentence To spark new and unusual ideas, have students work alone or in
small groups to write a sentence where each subsequent word begins with the next letter of
the alphabet. For instance:
"Acids, bases, compounds" Dorothy explains, "for group homework." Instantly jaded,
knowing long monosyllabic nonsense oozes, pupils quickly revolt.
Have students go on for as long as they are able (X,Y, Z can get a little tricky), and then if
you like, have them work in the reverse direction. Or ask them to use the idea, setting, or
character that resulted to write a short piece of fiction. Such limited constraints will
sometimes yield fresh and surprising concepts or descriptions.
Removing Stale Similes To inspire fresh language and avoid phrases such as "melt like
butter," "fresh as a daisy" and "slippery as an eel," make a list of the beginning of similes,
similar to the example below, and have students complete these phrases with new
comparisons that help lift the prose.
As cold as __________
As unpredictable as ______________
White like a _______________
As an accompanying creative writing exercise, a discussion of what a simile should not be
would have value. Students could choose the worst simile they can find from sites such asThe
Manbottle. They could then explain to the others why the simile does not work.
Creative writing is writing that expresses the writers thoughts and feelings in an
imaginative, often unique, and poetic way.
(Sil.org What is Creative Writing?)
Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see all around
us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to
save themselves, to survive as individuals.
(Don DeLillo)
Definition of Prose Literary Term
Prose is ordinary language that people use in writing such as poetry, stories, editorials, books,
etc. The word prose is derived from the Latin word 'prosa' meaning straightforward.
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Prose comes in two types of text - narrative and expository. Narrative text is defined as
"something that is narrated such as a story. Expository text is non-fiction reading material
such as Description, Analysis, Classification etc.
Translation of Poems
When a poem, especially an epic poem such as the Iliad, is translated from one language into
another, the poem is often converted into prose.
What is the difference between Prose and Poetry?
Prose is not confined to poetic measures and is usually grouped into paragraphs. Prose lacks
a specific rhythm or the rhymes that can be found in poetry.
Poetry aims to convey ideas and emotional experiences through the use of meter, rhyme,
imagery in a carefully constructed metrical structure based on rhythmic patterns.
What is Prose Poetry?
Prose poetry combines the characteristics of poetry with the apparent appearance of prose
containing traces of metrical structure or verse. Prose poetry deliberately breaks some of the
normal rules of prose to create heightened imagery or emotional effect.
What is Free Verse?
Free verse is a form of poetry which uses fewer rules and limitations using either rhymed or
unrhymed lines that have no set fixed metrical pattern. The early 20th-century poets were the
first to write what they called "free verse" which allowed them to break from the formula and
rigidity of traditional poetry.

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