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4 Easy Writing Exercises to get the Creative Juices Flowing

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Freelance writing can be an incredibly rewarding career. It lets you be the crafter of something that other people will find useful and enjoyable. Additionally, the entire process of writing can be therapeutic by unlocking hidden feelings and emotions. If you’re having a hard time getting your creative juices flowing and tend to clamp up the second your fingers touch the keyboard then try these four writing exercises that will get you on the path to creating a beautiful piece of writing. If you’re new to writing than these exercises will help get you started and if you’re seasoned then they will help sharpen your skills.

 

1.  Non-Verbal Writing

In this writing exercise, you are to describe a scene that has at least two characters that can only communicate through their body language. They are unable to use any verbal dialog. For instance, you can write about two lovers who are looking at each other across a dining room table. They are angry at each other, but still very much in love. What type of body language would they portray? What kind of non-verbal signals would they use? Doing this writing exercise will teach you how to master your observation skills and enables you to realize how much you can truly convey through your writing by using non-verbal communication.

 

2.  Freewrite

One of the most popular ways of getting your creative juices flowing is to freewrite. This is also one of the easiest and is sometimes called stream-of-consciousness writing. It involves writing without thinking too much about what it is you are writing for a certain amount of time. Try keeping your mind off of the technical and content aspects such as spelling and grammar. This can be a very liberating process that reveals your subconscious emotions. It is recommended that you use paper and a pencil and not a computer when you’re freewriting. Try also putting certain parameters such as a word count or a time limit and then simply let your words flow onto the paper. Do not censor yourself and even if your mind is blank continue to keep your pencil moving.

 

3.  Use a Prompt

Using a prompt is one of the most effective and simplest ways of fostering your creativity. Creative prompts will give you an inventive start, setting or even end to a story that will allow you to get your brain turning. These prompts can be very simple, such as end your story with the line “That was the last time that he ever saw her.” Or your prompt can be extremely detailed such as “You are in the Mojave desert with no recollection of how you got there. You have a bottle in your hand and a note that says to go left.” Prompts may also provide you with a situation and ask that you elaborate on it. For instance, “your main character is asked out on a date with the most gorgeous women he has ever met. Who is it? And what does he say?” Simply looking up creative prompts on the Internet will churn up plenty for you to work with.

 

4.  Write About a Memorable Event

Look deep into your past in order to find a negative or positive memory. Attempt to visualize it vividly and how it made you feel. Focus in on that feeling, and describe it without naming it. Utilize such indicators as a beating heart or sweaty palms in order to explain the emotion. This will encourage you to be more aware of the emotions and feelings that affect you and will foster your ability to write about them.

 

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Cameron Mackey

Cameron is the Content Manager for the Vorongo Blog. He has spent three years in various content marketing roles. When he is not working with Vorongo he enjoys photography and hiking.

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