Exercises for Writer's Groups and Workshops
Creative Writing Warm-ups and Ideas for Peer or Tutor Led Groups
Sep 24, 2008
All these exercises are suitable for peer or tutor led groups and can be followed by a read-round and discussion of any ideas or questions they raise. They may be used simply to start or end a session, or as the starting point for developing new writing.
Ice-breaking
In pairs, find out each other’s name, reason for joining the group, favourite sort of writing and something no-one else would never know just from appearance.
This should be an interest, unusual experience or similar – the leader should stress that the aim of the exercise is not personal revelation!
Make notes and use them to introduce each other to the group. This can either be done just using the notes, or developed so that each person writes their partner’s details into a paragraph as though it were part of a story and then reads it.
Warm-up Exercises
1. The Last thing I Read……
The different parts of this exercise are best given one at a time, with a few moments allowed for writing down the answer between them.
Everyone is asked to write down the name of the last novel they read.
When they think of this novel, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
In one or two sentences write down why they liked/disliked this novel.
Pare the novel down to a single sentence that sums up its core theme.
Choose one character from the novel and write a short description of that person’s appeal/lack of appeal.
2. Persuading and dissuading
Write 100 words persuading the rest of the group to visit somewhere special.
Cut the 100 words down to 50 and put everyone off.
3. Opening Lines
The leader asks the group to recall opening lines from novels they have read – discuss what these openings offer that not only engage the reader but remain in the mind long after the book is closed.
As a group, compile a list of features from each suggestion and compare them – are there patterns or particular elements that come up more than once?
With these in mind, write six opening lines for novels or stories – any genre, any style - that will make the reader want to know what comes next.
4. Words and Pictures
The group leader needs to provide a picture for each writer, taken at random from a magazine – in colour is best with a varied range of subject matter.
Each writer uses the picture they have been given as the starting point for either a romance that includes sentence 1, or a horror story using sentence 2.
1. She knew she should never have come back.
2. The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements.
The aim here is just to to create beginnings and discuss what makes them effective - if they are later developed into a story, that’s a bonus!
End on A High Note
This is a good exercise to round-off a session and send the writers home with their aims in focus.
What is the book they long to write?
Does it have a title yet? If not, what might it be?
What sort of book will it be?
See it on the shelf in a major bookstore – what section is it in and what does it look like?
What do review snippets on the back cover say?
What does the description of the author on the flyleaf say?
Keeping a group lively and motivated is the key to success – a store-cupboard of exercises can play a vital part in keeping the energy flowing and the writing hands moving.
 |
