Even
changing the POV for the next WIP and
changing the narrative from the third person to the first person is a
part of the writing exercise. Trying different forms of fiction: Short story, Flash Fiction (100 to 1000 words), Micro
fiction (140 words), Drabble (100 words)
even Haikus (17 words in three stanzas of 5,7,5) is a wonderful way to give that small muscle an intense workout.
Except
for the short story, the other four are
like heavy duty calisthenics for our writing muscle, flushing it with the feel
good endorphins, when we see that we have managed to express ourselves well while
keeping within the strict word counts
required by drabble, haikus, flash fiction and micro fiction. To say a
lot and to say it well using less number of words is the best reward we writers can give
ourselves.
Sometimes
even spending a few minutes describing what we see around us is a fantastic way
of exercising those creative cells. Just describing the scene we see in front
of us: it could a be crowded hospital lobby, a traffic jam, a small child
throwing a tantrum, or an old couple sitting
on a park bench, with all five of our senses has outstanding results. Sensory
descriptions is gentle like yoga. It slowly stretches that muscle we writers cannot do without. These random descriptions and
scenes can sometimes creep into our manuscripts in one way or the other, or maybe stick around in our minds long enough
to give birth to some other strain of
creativity.
Another
great way to stretch that muscle is putting our MC in a What If situation. What
if our MC is stranded on an island? What
if he wins a lottery? What if the bus he is traveling in gets hijacked? What if
loses his job? What if he unknowingly
befriends a criminal? What if he ends up witnessing a murder? What if he
or she is kidnapped by an alien?
The answers to all these What If
questions can trigger s series of plot points or lead us into introducing those
much needed twists and turns that we crave. Maybe it may even direct us to the
doorstep of an entire new character who can turn the story on its head.
How do
you all exercise the writing muscle? What kind of work out do you do to keep that muscle in peak condition? Do you have any workout
tips for us?
Great post, Rachna! Loved the What If questions. Will surely try them.
ReplyDeleteReading helps and inspires my writing. So do long hikes and meditation.
ReplyDeleteI try to exercise it, but it's hard work! I often do the "What if my Mc...?" kind of thing. It's very helpful.
ReplyDeleteIt's very true that by exercising our writing ability we can keep it in top shape. Every once in a while, I write a poem. Or I try to describe something mundane in a different way. Attending my writer's group and giving critiques is another way I exercise my brain because thinking about someone else's work and how they can improve it is a challenge I like to engage in.
ReplyDeleteJai
Great Post, Rachna. For awhile I tried writing fast fiction exercises from Roberta Allen's FAST FICTION, CREATING FICTION IN FIVE MINUTES. You had to write to a theme on her list without stopping for five minutes and then stop. But you had to try for a beginning, middle, and end. I actually got some flash stories out of these (and they got published). But an additional benefit was learning to write to the word limitation of a picture book (since writing for children is my main writing love).
ReplyDeleteSome great ideas here--thanks for the suggestions! Sometimes I pick out a writing exercise I find in writer's books to start the creative juices going. Other times I try my hand at acrostics. They can be fun, too :-)
ReplyDeleteJust like real life exercise is work! I try and do a few things a month to keep my muscles strong. I have to read, I love to play with my thesaurus and read some more. SO important if we want to continue to grow!
ReplyDeleteThese are all excellent suggestions and reminders. I remember a fellow writer once suggested doing calculus, since it stretches the brain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post. I'd never thought about it that way, but it makes sense--creativity is earned!
Always love this comparison of exercise and writing. To stretch my writing muscles, I write different things, read, critique writer friends' work, etc. Good post!
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday,
Karen :)
I'm stretching my writing muscle with my current wip. Different pov than I'm used to. Different gender. Different genre. I'm trying something new, and it's fun!
ReplyDeleteAnd before I begin a manuscript, I read Plot & Structure as a way to remind myself of what good stuff I need to toss in the first draft.
Great post!
Most of my brain-cersize is done via short story format.
ReplyDeleteI can get gritty and mean or fluffy and pink, or even very snooty and obtuse, it doesn't matter.
I can even hate my MC in this format, which is a great relief after having to love one for so long, in novel format.
Great post!
We continue to be on the same page, Rachna. Great thoughts! I was just thinking about this very topic today ... how, when I became interested in outdoor running, it also started to exercise my MIND more. I find that, somehow, some of my best writing ideas come up while I'm exercising. The 45 minutes kind of frees me to think, brainstorm, and free associate without even knowing it. I've had to get back home to jot down some lines that just 'appeared' to me. I also think that blogging is a great exercise for the mind. You're writing, thinking about audience, thinking of how you can most creatively convey your insight. The other way I exercise my writing muscles is to READ...Reading the work of others is often a catalyst for new, fresh ideas of my own.
ReplyDeletePS - my blog today talks about the very issue of sensory description that you mention.
Rachna,
ReplyDeleteYou suggested the very nice exercises and activities for our minds.it's useful not only for writers but every creative person.
i usually use writing daily dairy----or report about my daily works.and in this writing i try to write/ad some small poems/haiku also.
Hemant
I love these suggestions to give our writing brains an exercise. Our brains, just as much as our bodies, need a good workout.
ReplyDelete