True Tales

Writing Games & Exercises

Timed writings and other writing games can be the catalyst for some of your best stories. All of these exercises are great for groups, and most also work for just one. Allow a good 30 minutes of your group’s time for the game itself and also for sharing your pieces with each other. The key to all of these games is spontaneity. Completely shut down the "internal editor" and let emerge whatever is calling to be heard. Also, you can use these same exercises on your own to get your creative juices flowing and hone your writing style.

Usually in a 5-minute timed writing you can produce one or two paragraphs. The most important thing is to immediately start writing, without hesitation, whatever comes out… "I think this is such a stupid game and the word “Kleenexâ€Â really does nothing for me. Kleenex Kleenex Kleenex shmeenex. OK. So the Kleenex is popping up out of the box. The box of Kleenex is next to a huge arrangement of gorgeous flowers, a glass of water and some throat lozenges in a crystal dish. Everything, and everyone, is waiting for the arrival of …" Don’t edit, look for better words, or cross anything out. Let the story come out. You can go back later and elaborate or improve descriptions, etc.

MAGIC HAT

Take a brainstorming session (singularly or with the group) and generate a list of topics. Cut each topic into a separate piece of paper, fold in half, and place in a hat, basket, box, or whatever. Each person picks a topic for a timed writing of at least five minutes. If someone really does not want or resonate with the topic picked, simply pick another.

TRIGGER

It’s fun to do two or three of these in a row. The leader asks everyone for a word. The first word, whatever it is, is the word. It’s the first thing that comes to mind, the first thing someone sees, whatever. We’ve had great stories come from words like toe, bracelet, night, shawl, Mercedes, and so on. Everyone immediately writes for at least 3 minutes (5 minutes is good); whatever that word triggers. Be prepared for some surprises. It is amazing how memories are awakened with a simple word.

SENSES

Describe the scene that an event/story takes place in (for instance, Mohinder’s Fancy Handloom shop in Amritsar). First write a paragraph that solely gives a visual description. Then write a paragraph that is only tactile (what does it feel like?), and so on, completing one paragraph for each of the senses: sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound. You won’t need all of this information to write a good paragraph, but this technique helps you to create an environment that your reader can almost physically step into. Using the senses as much as possible in creating the scene of your story also places you there and details from your memory of the event surface more easily.

INNER WISDOM

This exercise is in three parts. (1) Imagine yourself alone with SSSji/Yogiji at any time you choose from your life — past, present or future. Imagine all the details of sitting with him and the environment and your circumstance at that time. Write this in the present tense. (2) It is just the two of you and you can ask him any question that is on your mind. What do you want to ask? (3) Now write down his response. (Try this with different ages/years. For instance, you are 6 years old, 12 years old, the present, 85 years old, etc.)

BIOGRAPHY

The names of everyone present are written down. Everyone draws a name. Write for 5-10 minutes any story about that person, observation, lesson, or anything.

SCAR TISSUE

Choose a single imperfection you have noticed in someone close to you (person does not have to be present and identity does not have to be given). Write about this flaw from the point of view of someone who finds it beautiful.

ABOUT FACE

Right now, turn around and look straight behind you. Write for five or ten minutes about the first thing you see.

SHOW AND TELL

Think of someone you know from one of your stories. Then, write down five adjectives to describe that person. Next, for each adjective, write down three specific actions, habits, or snippets of dialogue that prove that thing to be true. This exercise helps to improve your writing style and bring more life to your stories through use of Verbs & Nouns rather than Adjectives and Adverbs; Illustration rather than Description.

ABSTRACT

Each person (or the group) chooses any abstract noun, such as love, peace, tragedy, blessing, ego, awe, etc. Now write a paragraph describing that word without using that word, any of its synonyms, or any opposite. You might describe a scene or event that illustrates the meaning of the word. For a twist, each person keeps their word a secret; when they share their paragraph the group guesses the word.

STEPPING STONES

This exercise could be done as a group for a longer timed writing (at least 30 minutes). Dialog brings life to your stories! This exercise is a tool for creating dialog that is true to the speaker and expresses who that speaker is. You will probably find it most effective individually, when you can devote more time. Each person should have a scene or story in mind (even one that’s already written) It’s a good technique to use on your own for building effective and engaging dialog for your stories. For full instructions see: http://www.storyhelp.com/sampleex.html

MORE EXERCISES

Go to http://www.poewar.com/writing-exercises/ for more writing tips and exercises.