Three West » Writing Exercises

Writing Voice Exercise – A Narcissistic Character

Tressa Sanders — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:15:39 +0000

Exercise: Create a self-centered, insecure, character using a narcissistic voice. Place the character in a corporate setting where he or she expected a promotion but did not get it. Instead, the promotion went to a person your character does not respect based on some frivolous trait the person has. Be sure to include thoughts and dialogue to create a three dimensional portrait of your narcissistic character.

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise is to help you understand different personalities and how you must bring them to life in your stories.

With a Narcissistic personality “people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. They believe that they’re superior to others and have little regard for other people’s feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.” – Mayo Clinic

Your goal then would be to also make the contrast between what this person shows on the outside and what they feel on the inside and how this duality would affect how they perceive disappointment, what they feel they deserve in life and work, and his or her relationships.

Tips: Before you start this exercise decide what this character feels he or she is superior at. Then decide what this person is truly capable of and what others around them feel he or she is capable of. Also include dialogue within his or her own thoughts as well as dialogue this person has with co-workers before they learn they didn’t get the promotion and after they learn this information.

If you would like to have your story posted, please fill out this submission form. By submitting your work, you can gain valuable feedback from myself and fellow readers. I reserve the right to decline any submission for any reason.

Creative Writing Exercise – 24 Hours to Live

Tressa Sanders — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:42:51 +0000

Exercise: You have 24 hours to live. Write a short story based on this. Maximum length is 3 pages. There are no restrictions on what you can write about. You have to have a minimum of 3 characters and 3 different locations.

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise is to help you learn to take a simple concept and turn it into a piece of work you and your readers can enjoy. You have a short span (3 pages) in which you can build characters and develop a meaningful and interesting story. This exercise also gives you the opportunity to write about what you would like to write about without having to consider what you think readers would like to read. I’ve always written what I enjoy reading because I love to read my own work. In doing so, I feel I have been able to create more interesting stories and I discovered that others also liked reading what I enjoy reading as well. So take this opportunity to just think about you.

Tips: This is a creative writing exercise, think outside the box. You have 24 hours to live, 3 characters, and 3 locations are the only things you have to consider when writing the story. You don’t even have to be a human being, be on planet earth, be in the present, or even die at the end. Be creative!

Creative Writing Exercise – Using a Jump Starter

Tressa Sanders — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:18:56 +0000

Exercise: Read the paragraph below and write at least four paragraphs to extend the story. There are no rules to what you can add. Once you start writing try not to go back and take it in another direction.

Purpose:The purpose of this exercise is to help you get used to writing from your own creative reservoir and to get you to write based on your mood at that very moment (not what you think readers will want to read). While a jump starter may spark your creative energies, it doesn’t tell you were to go from there. It is completely up to you. A creative writer has to be come comfortable with making decisions about a storyline. Don’t second guess where you are going with it, just go with what you feel at that moment.

Tips: Try not to spend too much time thinking about what to add to this paragraph, just write! Challenge yourself to take it some place one would never expect. For instance, I could have written about two people falling in love in an orchard and you could have added imagery of the couple actually being in the imagination of a disabled woman who stares at a plastic couple inside of a snow globe everyday, wishing her life were different. Get my drift?

Add to the following paragraph: Joyce tried to blink her eyes; nothing. Her eyes were so dry they hurt. She couldn’t bare another moment of it. Joyce attempted to use her hands to close her eyelids but they too would not move. In a panic, she tired moving other parts of her body. Nothing would move. She tried to scream but also paralyzed, her mouth would not open. Joyce frantically replayed the day’s events in her mind hoping to find some answers. “Where was she? Why couldn’t she move?” she thought.

Character Development Exercise – Love, Compassion

Tressa Sanders — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:59:07 +0000

Exercise: Write one or two scenes using a male and female character who are loving and compassionate not only to others but to themselves as well. They do not have to be a part of the same storyline/scene.

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise is to help you learn and get used to using emotions to enhance the characters you create when writing creatively. Part of what makes a good creative story a wonder to read is the writer’s ability to take readers on an emotional journey through storytelling and character development.

Emotion(s): Love, compassion

Sex: Male, Female

The Basics for Character Depth: Names
Appearance
Possessions / props
Speech
Body language
Habits
Behaviour
Background
Major traits

Tips: Before you start this exercise take some time to get a feel of what “love” and “compassion” actually mean to you. What does it mean to “love” someone? What is compassion? What are some of the many ways someone can show love and compassion? Be sure to relax and let yourself feel these emotions as you write. While you are writing, live in the moment. Live in your own story because when you stop typing or when you put your pen or pencil down, then the world reappears around you. Until then, it doesn’t exist.