Writing Exercises to Break That Funk

Winter usually means hibernation time for several animals, including me. I've notice  that two seasons force me to retreat for weeks in my writing cave: summer and winter. I can't say why, but it's a pattern, so I'm going with it.

Shutting myself away to pen voices and verse allows me to shed the real world and build fictional ones. There are so many rules out here and news events that stifle my creative mind. The more I'm detached from what's actually happening, the more I can focus on worlds I wish were happening.

This new year, I started a new writing routine. It was painful at first, but I've managed to get it to normal. I set my alarm thirty minutes earlier during the work week. This gives me 30-40 minutes of silent writing time. At first, I was working on my projects, but I found that it took me almost that much time to warm up, so by the time I got to anything juicy, it was time to go to work.

Plan B: exercise.

On my shelf, I found a writing book I'd bought but never read. (Actually, I found a few, but I chose this one for now.) The book has become my morning Bible. It's chock full of great writing exercises that give my imagination the jump start it needs. As my work day moves along, the exercises continue to do their magic. By the end of the week, I've completed a handful of them, and Saturday morning, there's no writer's block. I'm ready to roll.

The book: NAMING THE WORLD edited by Bret Anthony Johnston

Inside: Johnston collected a variety of writing exercises from known and unknown writers and teachers. Each writer introduces his exercise. The book is divided into sections that focus on things like, Getting Started, Character, Plot, etc.

Here's one to get you going. If you like it, I'll be sharing more, but I highly recommend this book. It's saved my writing life.

The first exercise in the book comes from writer John Dufresne.

Start with a line:  "Most things will never happen; this one will." It's a line taken from Philip Larkin ("with liberties). 
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Try it out, and see where it takes you. You might be surprised. Good luck!

That's my story, what's yours?

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