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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

creative writing exercises

Jump-Start Your Imagination with Story Starter First Lines

February 5, 2017 by Kathy Steffen 22 Comments

One way to fire up your imagination? Creative writing exercises focused on the first line of a story. Below is a list of first lines for you to use to hone your storytelling and writing skills.

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: amwriting, creative writing exercises, ideas, inspiration, muse, writing prompts

Creative Writing Exercises: Cross Train for Story Ideas

November 8, 2013 by Kathy Steffen 4 Comments
creative writing exercises

Use cross thinking to get you to think differently and allow a story idea to come literally from nowhere. A great idea may hit you during these creative writing exercises, or more likely, a few hours later when you are eating, running, taking a shower, while sleeping, the next morning…Why not wake up your muse … [Read more…]

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: creative writing exercises, creative writing prompts, story ideas

Just Look Around: Ideas to Write About

September 13, 2013 by Kathy Steffen 2 Comments
how to find ideas to write about writing inspiration prompts

When I speak about writing, one question I always get asked is “Where do you get ideas to write about?” Listeners lean forward expecting to hear how ideas come to me in a mystical, writing-magic moment, or how I begin by developing characters (or setting, or story) or how I am inspired by my muse. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Craft, Writing Life, Writing Prompts Tagged: creative writing exercises, creative writing prompts, writing inspiration

Writing Prompts Memories and Shared Past

May 28, 2012 by Lori Devoti 1 Comment
writing prompts memories and shared pasts

Writing Prompts Memories and Shared Past… Kathy Steffen has posted on using significant objects as writing prompts. Today, I thought we’d take that a bit further and use objects from our shared past and our memories around those objects as writing prompts. Below is a list of things to stir your memories as writing prompts. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Craft, Writing Life, Writing Prompts Tagged: creative writing exercises, creative writing prompts, writing prompts, writing with objects

Character Traits: Your Character’s Job

April 27, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 5 Comments
character creation sheet

What your character does is an important piece of who he or she is. Below are some writing prompts to help you dig into your character and find your story through your character.

Posted in: Characters, Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: character traits, creative writing exercises, writing characters, writing prompts
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Featured Book

The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
by Christopher Vogler

The Writer’s Journey explores the relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style.

Want help plotting great stories that grab readers?

The Writer’s Journey is on our MUST read list.

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Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

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