Random Writing Exercises Using Existing Media
So just some ideas I've been playing with for a while. I thought they'd be useful in times of writer's block, or even just extreme boredom. Maybe you need to take a break from a story you're working on, but you still want to write SOMETHING. Also, these techniques are a great opportunity to practice detailed description; bringing life to the people, places, and things you write about. Enjoy!
1. Take a photograph. Examine it closely. Determine not only what is happening in the photograph, but the reasons behind the event/s. If there is a person in the photo, study their face. What are they thinking? What are they feeling? Who are they? What motivates them? After taking time to think this over, write a short poem or story about the image.
2. Pick any song. Make sure your iPod is on repeat. Listen to the song over and over and over. Be familiar with the lyrics. Who is the singer? Why do they care about the subject matter of the song? What is the subject matter of the song? Write a short fictional piece inspired by the lyrics and transpose the atmosphere of the music into the work.
3. Watch a short clip from a movie or TV show. If you're feeling even more adventurous, choose one you've never heard of. Watch the scene a few times until you're comfortable with it. Then transcribe the entire scene onto paper, in your words. And I don't just mean floating heads dialogue. Capture the setting, the expressions of the characters, every minute detail into your writing.
Just a few thoughts. Hope this is helpful!
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