Writing Activities to Feed the Imagination

Kick-Start Any Writing Session With This Idea-Expanding Exercise

Sep 9, 2009

Some mornings the writing just won't flow - so what is a writer supposed to do? Perhaps it's time to "FIND" the imagination: Find, Explore, Explain then Diverge.

This writing activity is fun for any jaded author. It works for novelists who are roadblocked, or for those are just looking for an idea. In fact, it's possible for these four simple steps to release a torrent of story ideas.

Step 1 of the 'FEED' Writing Exercise – F is for Find

To get started, simply find a quotation that makes a comment about people – preferably, about the human condition. For example, here is a quote from writer Maya Angelou:

"I speak to the black experience, but I am always talking about the human condition - about what we can endure, dream, fail at, and still survive."

There are countless quotation sites on the Internet. In 15 minutes, find as many quotes as possible, copying and pasting each one that appeals. (Microsoft's ONE NOTE is handy for this – there's no need to save a document: simply open ONE NOTE and start pasting. It is automatically saved.)

Tip for Writers: For the best results, avoid copying just any old quote. Make it a quotation that evokes a reaction like "That's so true!" or "That's really funny".

Step 2 of the 'FEED' Writing Exercise – E is for Explain

The next step is to read through the list of quotations and pick the one that resonates most. That's the one that is copied and pasted on to a new page. Once that's done, it's time to delve deeper, using some of the techniques that writers practice so often to EXPLAIN why this quotation prompted such a gut reaction. Some helpful questions to think about before starting to write are:

Step 3 of the 'FEED' Writing Exercise – E is for Explore

The next step is to EXPLORE: Where does this quotation lead? What paths might someone explore, starting from the emotions or memories that have been brought to the surface? Is it possible to apply insights from this step to the characters or plot of a work in progress?

Exploration can involve following up with visits to related Internet sites; phoning a relative for a chat or to ask questions, visiting a library, or simply writing page after page to see where it leads.

Tip for Writers: To see just how far this exploration step can lead, try a mind-map. Put the original quotation in the middle of a page, then link any associated thoughts/ideas/information. Branch out further from any one of those thoughts. It can be a real eye-opener to see just how far the journey extends!

Step 4 of the 'FEED' Writing Exercise – D is for Diverge

The original quotation has already led to a fascinating journey of exploration. Now it's time to DIVERGE. This will lead to a whole lot of new thoughts and ideas. It's also an excellent exercise in writing from different viewpoints.

The "Feed Your Imagination" writing activity can be used simply to get an author's creative juices flowing, or to develop plots and characters. It can also easily be tied into a writer's work in progress. To do this, simply search for a quotation that sounds like something the main character might say, then follow the rest of the steps.

The copyright of the article Writing Activities to Feed the Imagination in Writing Fiction is owned by Marg McAlister. Permission to republish Writing Activities to Feed the Imagination in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.