Invention and imagination writing exercises are not about a writer reflecting directly on their own experience as they may do perhaps in a diary or journal detailing day-to-day life, events or day dreams as they happen. Rather these exercises are about a writer using the raw material of their experience and moulding it into a story.
These exercises require more forethought and planning than, say, free writing. In free writing the aim is to get down on paper as quickly as possible whatever the mind conjures up.
These exercises will still give the writer plenty of raw material to work with, using a prompt or suggestion as a beginning, but it comes onto the paper, or screen, more fully formed and in a less frantic fashion than in free writing exercises.
Another type of exercise that is similar is First Line Bounce Offs. This is where the first line of the story is already provided for the writer.
It is unlikely that the writer will complete this type of exercise in one go. It may take several sessions to get a basic draft finished.
Isolate the Key Ideas
Once a basic draft is complete, take some time to isolate the key ideas and elements of the story. The original idea may have been about a family trip to the zoo - driving there, having lunch, seeing the animals. After some reflection however, it may become clear to the writer that the story is really the interaction between a mother and her new step-son. The trip to the zoo is not the story but rather just the backdrop to it.
Rather than the story not being as clear as it could, the writer may find, on reflection, that the story has a number of elements that are not compatiable. The writer may have material for three or four different stories and will need to tease them out from one another.
Develop the Story
Once the core idea for the story is in clear focus, continue working on the material. Consider the time in which the story is set, for example, modern day, last century or the one before. Perhaps experiment with points of view and style. Develop the characters through their voices, their body language, their interactions with other characters, how they deal with a crisis.
Most important of all is for the writer to use their imagination which is, after all, the best tool they have.
Suggestions
- scientists have discovered our calendar is out and we need to add an entire day to next year. Write about the 31st June
- describe two people playing a game of chess, including who they are and why they are playing
- write about reaching the top of Mt. Everest, what you imagine the feeling to be like, the view from the top would be
- describe someone or something digging a hole, who or what are they and why they are digging the hole
- describe swimming, complete with scuba gear and photography equipment, through an underground river
- write about an event in a character's dream that becomes reality
- describe a beginning of some kind eg the beginning of a relationship, building a new house, knitting a pair of gloves, the first strokes of a painting
- describe two shadows meeting in a moonlit forest
- write about the second to last day of a six month trek
- write about a mouse with the brain power of Einstein
- write about a sound that breaks a long silence
- describe a secret life of a librarian, of an accountant, of a garbage collector.
Writing exercises of all kinds are a great way of building up a data bank of material that a writer can dip into and use in their writing.
For more ideas try Writing Exercises.
