Characterization Exercises

May 25, 2017

The Concealed Carry Writing Prompt for Fashionistas

Guns, knives, garrotes, guillotines – some weapons are more easily concealed than others. And unless you want to use the “Where was he hiding that?!” joke, it’s something you want to think about before writing the scene, and the concealed carry writing prompt for fashionistas will walk you through the basic considerations required. Well, required for fiction. I have no...

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May 16, 2017

A Writing Prompt for the Braindead

Talked to any teachers lately? I have, and I can tell you that they are simultaneously seriously overworked and seriously excited as the school year comes to a close. In honor of that hair’s edge of consciousness, here is a writing prompt for the braindead. Designing a writing prompt for the braindead is like setting up a marathon for the...

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March 7, 2017

A One-track Mind Writing Prompt Challenge

Yes, the phrase “a one-track mind” often has connotations of X-rated content; however, all it really means is that person is fixated on a specific topic. It could be a video game that a person loves, a show someone watches all the time, a favorite author, a significant other, politics, world news, dieting, a pet – anything a person could...

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February 16, 2017

3 Types of Appeals as Writing Prompts

What on earth is an appeal? Isn’t that something you do when a trial goes the wrong way? (Kind of, but no). The 3 types of appeals I’m talking about are rhetorical techniques. If you’re unfamiliar with the term rhetoric, think of it as the art of persuasion whether in speech or writing. To use these appeals as writing prompts (or even...

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December 15, 2016

Holiday Heaven or Hell: A Writing Prompt for Points of View Practice

What do the holidays mean to you? Have you been looking forward to Christmas since December 26th, 2015, or dreading the holiday’s approach since big box stores starting playing carols in September? Why do people even have such different points of views in the first place? Explore the reasons with this writing prompt: Holiday Heaven or Hell. What Makes the...

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November 24, 2016

A Happy Thanksgiving Writing Prompt

If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, you probably aren’t used to people asking you what you’re thankful for every single November. If you do celebrate Thanksgiving, you’re probably sick of it. But if you step outside the holiday mentality (and put the mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and Black Friday ads down for a moment), I’m sure you can see how turning that...

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September 30, 2016

Food as a Writing Prompt

You can’t use food as a writing prompt! Or can you? Hmmm… Food can be used for worldbuilding. It’s inspired the readers to recreate the dishes from books and movies (Did you check out the recipes from Studio Ghibli and Avatar: the Last Airbender or from the Harry Potter series and LOTR?). Heck, if people can find Jesus on a potato chip, then why can’t we find a scene...

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May 22, 2016

Travel Delays Are Writing Opportunities: A People Watching Writing Prompt

Why is it that we pay more attention to other people when we travel? I’d like to think it’s because we’re exposed to people from more cultures – who dress and behave differently and pique our curiosity. But it’s probably only because we get stuck in airport terminals with nothing to do. Wait. As writers, we always have something to do:...

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May 3, 2016

A Where’s Waldo Inspired Writing Prompt

Do you guys remember Where’s Waldo? – a book series intended for kids where you have to search the intricate images for specific objects and a strange little man (we assume) named Waldo. I have no idea what brought this to mind, but I think this could make good writing prompt for an interesting characterization exercise. Step 1: Go to the Where’s...

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April 15, 2016

Writing Prompt: A Moment in History

Here’s a writing prompt to practice shaping your writing to the point of view of the character. It’s fairly simple yet fairly difficult at the same time (like most of writing, I suppose). It goes something like this: 5 Step History Writing Prompt 1. Pick a famous moment from history. It doesn’t have to be a famous moment. It could be...