Writing Exercises? A question for the hive mind

[pbray]

Anyone out there like to recommend a book on writing exercises that they've found to be helpful? I haven't used one in at least a dozen years, and have no idea what's out there, or what works and what doesn't.

I've been asked for suggestions and had to punt, so I'm hoping some of the writers on my friendlist will have ideas.

ETA: What I'm looking for are short writing exercises, something that could be done in about an hour, and thus suitable for writers' groups.

Comments

[ruthannereid.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'm not sure this is precisely what you're asking for, but I've found The Scene Book (http://www.amazon.com/Scene-Book-Primer-Fiction-Writer/dp/0143038265) by Sandra Scofield to be a really terrific one.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[larryhammer]

The only one I've found useful for fiction is Ursula Le Guin's Steering the Craft, which is explicitly designed to be as useful in a workshop as on one's own.

---L.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll go take a look at it.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I think this means that my friends are pretty much like me, and don't use writing exercises. Which is okay, and it's still cool to just to say "Hi!"

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Matthew Costello's "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" does a nice, step-by-step approach, with the world-building chapter ending with a world-building exercise, the character chapter having a character exercise, etc. If I were teaching a class, I would totally use it.

I came across it accidentally; my aunt gave it to me for my birthday probably close to 20 years ago. I did try the exercises. I found they improved my writing, but at that time, I needed the help, which you don't right now. I don't use exercises to get my thinkin' going. I've got too many large projects waiting for me to get an agent right now. Need to focus on already-developed ideas. More ideas come later.
Of course, could always attack pbray and next con and feast on her sweet, sweet....

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

BWAAAAAAIIIIIIIIINNNNNSSSS......

[vespican.livejournal.com]

How about "timed writes?" The group leader suggests a topic, for example, the "first time I ate oatmeal..." Then the group has a set period of time to finish the thought. Two or three minutes, perhaps. It's one of those exercises where you don't worry about spelling, capitalization or punctuation. You just write until time is called.
Dave