I'd really like to try some creative writing again, yet have so many other things I have to prioritise all the time, and even when there’s the rare time I do get to write, I don't get very far for want of a good story idea.
Anyway, so I thought that a way to inspire me would be an exercise I learnt back in my education years, and I thought wouldn't it be nice to make the idea an event of sorts here?
I’d be more motivated that way. I must stress I don't intend this as a competition! To get the best creativity from the idea there needs to be the least pressure possible - I want it to be a fun little event!
Get on with it/the idea:
So the way it has been done before is to write down a load of 'things' under different categories. For example, write down a bunch of possible places, could be a country or say a 'forest'; people, characters or their profession e.g. 'farmer' or 'Bigwig' (note with this that not necessarily aiming to do a 'fanfiction' here, but by all means do if you were inspired that way by the choice); an object e.g. 'banana' or 'suitcase', and a few other categories to give a few options to work from. (If this idea interests anyone we could discuss best themes and how many to include). The categories would go into different hats or piles and the first one plucked out from each would be the words you would have to include somehow in your piece, but how much each thing features and how, is really up to you. Having these random things, and thus scenarios, plucked out at you like this can be surprisingly inspiring; you can really go so many places with your writing when you don’t have certain ideas already planted in your mind.
Everyone who wanted to take part would be working from the exact same words and it could be really fun to see how different everyone’s work is to each other. I was thinking that there should certainly be a word limit; again I don’t want this to feel a really pressurised task and am not expecting an epic! If I feel like I am expected to write so much I won’t feel like I can realistically do it! We would also discuss what word length would be best. There would also be a time limit, also to be discussed, and again don’t want to stress anyone, but it would be best not to drag out the task for too long. Also should mention it doesn’t have to be a story, but could be a poem, too. I think this has potential to happen a few times a year if people were up for it; especially knowing that it is only a very short story!
Probably forgotten to mention quite a few things about this idea. Much to discuss… if anyone is interested? I really do think it could be a fun exercise.
Thanks for reading!
Topic: Non-Pressurised Creative Writing Event (Read 2065 times)