A to Z of Creative Writing Warm-Ups

Helloooooo, just popping in to say I won't be participating in this year's A to Z Blogging Challenge (as much as it pains me!), as I have to focus all my writerly efforts on the novel. It's getting there, slowly but surely!

Last year, my theme was an A to Z of Creative Writing Warm-Ups. A few writers told me they'd love to have the warm-ups in a whole, complete format, so I have lovingly compiled it all into a PDF file for your viewing/writing pleasure.

To access the PDF, click here (I would recommend saving the file to your desktop for future offline use).

This PDF has a total of 158 warm-ups! Choose from:

• 26 photo prompts 
• 26 mind maps 
• 26 freewriting exercises 
• One personal questionnaire 
• 79 sentence starts

Why don't you try a wee five minute warm-up at the start of your next writing session and let me know how you get on with it?

Take care
Catherine x

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A to Z of Creative Writing Warm-Ups

Zoo

Zoo: An excellent place to study the habits of human beings.
Evan Esar

I can't believe it's the last day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge! I'm bereft... it's going to be weird not doing my creative writing warm-ups on such a regular basis. Talented writer Michelle (Writer In Transit) suggested I make it a weekly post, which I think I'll do. Do you think it might be a good resource for you writers out there?

A lot of you commented that you'll come back and have a proper gander at the writing warm-ups once the challenge is over and the dust has settled. I shall work on compiling them all into a handy PDF, in the next week or so, for you to use at your leisure. :)

And so I give you my last post of this year's A to Z Challenge:

Z for Zoo.

1. Plenty of dilemmas can arise at the zoo: the elephant decides to knock me clean out with his trunk, for instance. Or a child goes missing in the crowd. A group of idiots torment the wee penguins during their parade and get a taste of their own medicine. A gorilla watches everyone, with a knowing look: what's going through his mind? You're on a first date with someone who thought it'd be a wonderfully quirky idea to go to the zoo. What happens next?


2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• I suggested we go somewhere neutral, like the zoo. There'd be lots of people there...
• The child dropped her ice cream and wailed. Her mother stared at the lion in its cage and wondered which one of them was really trapped...
• The elephant curled its trunk round my arm and yanked me off my feet...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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Zoo

Only you...

Today's post is all about You. Yes... you. 

A while back, the lovely Amanda Saint nominated me for a "Liebster Blog Award", which is a chain-type gesture of bloggy appreciation (thank you, Amanda!), and I was asked to answer 11 questions and nominate other bloggers to do the same. I'm going to nominate five blogs I've particularly enjoyed throughout the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year (and some go back long before that), but I also nominate everyone who reads this post, so there you go.

Anne Mackle of Is Anyone There fame.

Wayne Kelly of  Kelly's Eye fame.

Maria Smith of First Draft Cafe fame.
Barbara White Daille of The Daille-y News fame.

Rosalind Adam of Rosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain fame.

I'm including it as part of my writing warm-up collection as I believe some of the questions stimulate the memory and imagination: perfect for limbering those writing muscles! 

So lets get to it: Y is for You. Here's a picture of Irene & I on our 1st birthday. Just because...

1. Feel free to answer as many (or few) of the following questions about You. My answers are below, if yer interested:

1.    What do you do to relax when you suffer from insomnia?
I listen to Meditation Oasis podcasts. They are amazing. Try them.

2.    What's the worst holiday you ever had?

I’m fortunate enough to have enjoyed every holiday I’ve ever been on, though I have to admit… it wasn’t fun having food poisoning when I went to Turkey a few years ago. *shudder*

3.    Where's your favourite place to write?

The Mitchell Library.

4.    If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Directly opposite The Mitchell Library.

5.    White, dark or milk chocolate?

White. I can inhale a large Milkybar in seconds. Though I'm also partial to dark/milk...

6.    What's your favourite thing to have on toast?

Lashings of salted butter.

7.    Which book do you wish you'd written and why?

The Alchemist, because it is an absolute masterpiece. Or anything written by Roald Dahl.

8.    Film adaptations of novels - love them or hate them?

Depends on the film. Some films butcher the original story, but other films steer me towards a book I'd never have considered reading beforehand!

9.    Do you think Al Pacino is overrated as an actor?

No. I've only seen him in The Devil's Advocate & The Merchant of Venice and he was fabulous in both.

10.  Coffee or tea?

Both. And Roobois. And Nettle Tea.

11.  Would you ever do a sky dive?

Yes, although I’m terrified of heights!

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• How could she accuse me of only thinking of myself? She's the selfish one...
• I studied the child in the photo. So many things I wish I could've told her...
• They made me fill in the questionnaire, saying if I didn't do it, they'd...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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Only you...

Xmas

Merry Xmas, ya filthy animal. And a Happy New Year.

It's true. Not only have I covered Valentine's Day for this year's A to Z Blogging Challenge, we're having Xmas too. There are so many things associated with Xmas that can be used throughout the year: family, gifts, excessive partying, bad singing... the list goes on. At least talking about it in April lessens the risk of festive overkill (which occurs from 1st November onwards, usually).

X for Xmas.

1. You receive a Xmas card in the post, but you don't recognise the writing on the envelope addressed to you. Inside the card, there's a confession from someone you've never met, but who's done something terrible to you. Delve further...

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• This would be our first Xmas without...
• I desperately wish I hadn't gone to the office Xmas party last night...
• He handed me the gift: it was a large box, carefully wrapped. Inside was...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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Xmas

The wheels on the bus go...

In my last post, I spoke of uncovering story ideas from practically any topic. I'd like to further put forward my argument with this writing warm-up for my A to Z Blogging Challenge.

I give you W for the humble Wheel.

1. Choose from one of the two following scenarios and expand further, in the form of a five minute freewrite:

• You're driving along a quiet road when a man flags you down, saying he's got a flat tyre. Can he borrow your car jack? There are two other men in the car and they all look scary as hell. What do you do?
• You're the one with a flat tyre and it couldn't have come at a worse possible time! You discover you have no spare tyre either. Who comes to your rescue?

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• I left work to discover my bike had been stolen...
• The Wheel of Fortune theme tune was blaring in the background when it happened...
• I could smell the burnt rubber before I saw it...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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The wheels on the bus go...

Valentine

I know Valentine's Day was two months ago, but that doesn't render it exempt from the writing warm-ups for my A to Z Blogging Challenge! 

You can take practically anything and expand it into a decent story idea... some completely unrelated to the original concept. Lets see where this beautiful rose takes us...

V for Valentine.

1. Choose from one of the following two exercises, spending a few minutes freewriting:

• Your partner has carelessly left a receipt loitering in the house for TWO Valentine's cards...
• Describe an office/workplace setting on Valentine's Day: does someone send flowers to themselves? Does someone mope around the place, devastated from a recent break up? Is there a bitter singleton spouting venom on all non-single colleagues? Or what about a secret admirer...?

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• I squealed and told him he shouldn't have. He frowned at me, saying 'But I didn't.'...
• It was simply the worst day of the year, for two reasons...
• Tonight's going to be the night...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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Valentine

Underground

When writing, I like to explore different settings and imagine all the different scenarios that can arise. This writing warm-up for my A to Z Blogging Challenge is a good example: we're going beneath the surface...

U is for Underground.

1. You're on the subway, when it comes to a halt between stations. Describe three other people in the carriage, making them all completely different. You decide how long they're stuck and what will happen next...


2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone):

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• The forensic team made their way into the tunnel. All trains suspended till further notice...
• We were strolling around the carnival, when he stopped outside the Tunnel of Love and held out his hand...
• It was dark and creepy, but the underpass would be cut my journey in half...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,

Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)

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Underground

I want to be a tree...

“Everyone who enjoys thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed. -- Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy.”

 Friedrich Nietzsche

I based this writing warm-up around an eerie looking photo I captured in Victoria Park. I thought it might be difficult coming up with ideas, but I was so wrong! It's amazing what you can come up with once you get started.

I give you today's writing prompt for my A to Z Blogging Challenge:  T for Tree.

1. Spend a few minutes freewriting, using the word Tree as your starting point. Here’s what I came up with:

Scary black tree, gnarled and eerie in front of the derelict house. Swing from it? Hang from it… climb it/have an accident. Carve history into it. Forest fire/lightning crack. What has this tree seen in its life? Landscape changed but the tree remains. Changeable nature: rot, leaves fall, grows, bare, flourish. Home for wildlife. Sanctuary for peeping toms. Hiding place.

I can think of several story ideas to come from that lot. See how you get on with yours…

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out (ahem!) in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• She faced the tree, covered her eyes and counted to a hundred…

• He visited the picnic spot from their courting days. Their initials were still etched in the tree, encased in a heart…

• I tied the rope, in a firm knot, around the sturdiest branch…

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x


Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)

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I want to be a tree...

Sunrise

Welcome to a new week, did you have a nice weekend?

Today's writing warm-up for the A to Z Challenge marks the beginning of a brand new day...

S for Sunrise

View from my office

1. Do you associate sunrise with waking up? Or do you only see the sun rising if you've been up all night? Think of all the scenarios you could write where the sunrise could play a part:

• The baby's been up all night and you're stressed out your box. What's wrong with him/her? You wish your partner was around to help with the baby, but they're gone. Furthermore, they'll never speak to you again. Where are they? What's happened?
• You've had to come into work at the crack of dawn, because your boss is a bully and is offloading his work on to you. Your work life is having an impact on your home life (are you taking it out on your family? Do the kids miss their mummy/daddy?). Your boss has taken credit yet again for your work and landed a fat pay rise, and you can't take much more of it. What are you going to do?
• You're walking home from a riotous party alone, though you arrived with your partner. What happened? Try and come up with as much drama as possible during those darkened hours.

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• I'd been searching all night. When the sun began to rise, my hopes of finding him began to fall...
• He watched the sun rise from the window, bleary eyed. He'd had not a wink of sleep, but had to leave in an hour...
• Their parents slept soundly, unaware that they weren't really staying with their friends that night...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

 

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

 

Take care,

Catherine x

 

Note: All photo prompts in the A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Use and abuse to your hearts content, I'm not precious about them. Help yourself. :)

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Sunrise

Oooh you send me...

I feel I can safely broach this subject on a Saturday, since most people won't experience it again until Monday...

Today's writing warm-up for my A to Z Blogging Challenge is: R for Rush Hour.

1. You've had the day from hell, and all you want to do is get home, have a long soak in a scented bubble bath, and eat something stodgy and comforting in front of some trashy TV. But you're stuck in traffic. The motorway signs say "SLOW FOR 8 MILES" and you realise it's not just normal rush hour traffic. Vehicles come to a complete standstill and people start beeping horns and even get out of their cars to confront other drivers (use the 5 senses to conjure up the scene). Whatever happens next is going to change your life. Has a loved one been in the accident that's caused all the chaos? Does a dashing gentleman come to your rescue from a furious driver who wants to take out their anger on you? Does someone require immediate medical attention (heart/asthma/hypoglycemic attack?). Delve further...


2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• It was the worst possible time for her engine to cut out...
• I could feel a pair of eyes staring at me from the next car...
• He couldn't even call to let her know he was going to be late...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in my A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  


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Oooh you send me...

Question

Happy Friday, everyone! Have you got anything wonderful planned for the weekend? Do tell all... :)

As you may already know, writers have an unwavering tendency to question everything. Everything! It helps paint better pictures for the reader, yes, but it's probably also because we're a bunch of nosy scoundrels!

Nevertheless, I believe it's important to question everything, therefore, my writing warm-up for today's A to Z Challenge is Q for Question.

When you capture a photo like this, how can you not ask questions?

1. You should know... to my knowledge, there is no golf course near the Clydeside. This begs the questions: Is this chap really going for a game of golf? Or are they weapons (not unheard of round these here parts...)? Is he selling them? Has he fallen on hard times? Are they stolen goods? Are they a gift to his newly reunited father? Take a few minutes to come up with questions and see if you get a story spark.


2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• 'Fifty quid, that's my best offer'...
• He stuffed it into the golf bag and set off. Nobody would know it was there...
• Maybe if he took up golf, he'd get out more. I worry about him...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in the A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  
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Question

Park yer bum...

Hello to all the lovely people visiting the blog! If this is your first visit, I'm currently taking part in the A to Z Blogging Challenge. My theme is: writing warm-ups.

I find if I start a writing session with a five-minute warm-up, I have a much more productive session.

There are several ways I like to do this. For each day of the challenge, I shall suggest various exercises such as photo prompts, mind maps and freewrites. I'm confident you'll find your muse lurking beneath one of them. Grab a cuppa and a notepad...

Today's warm-up is: P for Park.

1. Ponder these scenarios and follow on from whichever takes your fancy:

• You're spending a few leisurely hours in the park, making the most of the nice weather. You have a rest on the bench and are horrified to recognise the name on the memorial plaque. Who's is it? Is it... yours?
• A family day out is being spoiled by a group of youths drinking cider and throwing stones at the swans. Your children are scared and your partner is worried and wants to go home. You're absolutely raging at the youths: not only are they injuring the defenceless animals, they've spoiled your quality time with the family. You approach them, fists clenched...

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• He said he'd meet me in the park at midnight...
• She'd have to take a shortcut through the park...
• I threw the stick for my dog, but he brought something entirely different back...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in the A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Use and abuse to your hearts content, I'm not precious about them. Help yourself. :)


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Park yer bum...

Ocean

It's the middle of the week: that bittersweet halfway mark, though Friday is still too far away. 

Let me cheer you up with this beautiful photo for today's writing warm-up as part of my A to Z Blogging Challenge: 

O is for Ocean.

1. Write about someone sitting on the sand, gazing at the water. What's on their mind? Why do they come here specifically? Describe the scene before them: are there dog walkers? People jogging by, looking disgustingly healthy and content with their lives? Does someone come along and interrupt their thoughts? Is it someone they know or a complete stranger (and a pesky one at that)? Scribble down your thoughts and see where it takes you.

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• My heart stopped when I saw it floating...
• I would sit there and imagine him coming back to me, coming right back out of the water...
• I woke with the tide coming in...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in the A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  

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Ocean

Nostalgia

“Nostalgia is a seductive liar.”
 George Wildman Ball

Today's writing warm-up for my A to Z Challenge is N for Nostalgia.

It has to be said: everyone is partial to sentimentality. Even creatures with no soul, such as myself.

1. You come across your old childhood toy. Describe the toy in vivid detail (throw in the senses: touch, smell, hear, sight and - dare I say it - taste). Does it stir up positive/negative emotions? Does it remind you of other aspects of your childhood, such as old friends, or family members long since passed?

2. Sketch a mind-map using the key word as the nucleus, then branch out in whatever direction you please. You might find yourself going in completely unrelated paths (which I personally prefer). Do a five-minute freewrite incorporating as many (or few) branch words as you like. Here is my mind map (created using the SimpleMind app on my phone).

3. Choose one of the following sentence starts and freewrite for a few minutes, letting the words tumble out without a second thought:

• She always thinks the grass was greener...
• He wanted to go back to a simpler time...
• I couldn't believe she'd kept my teddy bear, after all these years, and after everything I'd done to her...

I find it best not to read my freewrites for at least a few days. Why not stuff them in a drawer and surprise yourself? It's blatant evidence that our minds work in mysterious ways. Plus, I defy you not to find an array of story seeds amongst your work.

Do you have any writing warm-ups you'd like to share?

Take care,
Catherine x

Note: All photo prompts in the A to Z Challenge 2013 are my own. Feel free to use/copy/share to your hearts content. Help yourself. :)  



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Nostalgia