Writing is what I want to do. I know this in the deepest part of me because I honestly can't picture doing anything else. It's the most incredible experience when you find the right word, the right phrase, when you create something that breathes. Writing is one of the most beautiful ways we connect to each other, and I'm so glad that I know this is what I want to spend my life doing. But it can be bloody hard.
It's so easy to get discouraged when you can't find that word or phrase, when your ideas just seem disconnected or worthless. I've fallen into a bit of a block, and I think it's because I haven't been practicing. Writing, like any other discipline, takes work and constant focus - it's not just something you do when you feel inspired. If you really want to write, I'm learning that you have to work at it every day, play with new ideas, and create your own inspiration. Don't force yourself in one direction, but write whatever comes to you. It may be brilliant or terrible, but taking the time to get something down is better than nothing, and it keeps up your creative flow. You might surprise yourself.
So here is a small list of exercises to inspire you (and myself) to keep writing:
1. Stream-of-consciousness. Just sit down for about 3-5 minutes and write whatever comes to your mind. This one is hard for me because I have a tendency to over-think when I write.
2. Create a small character sketch. Give them a name, a personality, a back story. What motivates them? What do they want?
3. Describe something using a list of adjectives or associated words. You can pick an object in the room (a clock), an occurrence/event (rain), anything that speaks to you.
4. Write a dialogue between two people. Don't worry about characters or descriptions, just focus on the words and conversation. This is usually a tricky part for me in writing, because I find it difficult to come up with something that sounds natural.
5. Read. Reading good books and good writing is the best inspiration you can get. Learn from other writers and immerse yourself in their style, their words. Writing is a relational process, and it's so important to experience it from the other side.
