Exercises
This page contains a list of all of the helpful exercises I occasionally turn to when working on my writing style. As with the rest of the writing ideas on this site, it is organized based on The Gamut, and constructive comments are warmly appreciated.
Words
- Wordsmith. Create three new words that may be valuable in your story using the following rubric:
- one made by combining two existing words into an portmanteau. (Ex: synergy, blog, pug-ugly)
- one that is based on an acronym or initialization, but is meaningful and pronounceable on its own. (Ex: MADD, yuppie)
- one word which is made by giving an existing word a new meaning for your specific context (Ex: surfing, trolls—as used of the internet)
- DIY Slang. Create a few words and phrases for your characters that express their identity and setting using inspiration from the DIY movement (for more details, read my blog entry)
- simple, cheap: Create three words more or less in English (in other words, one’s you would put into the text without italicizing) that are each less than five letters long–to emphasize the simple, short words which are pronounceable.
- reused, recycled: using any foreign language or language history knowledge you have for inspiration (see blog entry), create two slang words and one idiomatic expression which are more or less in that language.
- useful: Start with the setting in which your characters operate. Try to move around that setting with them in your mind. Pay particular attention to what they’re doing and what things are in the space they are moving in. Then create a couple words or phrases that would be useful and concise ways of describing their world—the kinds of words and phrases they might invent themselves to make it easier to communicate with one another.
Stories from Words
Phrases
Metaphor
Sentences
Grammar
Paragraphs
Dialog
Shorts
Character
Chapters
Transition
Setting
Novels
Plot
Series
Worldbuilding