Kerrie
Registered User
(7/15/00 2:29:57 pm)
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Re: Writing exercises
Sorry it took me so long for this one, Lizzi- I hope this helps!
Some books I have and use are:
Writing Down the Bones, Nathalie Goldberg (mini version)
Creating Character Emotions, Ann Hood
Room to Write : Daily Invitations to a Writer's Life, Bonni Goldberg
How to Write Science Fiction, Matthew J. Costello
Writer's Digest Magazine is good sometimes,and Writers' Journal. I have my eye on several other books by Writer's Digest, such as their Every Day Life series.
www.writersdigest.com/
Other sources I use:
Relating, Friendship and Love: A Christian Approach, Michele McCarty- There were 2 good exercises from this book (it was for my Soph. Religion class in high school)- one called The Journey- you answer questions with specifics about a journey you take, each meaning something about yourself; The Rock Experiment- you get to know a rock through all senses- including taste; these are just what I use for finding details for a story
Creating a Medieval Persona- it's a list of questions I found during my SCA obsessed phase- I can't find the original file, but here's one:
www.homestead.com/barbooc...rsona.html
By answering the questions, you can create an in-depth character profile so you know how they would react to others, where they're from, likes, dislikes etc.
I also took a lot of drama courses in college, and I've found that any method an actor or actress uses to know and become their character is also good.
If you're into creative visualization, I've found Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization to be helpful, mainly with 2 exercises- Creating Your World and Meeting Your Guide. Nothing big or fancy, but helpful.
One of my favorite scenes from City of Angels also helps me:
it's when Nicholas Cage asks Meg Ryan to describe what her pear (?) tastes like, since he can't taste anything. He says he doesn't know what it tastes like to her, and she goes on to describe it. Another movie she was in, French Kiss, it is a similar scene- Kevin Kline asks her to describe the taste of a wine before and after she inhales the fragrances of a few herbs, which in the end enhance her description.
I've probably rambled too much, but this is one of my favorite topis.
I've even been working on a writing guide with exercises and inspiration
ideas, that can be used in the classroom or at home. More fun than
many books, I think, or at least the ones I've read so far!
Hope this helps!
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