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Writing Exercises: Leveraging Ulysses

After drafting my writing exercises workbook (available for free to subscribers), I started using a new writing tool called Ulysses. This isn't a review or plug for the app, but simply an exploration of how I'm doing my own writing exercises within it and some of my observations …

Writing Exercises: Making a Plan

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Part of exercising is creating a schedule and sticking to it.  Writing exercises are the same way.  The exercises I've outlined are intended to spark your creativity and help develop the habit of writing on a re…

Writing Exercise 7: Draft a Short Story

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. This is a longer exercise, depending on your writing style.  However, it is not intended that you try to write a full, polished, ready to publish tale in a single setting.  It’s about getting your creative juice…

Writing Exercise 6: Plot Outlines

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Outlining a story involves breaking down its main components into manageable parts. First, start with an introduction or hook that captures readers' attention and sets the stage for what is to come. Then move on…

Writing Exercise 5: Conflict Sketches

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Conflict drives the story forward by challenging characters, testing their values, and pushing them to make difficult decisions. Without conflict, stories can feel flat or predictable. By skillfully weaving conf…

Writing Exercise 4: Bringing Objects to Life

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. This exercise is intended to focus on the details that bring important objects within a story to life and make the reader care.  Making it come alive to the reader is important because it forces writers to focus…

Writing Exercise 3: Describe an unfamiliar place you've never been to

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. In this exercise, we'll focus on attention to detail and crafting a scene that draws the mind's eye into your own. Additionally, we want to use language that creates a sense of feeling for the reader. Maybe it's…

Writing Exercise 2: Character Traits & Quirks

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to subscribers. As writers, we often spend countless hours crafting our characters - their personalities, backstories, and unique traits. But what if you could jumpstart this process by focusing on specific aspects of your …

Writing Exercises Workbook

This is my workbook of writing exercises free for download and use by all members. It is published under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 License. writing-prompts-and-exercises-for-inspiration (MS .docx) writing-prompts-and-exercises-for-inspiration (pdf) Membership has its perk…

Writing Exercise 1: Character Development

As writers, we often find ourselves staring at blank pages or screens, searching for inspiration to bring our characters to life. One effective way to spark creativity and develop unique characters is through creative [writing exercises] (/page/writing-resources#writing-exercises…

Writing Exercises for Inspiration: Unlocking Creativity

As writers, we often find ourselves at a loss for inspiration. The blank page stares back at us, taunting our creativity. However, there are ways to spark new ideas and breathe life into our stories. Writing prompts and exercises can provide the necessary tools to unlock your ima…

The Power of Persistence: Stories of Writers Who Refused to Give Up

Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel after receiving yet another rejection letter, or seeing slow sales for those of us self-publishing? Believe it or not, some of the most successful writers in history faced rejection countless times before finally achieving their dream…