I can’t tell you how many times I have sat down to write, only to have nothing come out. I’d spend hours staring at the screen, eventually shutting it down to listen to music instead. That’s writer’s block - the writer’s true nemesis.
Fortunately, a friend of mine taught me a trick to get my creative juices flowing, and that is what I’m going to share with you today. I call it: The Random Word Sprint.
It's a high-pressure, low-stakes game that forces you to bypass your inner critic and simply create.
How to Do the Random Word Sprint
The exercise is broken into three rounds, with the time limit tightening and the challenge increasing with each one.
ROUND 1: The Warm-Up
Step 1. Pick Three Random Words. They don’t have to be serious or related. Whatever pops into your mind, write them down.
Step 2. Set Your Timer. 5 Minutes.
Step 3. Start Writing! You must ensure you include all three words in your writing. Don’t worry about making it pretty. Think of this as a first draft where you’re not writing for excellence, but you’re writing to finish.
Step 4. Review. Check to see if you managed to incorporate all the words.
ROUND 2: Increasing the Pressure
Step 1. Add One More Word. You now have a list of four words.
Step 2. Set Your Timer. 3 Minutes.
Step 3. Write, Write, Write! It can be a completely different story, or you can continue with the one from Round 1 - it is completely up to you. Remember, you must use all four words.
Step 4. Review. Did you manage to include all four words in the tighter timeframe?
ROUND 3: The Creative Flow
Now that you’ve successfully gone through Round 1 and 2, it is time to take things to another level.
Step 1. Add One More Word. You should now have a list of five words.
Step 2. Set Your Timer. 2 Minutes.
Step 3. Don’t Think, Just Write! A lot can happen in two minutes, but it's a very short time. Don’t overthink anything. Just write, and make sure you use all five words.
Step 4. Review. Was your brain able to handle the constraint and the speed?
Why This Exercise Works
For one thing, the timer really does remove the pressure to write perfectly and allows the ideas to just flow. It truly gives your creativity a chance to surprise you, and many times, amuse you!
The best part? You never know how many great story ideas can come from this quick exercise.
I have done this exercise and came away from it with interesting characters and concepts for stories. In one instance, it led my friend and me to co-author a teen novel. That is just one example of the exercise giving me solid story ideas.
So, if you want to get your brain churning and your creative juices flowing, try this exercise and see how it works for you. Drop a comment below and share the three words you started with!
Want to see it in action? Watch the video explaining this exercise here:
The Random Word Sprint: A Fun Writing Exercise!
Comments ()