Week 1 Workshop - Idea Generation
We've all had blank page syndrome - you've sat down at your computer or you've pulled out your notebook and said 'I am going to write' but you've no idea where to start. Hopefully some of these workshops will help you out and clear away the writers block.
Ex 1. First Memories: Write a bullet-point list of first memories; try to have at least 5. (5 Mins.) Pick one of these memories, use it as a heading for a free write. (Free write rules – you are allowed to write clumsily, you are allowed to use clichés, you are allowed to ignore grammar rules, you are allowed to go off topic, you must not lift pen from paper). (10 Mins).
Ex 2. Newspaper: Open a newspaper to a random page. Find 4 nouns, 4 adjectives, 4 verbs and 4 adverbs. Write these on a piece of paper under their respective headings. If you're in a group, pass these lists to the person next to you. Then write a short story, using as many of the words as possible and including these 4 characters: Fredrick Gibson, Laurence Key, Kylie Jackson, Jane Addams. (20 Mins)
Ex 3. Daily Inspiration: Inspiration can come at any point in the day, even in the smallest of activities. We’re going to go through a day, one stage at a time, each stage a different heading. It doesn’t have to be an accurate representation of your day; it doesn’t have to be super exciting: it can be as mundane as any day. For each heading write a small section of prose (or if you’d prefer make a list or mind map). It must not be poetry. When you move from one heading to the next, just stop what you were writing in the previous heading, write up the next heading and move on. It doesn’t matter about half finished ideas – unless you feel like you’ve got a great idea in which case just keep writing.
Wake up – you can describe the act of getting up, the feeling of waking up, the space you’re waking up in, the dream you’ve just woken up from, the patchwork memories of the previous night, the beginnings of your morning, but do not leave that space. (ie, if you wake up in a bedroom you must remain in that bedroom). 5 minutes.
Breakfast – Whether you eat or don’t eat breakfast, this must be saturated with the senses. What does your food or drink look, smell, touch, sound, taste like. If you’re not eating then perhaps you’re in a space where other people are eating or drinking, or perhaps you’re imagining what you’d have to eat or drink. Go through each sense individually. You have 2 minutes per sense, write them in this order: Look. Smell. Touch. Sound. Taste. 10 minutes.
Going for a walk – Whether this is to a friend’s house, to the shops or lecture or just a casual stroll, you have left the space you began in. Describe what you’re doing as well as what you sense. This should be active as well as sensory. 5-10 minutes.
On the phone – It’s nearing the end of the day and you’ve called your parents, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, pet, whoever and you’re telling them about your day. This can either be a broad account, or a specific recollection about an event. 5-10 minutes. Perhaps you are getting ready for a night out or are in the middle of cooking dinner. Tell the person on the phone about this as well. 5 minutes.
Bed-time – The day is over and you’re getting ready for bed. This can be a sensual experience (perhaps your partner is staying over or you’ve pulled on a night out) or purely practical (brushing teeth, pyjamas etc). 5-10 minutes.
Sleep – You are lying in bed. Your eyelids are heavy. Do not use sight (1.5 minutes). Your tongue is numb. Do not use taste (1.5 minutes). Your body is heavy. Do not use touch. (1.5 minutes). You’re drifting off. Do not use smell (1.5 minutes). You’ve fallen asleep. Do not use sound (1.5 minutes). (Total time, 7.5 minutes)
Hopefully those exercises will have loosened up your mind! If you are particularly proud of any of your results, email [email protected] and we'll post them on here!
