Fun Prompts and Activities for When You Have Writer's Block

When I first started submitting to Vocal, I couldn't wait to sit down and write that poem, or that piece that I had been thinking about for a while. I would submit maybe two or three pieces a week, but as the weeks and months have passed, and now that I have submitted all eight pieces to the SFC, I find myself not knowing what to write about! And, I suppose, the SFC was a bit of a marathon, and maybe I'm just a little fatigued. So, if you're like me, and you need something to get you going again (creatively speaking!) then here are a few fun activities and prompts designed to be done in just ten minutes, to get the creative energy, and your pen, flowing again.

1. Write a story where each word begins with consecutive letters of the alphabet.

So, yes, I know this sounds tricky, and you're probably thinking ''What?'', but you'll be amazed at how easily you pick up the flow with this. Here's one of mine:

'A big cross donkey elected five giant hippos. In jealous kick-offs llamas made noise. Over populated queendoms risk such things. Unless violence weakens xenophobes yell zealously.'

I know, it doesn't make that much sense, and the flow is a little..awkward and stilted, but it really got my brain in gear!

It's also a really fun one to do with friends or a creative writing group. Kids can really enjoy these activities too. (You will probably end up wth lots of x-rays and zebras, so set a challenge for them to think of something else. You can leave dictionaries out to encourage this.)

2. Imagine you're stuck inside a cuboid (a room, a cell, a box, a crate). Describe that room using the five senses.

So, for example:

'The room was dark, with just a little light coming through a tiny, dusty window on the far side. It smelled musty, and damp. By the light of the moon, I could just about make out rows and rows of jars, lined up on shelves along the wall to the right...'

The great thing about this quick activity, is that you can make the 'cuboid' part of a longer piece. It could even become a poem.

3. Questions and answers.

This is really fun and quick. The idea is to look at everyday things, and say what they are, but without really saying what they are!

For example:

1. Question: What is a dog? Answer: A woof, a lick and a scamper.

2. Question: What is a carrot? Answer: An orange piece of goodness, growing underground.

3. Question: What is a dream? Answer: Rooms in my mind, wishes, and worst-case scenarios.

4. Question: What's inside a hill? Answer: Darkness, drips, and secrets carried by streams.

You can be as creative as you like with this one, and again, it could easily lead to a poem.

4. What's in their pocket?

This one gets you to think about character. Pick a favourite character from a movie or a book, and list the things they might keep in their pocket (or handbag).

For example:

Dr Frankenstein: a human finger wrapped in cloth; a letter from Elisabeth, all crumpled and stained; a chemical formula, scrawled onto a scrap of paper; a key.

This is also a great task to do with a literature class. It gets them to think about the character's life and priorities. It's also great for fiction writers, and helps you to get to know your character.

5. Acrostic poems.

These are great fun, and you probably haven't done one of these since school, but they can really get you thinking. These are great to do with friends, or a creative writing group.

Just pick a theme: animals, people, places, food...And then write your poem where every line starts with the next letter of your chosen subject. Here's one of mine:

Sloths:

Silly, smiling face, sweet and vulnerable.

Long limbs and claws, perfectly capable

Of climbing slender branches, way up there.

Takes her time, takes great care.

Hurries never, limbs so carefully.

Silents mover, adapted so perfectly.

So, the next time you're stumped, and don't know what to write, perhaps some of these fun activities might lead to something wonderful!

There are so many fun ways to open your creativity again. We can become so focused on getting a piece written and submitted, that we forget to have fun with writing.

I hope you feel inspired, and I really hope you'll have a go.