?
General info:
Home
Joining
Rules 
How it works
Participation
Too Many Emails?
Formatting
Listserv Settings
Contact Us

Critiquing Lists:
Fiction
Lovestory
Nonfiction
Novels
Poetry
Practice
Script-writing
Child/Young adult

Discussion Lists:
Writing
MarketChat
SFChat

The IWW Blog Writing Advice

Other Topics:
FAQ
LINKS
Our administrators
Other writing lists
Books on writing
IWW History
Showcase of Successes


IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Word Play, Version 3

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop (http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/)

Prepared by: Charles Hightower
Posted on: April 19, 2009
Reposted, Revised: March 13, 2011
Reposted: March 31, 2013
Revised and Reposted: January 17, 2016
---------------------

Exercise: Weave these five words and phrases, selected from the past week’s news, into a scene of no more than 400 words: activist, lottery jackpot, diabetes, smart car, and El Niño.

---------------------

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? Did you ever sit down at your computer keyboard, stare at the glowing white screen, and find that nothing came to mind? Nada. Zilch. Many writers have experienced this problem and there are several exercises that can help a writer snap out of a stall. One method is to select a few unrelated words, and spark a new story by blending these ideas taken from disparate sources.

---------------------

Exercise: Weave these five words and phrases, selected from the past week’s news, into a scene of no more than 400 words: activist, lottery jackpot, diabetes, smart car, and El Niño.

---------------------

In your critique, consider whether the writer incorporated the five words or phrases into a coherent story. What was your reaction to the composition? Were you interested? Amused? Entertained? Would you read further? Why or why not?


Web site created by Rhéal Nadeau and the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.