Workout 12: Create a Mind Poem

Exercise:
Create a poem, but don't write it down. Memorize it.

Purpose:
Before the written word existed, we had the spoken word. This oral tradition made it possible to pass down stories to the next generation. Later, when the written language came to be, people wrote these stories down, and often the stories were a little "watered down" or artifacts had been changed (reminiscent to the game "Telephone.") Because of this, story is one of the oldest art forms that represent the uniqueness of the human race.

Help Desk:
Keep it short and simple. That's all the help you can get. How are your memorization skills?

Workout 11: Interview your Character

Exercise:
Imagine your character and ask him/her several different questions. Write down how he/she responds to these questions.

Purpose:
To get to know everything about your character.

Help Desk:
Some sample questions would be:
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
- Have you ever been in love?
- Would you prefer peanut butter and jelly or bologna?
- Do you have any siblings?
- Where is your favorite place to holiday?

Workout 10: Freewriting

Exercise:
Sit for 30 minutes and just write about whatever comes to your mind.

Purpose:
Just write from you muse, write from your soul. Who cares if this is published or produced. You're writing for you, right?

Help Desk:
Write what you know and who you know.

Workout 9: Character Enters with a Gun

Exercise:
Write a scene in which two characters enter. One or both enter with a gun (a surprise.)

Purpose:
Disclose information with dialogue, not exposition. Have character enter scene and reveal information without stopping the story from progressing.

Help Desk:
REMEMBER: Argument is not conflict. Characters should be in agreement and work collaboratively to move the plot forward, even if they're enemies. As in courtroom dramas: whatever result we conclude, we'll agree on and abide by it (dramatic collaboration.)

Workout 8: Poetry II

Exercise:
Part 1 - Like the poem before this, write a short poem set in a mundane moment. Again, avoid using adjectives or sentiment. You cannot write about love, death, the sky, the sea, or anything pretty.
Part 2 - From the moment you select, write a scene set in this same moment.

Purpose:
To go from one idea to creating one for a scene on stage.

Help Desk:
Mundane moments happen all the time. We just usually don't think of them because they're so mundane. Describe you brushing your teeth, taking out the trash, washing your car, putting on boots, dialing a phone number, etc.

Workout 7: Gun on the Table

Exercise:
Write a scene in which two characters enter. One or both know of a secret in the scene. Hence, there is a gun on the table. What will they do with it?

Purpose:
To be able to create an unspoken element of drama.
To help find your voice manifested in dialogue.

Help Desk:
There should be an obvious change from beginning to end. Try to incorporate rhythm and melody in the dialogue.

Workout 6: Poetry

Exercise:
In light of the aid memoir rules of avoiding the use of emotions or opinions, write a poem about a mundane object. Again, avoid using adjectives or sentiment. You cannot write about love, death, the sky, the sea, or anything pretty.

Purpose:
Poetry is an enunciation of personal and universal truths written in short hand. From a simple object, you can be relating describing your brother, your girlfriend, your boss, and/or universal personality traits and human behaviors. You'll find this amazing! This is one reason I especially love to write... to link one thing to a completely different thing and find out just how much the two have in common.

Help Desk:
Mundane objects can be found all around you. Describe the outlet on your wall, the chapstick in your pocket, the staple that keeps your papers together. It's easier than you think.

Workout 5: Monologue/Soliloquy

Exercise:
Keeping with the same essence of the aid memoir, write from the point of view of one single character. Write it in a monologue or soliloquy. If you don't know the difference...
Monologue: a character is speaking with someone around.
Soliloquy: a character is speaking alone.

Purpose:
Unravel the story through one character.

Help Desk:
Remember to use active words, words that motivate the story.

Workout 4: Aid Memoir

Exercise:
Write an aid memoir, one paragraph (1/2 page) written in prose about an experience, i.e. a real or fictitious memory. Write only what's perceivable with the 5 senses (see, hear, touch, taste, smell.) Do not use feelings, emotions, or opinions.

Purpose:
To show feelings/emotions through actions. Besides blatantly stating what the character is feeling, use active words to express it. The challenge is to show, not tell. Remember, actions speak louder than words.

Help Desk:
Since this should be all factual information, avoid using adjectives and adverbs. However, colors may be acceptable.

Workout 3: Lists

Exercise:
Write a list. It can be a planned list, but in this exercise, just write down a list of anything that comes to your head. They don't even have to relate to each other, but after reading a few of the items on the list, your audience will know exactly where you are.

Purpose:
This exercise is designed to keep your thoughts flowing. Just keep writing down anything that comes to your head. You can see how one item relates to another. You can see the thought pattern.

Help Desk:
If you need help, try to write down a list of things to do... or a list of groceries.

Workout 2: Dialogue

Exercise:
Close your eyes, breathe, and think about an empty stage for your characters. You should have at least one character, at most three. Think of what they would say and how they would speak. Think of the relationship between them.

Purpose:
To see the interaction take place between your characters. Your characters will talk to you. You give character's their voice with your pen, but they are calling all the shots, not you. Let them talk to you. Sometimes you may not know where you're going with a story. That's okay. Your characters will lead you through it. Just trust they will guide you.

Tip:
Avoid exposition (where two or more characters tell each other things they already know.) Think of where you could cut a scene to avoid giving too much information. It's okay if the reader doesn't understand everything at first. They'll catch up eventually.

Help Desk:
We'd recommend watching the series "Deadwood."

Workout 1: Stream of Consciousness

Exercise:
Write out anything that comes to mind. Even if you can't think of anything and your mind is blank, write that.

"My mind is blank. I can't think of anything to write.... My mind is blank. A child is born with a blank slate..."

Eventually you'll come up with more things to write because, if you're like me and most humans, one thought will lead to another thought, which leads to another thought, which leads to another thought. Thoughts are endless. The mind wanders a lot farther than to which the universe can expand.

Purpose:
This exercise is designed to keep you writing about anything and everything.

Help Desk:
If you need help, read something from the newspaper, watch part of a movie, listen to the lyrics of your favorite song, think about your favorite memory. The possibilities are endless.