Archive for the ‘Exercises’ Category:
Written on February 3rd, 2018 by adminno shouts
This image is from an archaeology dig at St Mary’s DeCrypt, a church that included an old school wrong – but what do you see? What do you think the history of these objects are? True histories? Magic? Remembering…. look at the photo and then set a timer for five minutes and write about the image and the objects for five minutes, do not over think it just keep writing for that time even if you start multiple ideas. Then spend 20 minutes analysing what you have written, extract any phrases or sentences that you like and construct a poem around them.
Written on February 2nd, 2018 by adminno shouts
Dream diaries are a good way to generate ideas, phrases and moods.
When you awake in the morning jot down your dreams, even if you can’t remember them specifically you often have a residual feeling – describe it.
During the day re-read the entries a couple of time and in the evening spend 5-10 minutes constructing a poem around any prominent phrases or imagery in the notes. You may even find that the writing was already trying to be a poe.
You don’t have to physically write your entries either as some of us struggle with our hands first thing in the morning, most phones have a voice record mode and some do straight to text so you can say what you remember before it evaporates in cups of coffee and the morning routine of rushing around to get out of the house!
Written on February 6th, 2017 by adminno shouts
Rock pools are little worlds onto themselves, little creatures interacting with hierarchy. Do they realise that there is a world out there that is bigger? A whole ocean for little creatures to be swept away and lost in?
Think on the image, its colours and life and then write for 15 minutes.
Written on February 5th, 2017 by adminno shouts
Idea have a habit of breeding more ideas, this can be brilliant and make you really productive or it can de-rail the writing process and you simple have too many ideas and fail to take any to completion.
A way around this is write an idea spiral – draw a light spiral in pencil on a piece of paper and then starting in the middle start writing down your ideas. If there is just one then it can sit there and await for more ideas to turn up but if there are lots then keep writing them down.
Once the spiral is full surround it by four other pieces of paper and analyse the ideas. Are they all different ideas, or connected? Sometimes things seem like lots of ideas but are pretty much just the core different stanzas for the same poem. Group the ideas on one of the four sheets, list them in priority order that you would like to write them in on the other. If they are a large sequence or set then set out all the interconnections and relationships on the third piece of paper. The last piece is for anything else that might occur to you.
If you have no other ideas or current projects then now would be the time to add another four pieces of paper to the corners to make a large square. Pick one of the ideas, preferably the one you listed as top priority, and create word web, what associations does the theme or concept have?
On the second piece, write down bullet points of related concepts.
If you wish it to be a structured poem then on the third piece of paper create a structured outline to shape the finished poem to.
The fourth piece is for you to actually write the poem.
Once that poem is written you can remove the four corner pieces of paper and put fresh ones in place and do the same for the second idea.
If you have lots and lots of ideas it might be a good idea to just create the initial spirals to get the ideas off your chest or out of your brain. Then place these spirals in a folder for looking at later on after you’ve completed what ever the current writing goal is!
Written on February 3rd, 2017 by adminno shouts
Who is your favourite hero or anti-hero? What is it that intrigues you about them? Are they squeaky clean and perfect or do they have a dark past to hide or over come?
Is the concept of hero out dated?
Spend 5 minutes listing all the characteristics you think a hero should have, then compare it to your favourite (or least favourite!) hero.
Is it a perfect fit? Possibly not, if not why not? Is it those imperfections which drew you to them?
Go away form the lists for 15 minutes or so, then come back and write for 20 minutes. If something doesn’t instantly occur to you start by describing your hero and how the list applied to them.
Written on February 2nd, 2017 by adminno shouts
Look at processes like growing old or the progression of seasons and how the plants behave, think about all the little interconnections and how they rely on each other and the order they happen in.
What happens if you reverse these processes or the you take the opposites?
Spend ten minutes writing down the process or event you have chosen then spend fifteen minutes writing it up in reverse. This can throw up some unexpected ideas which can be used to spark a poem or even come out as a fully formed first draft.
Written on February 18th, 2015 by adminno shouts
It is the International Year of Light which is something you could spend a good 15 minutes researching and light festivals from previous years produce some amazing images to write from. CERN also has some interesting images here which you might want to check out.
You might also like to create a list of qualities you think light has, or types of light.
Are you afraid of the dark?
Can light be harsh – all of these things can spark a poem.
If you are still stuck after writing the list, then write a sentence for each word and see where that leads.
Written on February 17th, 2015 by adminno shouts
Music and poetry have always been intwined so why not select some music to write too? Some people find that they can only do this to music that has no words so you might need to stop and think about how you work best before you start. Albums with words in can be listened to as a whole before you begin writing. The music helps put you in a certain mood or frame of mind which can then be transposed into the page in words.
How does the music make you feel?
Does it remind you of anything/place/person?
What’s the story behind the music?
Written on February 16th, 2015 by adminno shouts
Take the title of this post and/or the photograph and write solidly for 15 minutes.
Extra info that might spark a thought or two to help – myths include picking these yellow flowers causes you to wet yourself, they were used as a coffee substitute in the Second World War (at least here in Britian), they have what is known as a tap root!
Written on February 14th, 2015 by adminno shouts
Love it or hate it, it is that time of year again when all the hearts and flowers and chocolates come out. But what does this date mean to you?
Even if you are apathetic towards the date, you can’t miss this festival of love, so why do you think it is there and why do so many people take part and spend so much money on it?
If you are a parent then you will no doubt receive a sticky fingered glittery valentines day card from your little ones – what do they think of the day?
If answering the above questions does not spark a poem then try researching it – what are the origins of St Valentines Day? How has it been celebrated through out history? What about the man or men named Valentine? What did they do? Is there an increase in births 9 months after the date? Is it really connected to ancient sex cults? What do other countries do? What about love festivals in general? Who and how and when do they celebrate?
Failing all of that just look at the photograph above and use it as a five minute writing prompt!
« Newer Posts —
Older Posts »