creative writing 30 day writing challenge

30 Day Writing Challenge:The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Post author By Onyemechi Nwakonam
Post date January 3, 2021
No Comments on 30 Day Writing Challenge:The Complete Beginner’s Guide

My writing life was a dream I had that never seemed to come true.

It was all filled with a mirage.

The lofty projections I had in every new year resolution.

Still, the goals crumbled from inaction.

Doing a personal 30 day writing challenge was the turning point for me.

I built a writing routine after years of struggling.

Now, I can focus on improving my craft and actionable tips to apply to my writing.

This is what happens when you build a routine.

Maybe you are like me and you want to nail in your writing goals with a thirty day writing challenge.

In this blog post we would look at:

What is a 30-day Writing Challenge?
Why you should do a thirty day challenge?
Types of thirty day challenges
How to do a thirty day challenge( with tips for starting and finishing)

Let’s get started.

What is a thirty day Writing Challenge?

A 30-day writing challenge is a type of writing challenge that spans over thirty days.

Consistent writing in thirty days.

Keep in mind that some 30 day writing challenge would involve writing a specific

Number of works (poetry, short stories, etc)
Length of work(word count, lines for Poetry)

Why do a 30 day Writing Challenge?

There are many reasons why you should be doing a thirty day challenge

1.Build a writing habit

Research has shown that it takes 18-254 days to build a habit.

This depends on the complexity of the task to the person.

Simple tasks like drinking water at a certain time of the day take less time compared to going to the gym daily.

When getting started as a writer a thirty-day challenge can help you write over a consistent amount of time to allow the task to get ingrained into you.

If your goal is to build a writing habit your focus is different.

What do I mean?

I said earlier that a Writing habit is doing a task regularly.

It could be every day, every week days, etc.

For the purpose of the thirty days challenge, I would take the writing habit as daily Writing.

Your main goal is to show up every day to write not fretting too much about the quality/quantity of work.

Yeah, you have goals, word count targets, and other writing parameters but writing every day is more important than meeting a word count.

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s say your goal in doing a NaNoWriMo challenge is to write a 50000 words novel.

You can reach this target in different ways.

First, you can decide to do long writing sprints to come up with ten thousand words.

With this approach, you would reach your goal with five writing sprints.

But if your goal is to build a habit.

You will be obsessed with writing every single day of the challenge rather than meeting the word count.

What is a writing habit?

A writing habit is writing on a regular or consistent basis.

It is when showing up to write becomes automatic.

It gives you the time to work on tasks that are not automatic like practicing writing tips on craft.

Build your willpower

One of the most common causes of writer’s block is procrastination.

Mr procrastination is the child of low will power.

If you succeed in the challenge emphasis on “If”, you build that willpower that allows you to show up and chase your goals.

This is closely related to habits and routines.

In the grand scheme of things they all connect to help you reach your writing goals.

Produce more works

If you have plans of writing a collection of short stories, full-length poetry books, novels, or a nonfiction piece.

Doing a challenge would help you get the words down so you can focus on rewriting your vomit draft.

For me, writing is more prone to writer’s block compared to rewriting.

In writing, you are working with a scary yet powerful blank page or screen.

While in rewriting you already have something concrete you are working on.

Let me know which ( Writing vs Rewriting ) is more difficult for you and often leads to procrastinating.

If you do a storyaday challenge.

The challenge requires you to write a short story every day for thirty days.

That is about three collections of short stories.

Keep in mind that is if you are using 12 short stories per collection.

Improve craft

While writing a lot over 30 days whether it’s creative writing or nonfiction.

You become better while testing and trying out new ideas.

When Ray Bradbury was asked for his writing advice for young writers he advised them to write a short story weekly as all can’t be that terrible.

In the worst-case scenario, you have a piece of work to edit to life.

It depends on the challenge you are doing.

If you are doing a poetry 30 day challenge you would have written 30 poems.

Most of the poems will suck.

You can always edit them.

Types of 30 day Writing Challenge

There are many types of 30 day writing challenges depending on the type of work you are writing during the thirty days.

1.Journal Writing Challenge

Journalling is an interactive recording of affairs causing you to reflect and review them.

When the term journalling is used it is often for spiritual/stoic journal.

But that’s just one of the numerous types of journals out there.

I think it’s because a stoic/spiritual journal is one that’s common to many persons.

Compared to a writing journal that only writers keep.

There are also other specific journals like

Reading Journal

To track your Reading goals and adventures. Using this journal you can also record your action plan from a book you have read.

Writing Journal(Notebook)

Those ideas that come and go can be trapped in this journal.

It is meant to help you grow your writing skills.

Things you can record are :

Snippets of dialogues
Brain dump
Sketches of story

It is not written with the intent of publication.

Depending on the specific skills and area of your life you which to grow in you can have a journal to record your progress as well as frustrations, mistakes and lessons learnt.

Poetry Writing Challenge

There are many online 30 day poetry challenge.

The most popular is the national poetry writing month in April.

There is also another one in October called octopowrimo.

They all work on the same rule. You write a poem daily for thirty days.

The websites post prompts to help you write.

Note: you don’t have to use the Prompts.

Your poem is not restricted to any length.

You can write short poems and gigantic poems.

Short story Writing Challenge

In this challenge, you write a complete short story in a day.

From planning to putting out the first draft.

Storyaday challenge is a popular writing challenge where you write thirty short stories in a month.

If you fail to write a short story for whatever reason.

You don’t carry the incomplete short story to the next day.

I know I mentioned writing challenges hosted online.

Nothing stops you from doing a personal 30 day challenge.

Novel Writing Challenge

The most popular example of the 30 day novel writing challenge is the NaNoWriMo challenge.

It is held in November every year.

Where you set out to write 50,000 words in thirty days.

You can set your personal goal.

You don’t have to wait for Nanowrimo in November.

Novella Writing Challenge

I made this one up but it can be done.

Not everyone can write a novel in thirty days.

How about a novel instead.

Instead of 50,000 words, we write 15,000-30,000 words.

Which is achievable for most people.

Nonfiction Writing Challenge

There are various types of nonfiction challenge.

Using the types of nonfiction we can further break the nonfiction writing challenge into:

This is a piece of work that tells the story of one’s life around a particular theme.

It isn’t the recording of one’s entire life like the autobiography.

2.Self help books

In self-help books, you can write a business book, a motivational book,

We have looked at the types of 30-day writing challenge let’s look at how you can do one.

How to do a thirty-day writing challenge?

In November 2020 while the NaNoWriMo buzz was going on I decided to do a writing challenge instead of word count.

I chose to build a writing habit.

I missed some days but I learnt a lot.

All the lessons I will share with you.

Before doing this writing challenge I have had a series of writing challenges I wanted to do.

I never started some.

For others, I started but never completed it.

This might sound silly but in some of the writing challenges, I forgot that I decided to do a writing challenge until the end of the month.

What was the magic approach?

You want to be clear and what you are writing.

The type of genre of writing.

This doesn’t mean you can’t do a thirty-day creative writing challenge.

Of course, you can but in that case, it would be good if you know what you are doing.

2.Know your why

Earlier on I talked about the various reasons for doing this challenge.

Find out yours. Your goals.

This would influence how you plan out your challenge.

3.Plan and Prepare

Nothing scares me most as wondering what to write as the writing time draws near.

You want to save your brain the labor of thinking of what to write so you can sit and write.

Having a plan helps you to always move on even if the Muse doesn’t show up.

If inspiration comes overflowing you can go the path.

But if nothing comes you are not stuck wondering what to do.

For the ideas, you can use writing prompt generators.

If you are doing an online challenge most of them would post prompts.

You don’t have to use it.

But you have an idea you can always fall back on when nothing comes.

If you are doing a journalling challenge there are journal prompts to get you writing.

4.Set a time

When it comes to doing a challenge it is not enough to say you are going to write.

Goals without a plan are just mere wishes.

When are you going to be writing most of the time?

But when is the best time to write.

This largely depends on you.

If you are a morning or evening person.

Enough of that.

Let’s be practical.

Do you have the time to show up consistently at that time you have set(chosen)?

The mistake I made when doing those challenges is I set my writing time as though I have just one life, The Writing Life.

The short and simple answer is….

The time you would always have to show up.

5.Prepare for Obstacles

When I decided to do a writing challenge.

I envisage a smooth ride to that goal.

Well, that’s not often the case.

List out the things, activities, people that might stop you from showing up.

The next step is to think of how you are going to deal with those obstacles.

” We all have a plan until we are punched in the face” – Mohammed Ali

With these obstacles prepared for you won’t be caught off guard as already know they would come.

6.Test challenge

A test challenge is a challenge you do to check, verify your assumptions, and adjust based on real-time feedback.

In the previous step, you have written out the obstacles and how you wish to deal with them.

I bet there are obstacles you didn’t write about.

Solutions that are not practical.

It’s simply because you don’t know of them.

With a testing challenge, you are revealed to those shortcomings.

Let’s say you want to do a 30-day writing challenge where you write for two hours every day.

I will put it in another way.

You want to write a novel in a month and you estimated you would have to write 2,000 words every day to reach this goal.

You estimated it would take you two hours every day to reach this word count.

The test challenge would be to write to that stipulated time and see if you reached the word count.

When you do a testing challenge it would help you see if you are correct with your estimation.

Whether you are underestimating or overestimating.

And you can adjust accordingly.

This saves you the resentment from not reaching your goals because you underestimated what was required.

For me when I saw I couldn’t reach my set goal instead of continuing I gave up.

Here’s why it’s magic.

Your brain knows it’s not the main challenge so if you flop.

It wouldn’t fill your heart with discouraging thoughts.

Simply because it knows that the goal of the test challenge is not to reach your writing goals but to evaluate them.

7.Have a backup (alternate plan)

For me, my set time for writing is 7 pm

but it’s not every day I would have that time to write.

With this understanding I set an alternate plan on what to do so I can reach my daily goal no matter what.

I write before the time.

Sometimes it’s in the morning or later into the night depending on what type of obstacle.

8.Measure progress.

Look our brain loves and craves instant gratification.

This part is a life-changing lesson for me.

To measure your progress you can use a habit tracker or word counter depending on your goal.

What’s a habit tracker?

A habit tracker is a digital or physical tool you use to log in your progress every day.

A word count tracker is what you use to keep track of your daily word count.

What I want you to do is to take an old calendar 📅 and draw out boxes for the month.

You can use the forest app or habitify habit tracker for digital options.

Post the calendar where you can see it without having to go through the stress of looking at it.

For each day you complete you mark a chain that will come together as you complete more days.

There two rules

Don’t break the chain
If you ever break the chain don’t break it twice.

For a word count tracker, you can use a spreadsheet to log in the word count daily.

You can also use a physical sheet to do it.

Ilys app is an online app that will give you statistics on word count and time spent.

Seeing the chains gives me an immediate reward to work cause I don’t want to break the chain.

When you start the first day you won’t see the magic until the third and fourth day when the chain starts to connect.

A simple way to trick your brain with instant gratification.

We have talked about a lot of thirty-day challenges.

I believe that action is easy if the steps are not so complex.

Now it’s your turn what is your reason for doing a 30day challenge.

Which of the tactics are you going to apply next.

Let me know in the comments section 🤔.

Thank you for reading this post.

Try these tips out and let me know how it went.

Make sure you don’t miss a post from me by subscribing to my blog for free.

By Onyemechi Nwakonam

Hi ,I write poetry and short prose. I am excited to help you organise your writing journey.

The 30-Day Writing Challenge: An Alternative to NaNoWriMo for Writers Who Fear Commitment

#scribendiinc

I don't know about you, but I'm afraid of commitment.

I find it difficult to choose a movie because I think two hours is too long to focus on the same story. I've had three separate Facebook accounts, over 10 different email addresses (five of which are currently active), and I've dyed my hair more colors than I could count on both my fingers and my toes. I'm the person who researches the restaurant ahead of time and still stares at the menu long after everyone has decided what to order.

Okay, so I know the idea is that even moms and full-time employees can find time, that prioritizing writing over other things is important to nurture your artistic self, and that fitting writing into your day every day is what makes a writer, well, a writer. I get it, I do. I get all of it.

Even so, I would like to see my family for more than 30 minutes after I get home from work, and— sue me— but going to new restaurants with my friends is, like, the Olympic sport of my life. I'd still like to write every day; it's just that producing such a high volume in such a short amount of time is what sends single girls like me running and screaming. So what's a whiny writer like me to do?

Luckily, the ability to produce a high volume of good writing doesn't just happen overnight. In reality, writing doesn't have to be so intense. It's all about baby steps. (Like, I guess one date wouldn't hurt, and it might be fun to post that I'm "in a relationship" on Facebook.)

Writing for a few minutes every day doesn't sound so scary, does it? The trick is that it all adds up. That's why we've created a less intense alternative to 50,000 words in 30 days. This is the 30-Day Writing Challenge, where we've provided creative writing exercises for every day of the month. The best part is that you can write as much or as little as you'd like without pressure and without having to feel bad about it. After all, it's all about creation in any volume, right?

The 30-Day Writing Challenge

Take us through a written walk down your street and to your favorite place through the eyes of somebody else.

Think of three people in your life. Give your character the hair and laugh of person 1, the face and bedroom of person 2, and the wardrobe and mannerisms of person 3. This is your new protagonist. Feel free to give him or her any other characteristics you'd like. Give us an idea of who your character is by describing only the first 60 seconds of the character's day.

Now send your character to his or her grumpy grandmother's house for a visit. Write the scene of your character's arrival.

Imagine that your protagonist has just turned into a statue. Describe his or her thoughts.

The last liquid you drank has turned your protagonist into a superhero. What do your character's new powers allow him or her to do?

Think of your favorite food. Try to make it sound as disgusting as possible.

Spoil the ending of your favorite movie without any context.

Take a nondescript sentence such as, "How are you?" Write the same line from at least five different points of view.

Turn a Tweet into a haiku .

Try to convince your reader that the mythological creature of your choosing exists.

You are now a dragon. Describe your hoard.

Take the first line of your favorite novel. Remove and replace the nouns and verbs, and write a story that begins with your new line. Delete the first line.

Think of the worst pain you've ever felt. Now give your protagonist a papercut and over-exaggerate the pain using your own descriptions.

Your character meets somebody new on the bus. His or her opinion about the person is changed by the end of the bus trip. How did this change occur?

Characterize the second-last app on your phone or the last website you've visited (before this one). Send this new character to the supermarket.

The last thing you touched (other than the keyboard, mouse, screen, etc.) is trying to kill your protagonist. Explain why.

A magic trick involving cards has gone horribly wrong. What are the consequences?

Free write about your first protagonist (from Day 1) meeting the new character from Day 15.

Cross an item off your bucket list by doing it in your writing.

Ask somebody you know how his or her day was. Make any kind of poem out of their answer.

Your character's skeleton is trying to escape his or her body. Describe what happens.

Find a cliché you absolutely hate. Rewrite it while keeping the intended meaning intact.

Make an existing protagonist into an antagonist by changing one small thing about him or her. Write a pitch that sells this antagonist's story.

Put your favorite poem through a translator into a different language and then back again. Do this until the poem is no longer recognizable. Rewrite it and turn it into lyrics for a song.

One of your characters has been mistaken for somebody else. Write what happens next.

Write the log line for a mockumentary.

Tell the story of a man who lives in a motel.

Your character picks up a locket or a frame. Explain its contents and their significance.

Think of your greatest fear. If it's an object, person, or place, make it sound loveable. If it's some kind of experience, make it sound fun.

Finish a story with the line, "Nothing ever felt easier to say."

That wasn't so scary, was it?

Which prompts from the 30-Day Writing Challenge were your favorites? Did anything surprise you about your writing? We hope that you've come out of this month no worse for wear than when you started. After all, writing is work, but it's also supposed to be good for the soul. Even if you didn't do all of the challenges, you've written more than you would have if you hadn't taken part in these writing exercises at all. Like I said, it's all about taking baby steps. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some email accounts to close once and for all . . .

Image sources: Nathan Walker/Stocksnap.io, obpia30/Pixabay.com

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Brendan Hufford - Build Your Audience by Writing Online

My 30 Day Writing Challenge: A NaNoWriMo Alternative

August 23, 2019 By Brendan Leave a Comment

Not long ago, I took a break from social media for 30 days.

A social media detox , if you will.

The goal, to sum it up in four words, was: create more, consume less.

I didn’t detox to give my brain a break. Quite to the contrary. I did it to get my creative juices flowing in ways they can’t when I’m distracted by social media. I did it to get my brain working in ways that mattered more to me.

That’s why it was important for me to make sure that these 30 days of freedom didn’t go to waste. I would be a fool to detox from social media and spend that time sleeping or watching TV or browsing the web.

Developing a Daily Writing Habit

So, I gave myself a 30-day challenge. I would complete a daily writing challenge for all 30 days. Journaling, blogging, creative writing, writing a short story…nothing was off the table. I had no minimum word count, no set writing process. I would sit down, start writing, and see what came out.

I needed results. I needed to create things that matter. I needed to leave an imprint on my world that didn’t fade into irrelevance after 24 hours. Writing gives you something Snapchat stories don’t: permanence. With permanence comes a special kind of fulfillment. After all, it’s the things you create that stay on this Earth a lot longer than you do.

If you follow me, it’s no secret that I write. I write a lot. That being said, I think I reached a sort of creative peak during these 30 days, writing for nobody but myself, with no social media to suck my time away. You don’t have to pursue nanowrimo (national novel writing month) to partake in this challenge, either. It wasn’t all gold, but I wanted to share a few highlights that epitomize, to me, what you can create without the constraints of social media distraction.

Three Entires From My 30-Day Writing Challenge:

Take from these what you will. Use them as writing prompts, if necessary. I think they speak for themselves.

Entry 1: Of Entrepreneurs and Rhinos

The rhino is a dangerous creature.

It’s easy to look at a rhino and think about the things they can do. They have thick, protective skin. They can grow to weigh over 1000 lbs. They can run upwards of 30 miles per hour.

But they can’t see very far ahead of themselves.

I remember the first time I felt like a rhino. I was six years old, staying at my grandparents’ house in upstate New York, riding my bike down a hill at a speed I like to call “scary fast.” Nope, not normal fast, scary fast; the speed where you realize your safety is no longer in your hands, where everything gets–you guessed it—scary.

It might have been 30 miles per hour.

It was also the first time I saw stars. I remember the moment I lost control; the bike, no longer supporting my weight, slid from under me. I had no choice but to release myself, to fling myself on the ground with no idea where I would end up. Before I knew it, I was dazed, wallowing in the pain from my skinned knee, but thanking God that my grandma made me wear a helmet.

Since becoming an entrepreneur, there were times I almost felt like a rhino. When everything is moving “scary fast”, when I feel like the skies the limit, the last thing I want to do is look ahead.

Then I remind myself, just because rhinos get to live in blissful ignorance, doesn’t mean I do.

Just because you work your face off, doesn’t mean you can’t fall flat on it if you’re too shortsighted. Don’t just look a few feet in front of you. Look at where everything is going. Start moving intentionally.

If you find yourself among a pack of rhinos–hustling to no end, reveling in the danger, living in the moment to the point where you lose control of your future—abandon them. After all, there’s a reason why a group of rhinos are called a “crash.”

Entry 5: Work Harder, Not Smarter

Thought leaders have a penchant for telling people that it’s not about how hard you work, it’s about how smart you work.

It’s not a bad message if you interpret it right. But people rarely do.

Just because you “work smart” for a bit doesn’t give you an excuse to spend the rest of your time bouncing around useless crevices of the Internet, consuming content that has nothing to do with your current goals.

Working smart only applies to those who know what they’re doing. If you haven’t achieved your goals and you think you can afford the luxury of wasting time…sorry, you’re just not working hard enough.

The reason I hate when people say “work smarter” is that nobody knows what smart work is until they watch it take them to where they need to go. There is no rulebook on how to “work smarter”.

Working hard is different. The results you get are directly correlated with the hours you put in. Sure, if you’re working hard and not smart, you might be wasting your time. But every hour you spend chasing your goals will get you closer to them, whether it has a direct impact, or it teaches you what not to do.

Give yourself the time to be better. If you interpret “smart” as “lazy”, you’re only hurting yourself.

Take a look at where you are now and weigh that against where you want to be. The only thing you can change is the effort you put in. Nobody is coming to teach you how to do it right, to whisper the secret to success in your ear. You need to outwork everyone around you. Then, and only then, will you get where you want to be.

Once you get there, don’t you dare coast. As soon as you coast because you think you have the lead, someone will come and snatch it from you. Good luck.

Entry 30: Don’t Break the Chain

It’s been a month since I set out to publish an article every day for 30 days. And boy, have I come a long way.

I’ve watched the discipline I’ve cultivated in this practice bleed over onto the rest of my life. Not only have my writing skills improved. I’m eating smarter. I’m sleeping better. I’m exercising regularly.

It’s confirmed what I’ve thought for some time: life is momentum based.

Now I understand what people mean when they tell you to start the day with a cold shower. Even though it is hard to sacrifice comfort, if you train yourself to make one sacrifice as soon as you wake up, everything else becomes easier. On the other hand, if you spend your life doing what makes you comfortable, it will take a mountain of effort to break out of that comfort zone.

This is what I call “the chain”. The chain is why, when I force myself to sit down and write out of habit, everything else in my life that requires discipline becomes easier to do. It’s because I’m not reveling in hedonism. My happiness does not need to correlate with pleasure. Instead, it must correlate with fulfillment, specifically the fulfillment I get from making the sacrifices that make me a better version of myself.

It’s why I don’t believe in cheat days. Once you take a day to rest, you break the chain. Once the chain is broken, all the work you’ve put in to stretch it out for as long as you did is undermined. You have to start from scratch. Fuck that.

Writing is great in that it forces me to flesh out my thoughts, to expand them beyond the constraints of a Tweet or a Facebook post, to get to the bottom of why I feel the way I do. It also keeps me working hard, cultivating the habit of being better to feel better. In that sense, it keeps the chain going.

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30 Day Writing Challenge

The best way to make your writing stronger is to do it every day

Many people dream of “being a writer.” They picture a published book with their name on it, or an article they wrote going out to the masses. But so many of us have difficulty actually putting pen to paper (or, fingers to keyboard) to write. The number one thing a writer needs to do is write. And yet, it can be so challenging for so many of us.

One of the best ways to combat writer’s block is to engage in a writing challenge. For example, each summer, the author Jami Attenberg hosts “1,000 Words of Summer,” a challenge to writers to write 1,000 words every day for two weeks.

Here, you’ll find a 30-day writing challenge. This is 30 short prompts for you to do, doing one a day per day for 30 days.

You don’t have to set aside too much time for these, nor do you have to set a daily word count for yourself, unless a specific prompt calls for it. The most important thing is that you write. No matter how much you produce each day, after a month, you’ll be surprised at how much writing you’ll have done.

Pick a color, any color. Write about that color as if it were a person. What are its good personality traits? Bad? What’s its name?
Write about a place you visited yesterday. If you went out, write about somewhere you visited. If you stayed in, focus on one room you spent time in. Describe it in detail.
Who was your favorite teacher? Why? Write about them.
Who was your least favorite teacher? Why? Write about them.
Write at least one page, uninterrupted, about absolutely anything that comes to mind. If nothing at all comes to mind, write about your thoughts on emptiness.
Grab a book off a bookshelf. Open it to a random page. Close your eyes and point to a random passage. Type up that passage. Now, write something about that passage. Maybe it’s whatever happens next (though, it shouldn’t follow whatever really happens next in that book), or maybe it’s whatever would be the complete opposite of what you’ve just read.
When was the last time you cried? Why? Write about it.
Go to Wikipedia’s random article generator page . Read whatever comes up, and then write something short based on it. Maybe a main character comes from the article, or maybe a scenario. You’ll have to see what pops up, but use it as inspiration in some way.
Write a story that begins with this line: “I kicked off my boots. My socks were wet, my feet were frozen. The fireplace was dark.”
What is the stupidest argument you’ve ever been a part of? Who was stupider, you or the other person? Write about it.
In a small town, there’s a dog that keeps getting into a chicken coop and eating the chickens. The owner of the chicken coop is threatening to shoot the dog. Write a story about the conversation that happens between the chicken owner and the dog owner.
The owner of the dog called the town government on the chicken coop owner. There’s a hearing about it. Write the story of that hearing.
Imagine a family experience you had. Maybe it’s a holiday, or a vacation, or something more mundane. Pick a family member other than yourself, and write a scene from that memory from their perspective instead of your own.
Write a story where the first line is: “The sun was burning his nose, and all he could think about was chicken nuggets.”
Write 200 words about the room you’re sitting in right now.
Write 400 words about the room you wish you were sitting in right now.
Disregard whatever you know about the history of PopTarts . Imagine a board meeting where the concept of PopTarts is proposed. Write the scene.
Who is your favorite movie character? Who is your favorite book character? They just ran into each other. Write the scene.
Opening line: “She’d never seen a dead body before, but, there he was.”
Write a scene where Person A wants to get through a door that Person B is on the other side of. How does Person A try to convince Person B? Write the scene.
Write a scene from the perspective of a fish.
Write 500 words about a person who means a lot to you. Focus on one or two personality traits the person has, and how they’ve used those traits in a way that’s made you happy.
Write a scene from the perspective of a toddler who really, really, REALLY wants some fruit snacks. How do you convince the gatekeeper of the fruit snacks to give them to you?
Opening line: “The moon was bright. Not that he could see it.”
Closing line: “They’d miss each other, but hey, at least it happened.”
A famous couple is on their way to an awards show, but they’re in a fight. Write what happens on their limo drive.
Look through what you’ve written over the past 26 days and pick one prompt that you want to expand upon. Write at least 400 more words about whatever it is.
Write a scene between a mentor and a mentee in which the mentee has to stand up for him or herself because the mentor isn’t giving him/her enough credit.
Opening line: “He woke up to the sound of someone breathing, which was startling enough. Things didn’t get less startling when he rolled over to see who was asleep next to him.”
Opening line: “As they walked through the forest, they heard a branch snap under the weight of a boot. But it was too far away to have been caused by either of them.”

When you finish this 30 days, applaud yourself. You just created 30 pieces of writing that could now be turned into any number of new projects. You wrote. You are a writer. Good job, friend.

Diarly is secure, simple & beautiful. Start your digital journal today!

Lauren Harkawik

Lauren Harkawik is a journalist, essayist, and fiction writer based in Vermont. You can read her writing on her website.

Visit Lauren Harkawik 's website

"This has been such a transformative experience. I’ve grown as a writer and, most importantly, as a person." — Taylor Lindsey, Author

30 Days of Creative Writing WRITE YOURSELF ALIVE!

Reignite your creativity and get unstuck. Turn writing into a daily habit and a top priority. Overcome blocks, procrastination, fear & self-doubt. Become the powerful creative writer you were born to be.

FINAL HOURS ⏰ JOIN OUR JUNE WRITING CLASS

Use the code WRITE at checkout to save 50%

LAST HOURS TO SAVE 50% ⌛️ LIFETIME ACCESS: DO IT LIVE OR GO AT YOUR OWN PACE

Are you a writer or content creator with a passion for language and a desire to let your creativity take over your work and life?

Whether it's through books, blogging, online publishing, or any other work with words, would you like to expand creatively, overcome fear and self-doubt, improve your writing skills, and get excited + inspired with your work and mission?

If you've been feeling stuck, unmotivated or discouraged, and you can't find enough willpower to take creative action on your projects or ideas...

If you've been struggling to make time for your writing, postponing your creativity for when everything else has been taken care of, or trading your aliveness for a long list of to-do's, or treating yourself like an option and not your top priority...

If you are feeling lonely, unsupported or misunderstood in your creative pursuits and you want to be inspired, challenged and motivated to become the best creator you can be...

30 Days of Creative Writing will be the kickstart you need to begin or start over, the inspiration boost you have been waiting for, the before & after in your writing experience and creative journey!

"I just wanted to take a moment and say Thank You! This program gave me the courage to take my poetry seriously, start my novel in earnest, post consistently on my blog and get my first article published for an online magazine. It gave me the courage to drop my fears at the door."

— Nicole Elizabeth

WHAT IS 30 DAYS OF CREATIVE WRITING?

30 Days of Creative Writing(™) is a month-long writing adventure that will inspire and support you in prioritizing your creativity, improving your voice as a writer or content creator, overcoming fear, stagnation and self-doubt, and turning your writing and creative self-expression into a non-negotiable daily habit.

So far, 30 Days of Creative Writing has helped more than 10.000 Writers , Word Lovers, Artists and Creators around the world come alive through the art and power of writing.

This unique, all-genre and all-level writing adventure is for creatives from all walks of life and it can be adapted to any schedule, lifestyle, genre or creative practice .

Through a powerful and inspiring daily practice, 30 Days of Creative Writing will be your writing companion for a full month and help you jumpstart your writing journey, wherever you are on the path.

Whether you are a writing pro or a beginner or somewhere in between, if you are not burning through your words at the moment, this writing adventure is a fresh new chance to help you fall in love with your words and your life .

HOW WILL IT HELP YOU COME ALIVE?

Here how this adventure will help you come alive, improve your writing and reignite your creativity:

WRITING TRAINING

You will receive in-depth writing training, daily writing coaching, prompts, inspiration, lessons, habit-building writing fuel and insight, to help you practice your craft, develop a solid writing habit, improve your writing skills and find or strengthen your voice as a writer or content creator.

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

You will be inspired and motivated to prioritize yourself and create every single day. You will be guided to dig deeper into who you are and what you want for your life. You will become aware of your immense creative power and you will be encouraged to use it to the fullest.

GUIDANCE & SUPPORT

You will be guided and supported daily during the entire duration of the program, to help you build momentum. Additionally, you may opt for a 1:1 Creative Mastery Coaching Session that will provide you with extra guidance, coaching and support on your creative journey.

"The writing has really awakened my heart. I’ve expressed so much of my pain, worked through disappointments and recent events that have shaken me to my core. That has been difficult because life is so interwoven that our fears can choke our dreams. Most importantly, it really has shaken my creativity alive. I have found and expressed my voice in a way I haven’t before, about things I have been silent about in the past. It has unlocked new elements of relationships and given me strength to shut the door on others."

— Steve Savides

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Here is all the creative writing fuel awaiting you these 30 days of writing:, 30 daily emails + 30 daily writing guides.

Sent to you daily and weekly, to help you stay on track and develop a daily writing habit. Each Daily Writing Guide contains writing inspiration, prompts, tips & insight, exercises and daily writing, creativity + habit checklists that will reinforce your writing practice.

2 Masterclasses

Every 10 days, you will get access to an in-depth Creative Writing Masterclass (approx. 90 mins) that will help you improve your writing skills, grow and deepen your creative practice, find and strengthen your voice as a writer, as well as fine tune your work, art and story. Video + Audio + PDF format.

3 Training Videos

You will begin every 10-day phase of this writing adventure with a short training video that will coach you through different aspects and issues on your writing + creative journey, and provide you with inspiration, writing fuel and insight that will deepen your training and experience.

3 Mindfulness Tracks

You will receive 3 Mindfulness recordings (5-10 min), one for every phase of the program. These tracks will help you align with your natural creative flow in a matter of minutes: 1 Meditation Flow. 1 Affirmation Flow. 1 Visualization Flow.

24/7 Lifetime Access to our Writing Platform

You will have unlimited LIFETIME ACCESS to our private Virtual Classroom + NEW Writing Community, where you can share your writing, feedback and insights in a safe, inspiring and supportive space, away from social media distractions.

BONUS 1 — Introductory Masterclass

In addition to the Core Program you will also get access to an Introductory 90-minute Masterclass that will help you become aware of what is holding you back, get unstuck and fuel up for the writing journey. This Masterclass comes with a Writing Self-Assessment, as well as extra Bonus Writing Prompts.

BONUS 2 — Writing Self-Assessment + Writing Prompts

Dig deeper into the WHY behind your writing, and assess your relationship with this art through game-changing questions and in-depth Writing Prompts, that will help you get more clarity on your creative journey. This will lead you to start our 30-Day Adventure with an open mind + heart.

BONUS 3 — Book Proposal Guide

Want to publish your book through an agent and/or traditional publisher? A book proposal is your ticket there.

In this bonus Book Proposal Guide, you will learn how to create your book proposal from scratch, using our step-by-step book proposal model, tips and insight.

BONUS 4 — Literary Genres & Style Kit

Get essential tips & tricks, do's & don'ts and literary advice in different literary genres, subjects and styles you may want to try or improve.

This Genres Kit includes 6 Literary Guides in: Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, Dialogue, Character Creation and Children's Story.

BONUS 5 — In-Depth Weekly Writing Coaching

You will receive 3-4 additional email coaching sessions, with resources, inspiration and book recommendations, supporting you through some of the biggest challenges that writers and creators struggle with on the journey, such as rejection, not feeling enough, perfectionism, consistency, practice and talent.

YOUR INVESTMENT

Choose the Core Program or add an extra 1:1 coaching session to your Write Yourself Alive experience.

CREATIVE REBEL PLAN

For Creative Rebels, Content Creators and Word Lovers who want to unleash their creativity, break through blocks + come alive through writing.

This plan includes the full Write Yourself Alive month-long program:

>> Core Program

>> Bonuses

>> Lifetime Access to the Content + FREE upgrades

>> CREATIVE MASTERY SESSION: 1:1 coaching, guidance, feedback and support on any aspect of your writing and overall creative journey. (1 hour)

WHAT OTHER CREATORS ARE SAYING

Over 10.000 creators have completed this program to date. here is what some of them have to say about the experience:.

"This has been such a transformative experience. I’ve grown as a writer and, most importantly, as a person. Thank you to the souls who welcomed me with open arms into your lives and into your hearts. Please keep writing, learning and growing!"

-- Taylor Lindsey Noel

"The experience for me encapsulated so, so much. It was a reminder, an eye-opener, a disappointment, a small success, a quiet revelation, a bombshell of reality. I am so grateful for those who participated, shared, and gave feedback. People became brave through each other’s honesty. What a brilliant gift you gave us!"

-- Carly Hitchcock

"This program changed the way I feel about myself. I didn't realize how much was stuck in me, just waiting to be released and accepted. Thank you for this life-changing experience!"

-- Jonathan Rodriguez

"My writing self has become more active, like the rumbling of ideas and desire under the surface, occasionally shooting out a little something for the world to see. Now I feel like a volcano on the verge of erupting. The more I give, the more I have overtaking my regular life and burning anything that comes between me and my keyboard. I have so much going on in here now, I don't know if I'll live long enough to get it all out, but I'm all over it."

-- Shelly Asperson

"This course has been amazing for me… I realized that my writing, like my meditation is best done in the morning, before the daily grind has got to me. I did write in ways that were much more honest, and reading others’ stories inspired me and made me feel less alone in my struggles. This course helped me hear my voice better. I can’t wait for the next one!"

-- Deborah H.

"A lot of things that have been buried deep in the dustiest corners of the soul have made their back with this symphony called poetry. I just had to face them head-on. This course rocks."

— Mohammed Abrar Ahmed

"What a joy this has been and how very valuable to me. It has changed my life in very tangible ways. I lost an unhappy job of 12 years - as if the Muse had said: ‘Enough already!’.

I finished the first draft of a novel I’ve worked on for four years, I’ve been writing almost every day and absolutely loving it!

To be a writer has always been the one thing I knew I wanted from life. I cannot tell you how very grateful I am for the kick in the ass!"

— Padma Thornlyre

HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT'S YOUR ALIVENESS STORY? Let creative writing bring you back to life!

Your instructor + write yourself alive creator.

HEY THERE, CREATOR! I'm Andrea Balt and I created Write Yourself Alive as a personal creative revolution that will help you unleash your creativity through words and experience the transformative power of writing in your life, no matter where you are in your journey.

30 Days of Creative Writing was born as a personal writing challenge in my living room, at a time in my life when I was overwhelmed by my daily to-do's and obligations, and unable to prioritize the type of writing and creative work that set my heart on fire and made me feel alive.

I wanted to see what would happen if I prioritized my creativity first thing in the morning and committed to my passion for at least 30 days.

Since then, 30 Days of Creative Writing has become a worldwide revolution, helping more than 10,000 creators get unstuck, reignite their creativity and come alive through the power of writing and creative self-expression.

JOIN US AND LET CREATIVE WRITING BRING YOU BACK TO LIFE!

A BIT MORE ABOUT ME... Some of my other creative babies include Rebelle Society®, Year of You®, Creative Rehab® and now The Self-Creation School among other online programs, communities + LIVE events I've put together in the last decade, designed to help you heal, love and create your life to the fullest.

My academic training includes a 2-year MFA in Creative Writing + Literature and a BA in Communication & Mass Media. I am also a certified Holistic Health Coach, a 200-hour certified Yoga Teacher, a Fitness junkie and a Dance + Painting + Songwriting enthusiast.

For the last decade, I've been teaching Creative Writing, Self-Love and Self-Creation + Lifestyle Design to more than 200.000 creators around the word, through a combination of online communities and mediums, online courses and programs, coaching and consulting, as well as LIVE workshops and retreats.

I am best known for inspiring people from all walks of life to rediscover their innate creative superpowers, trust, write and share their stories, as well as re-create their lives, one act of courage at a time.

"What attracted me to your writing courses is the level of creative permission I felt coming through your writing, and the passion you express about living authentically. Simply being in contact with a person who has given themselves the permission and authority to live on their own terms fuels my permission to do the same."

- Dena Crowder

"I wanted to express my appreciation for your beautiful way of stringing words together. You are poetry. You have the vision I see when I look for the true nakedness of my soul. I see your signature after your writing, not before. I know it is you before your name claims the insight. Thank you from my heart.“

- Stacey Bowerman

"You are my favorite wordsmith and I cherish your writings. You inspire me to look within and to be the best version of me with words and the power they hold. You are a gift to me and everyone you touch. May your light continue to shine brightly."

- Rick Gabrielly

If something burns your soul with purpose and desire, it's your duty to be reduced to ashes by it. Any other form of existence would be yet another dull book in the library of life. - Andrea Balt

WHY 30 DAYS OF CREATIVE WRITING?

There is a reason why more than 10.000 lives have already been transformed by 30 Days of Creative Writing , making this our best-selling and most popular program.

In addition to the writing training and creative inspiration you will receive on a daily and weekly basis, you will also gain deep insight into your lifelong artist journey , let go of stories of survival, lack, fear and self-doubt you may have been identifying with, and get to trust and write a truer story of aliveness for your life.

30 Days of Creative Writing is not just a writing program, but the door to a more abundant, meaningful, empowered life.

It will become the creative spark you needed in order to allow yourself to feel and to express the whole spectrum of beauty, pain, darkness and light of your human experience, in the company of other sensitive creators.

After all...

WRITING IS NOT THE END IN ITSELF, BUT JUST A MEANS TO A MORE CREATIVE, JOYFUL AND ABUNDANT LIFE.

In this program we will use writing as the tool to open your heart and unlock your perception, so you can experience your life in a deeper, more authentic way, fueled by your desire, helped by your creativity, and inspired by your purpose.

Through the Daily Lessons, Prompts and a Soulful Writing Practice, along with weekly Video Trainings, Mindfulness Tracks and Masterclasses , as well as extra Bonuses, Resources and LIVE Coaching + free lifetime upgrades...

30 DAYS OF CREATIVE WRITING WILL HELP YOU:

Turn your creative self-expression into a daily habit and a top priority. Learn to prioritize your soulwork and take inspired + empowered action every single day.
Get proactive and excited about your writing — again or for the first time. Fall in love with your story, your creative voice and your life.
Get unstuck and break through your creative blocks and limitations. Overcome self-doubt, fear and stagnation. Start operating from a Creator paradigm, vs. a Victim or Survivor mindset.
Acquire valuable writing skills, tools and resources that will improve your creative and professional life + save you time, money and creative energy.
Get deep insight and coaching on your journey as Artist of your Life . Change your mindset from Victim to Creator and learn to love and enjoy the journey of creating yourself, as your greatest work of art.

Your creativity is calling. Will you answer?

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE 50% ⏰ CODE: WRITE

HOW DO I SIGN UP & GET STARTED?

After signing up you will receive an instant Purchase Confirmation Email from Creative Rehab — our private virtual platform, where all our programs and courses are hosted —containing all the registration details for 30 Days of Creative Writing. Within 24 hours of signing up, you will receive access to our private Members Portal, where you can get started right away with the bonuses, and warm up before your 30-Day count begins. You may also do the program self-paced, in your own time.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED TO SET ASIDE FOR THIS PROGRAM?

You can take 30 Days of Creative Writing at your own pace, as much or as little as your current schedule allows. This program is designed to help you create what you can, with what you have, wherever you are, at this point in your life. NO EXCUSES.

You will receive daily and weekly guidance and you will be encouraged to write something every day — as much as your schedule or current circumstances allow.

You can adjust this program to your own lifestyle and keep revisiting and retaking it anytime you want.

WILL I RECEIVE 1:1 WRITING COACHING?

1:1 writing coaching is available for the the CREATIVE ALCHEMIST TIER. Please see both tiers in the pricing section and select the one that adjusts to your need.

The first tier - CREATIVE REBEL - does not include group or 1:1 coaching, however our team and instructors provide you with general support and and give you as much professional feedback as needed and as time allows in a group / classroom setting.

For additional 1:1 video coaching, support and assistance with your writing or overall creative journey, book the corresponding CREATIVE ALCHEMIST option.

WHAT ARE THE CANCELLATION / REFUND OPTIONS?

This course is non-refundable. If you are not sure about joining, you can contact us wtih additional questions, or continue to enjoy our FREE writing fuel, delivered via social media, newsletters and different bonuses we offer periodically to our subscribers.

If after signing up, your circumstances prevent you from taking the course as scheduled, you may access it in your own time or retake the guided version of it (including daily emails) at a later date that suits you better. Contact us to help.

Read more about the cancellation / refund options in our Terms & Conditions .

Got any extra questions about the program? Email our support team at [email protected]

THE WRITE YOURSELF ALIVE EXPERIENCE

Here is a recap of all are all the core Coursework and Bonuses included in your 30 Days of Writing Experience:

CORE PROGRAM

30 DAILY COACHING EMAILS + 30 DAILY WRITING GUIDES — Sent to you daily and weekly, to help you stay on track and develop a solid daily writing habit. Each daily email + the accompanying Daily Writing Guide contains writing lessons, inspiration, prompts, tips & insight, exercises and daily writing checklists to deepen + strengthen your writing practice.
2 CORE MASTERCLASSES — Every 10 days, you will get access to an in-depth Creative Writing Masterclass that will help you improve your writing skills, grow and deepen your creative practice, find and strengthen your voice as a writer, as well as fine tune your work, art and story. Video, Audio and PDF formats available.
3 TRAINING VIDEOS — You will begin every 10-day phase of this writing adventure with a training vide o that will coach you through different aspects and issues on your writing + creative journey, and provide you with inspiration, writing fuel and insight that will enrich and deepen your experience.
3 MINDFULNESS TRACKS — (5-10 min each), one for each phase of the program. These tracks will help you align with your natural creative flow in a matter of minutes: 1 Guided Meditation Flow - to help you ease your way into your writing journey. 1 Guided Affirmation Flow - to help you affirm and embody your natural creative power. 1 Guided Visualization Flow - to help you design in your mind the future you want to manifest.
24/7 LIFETIME ACCESS TO OUR PRIVATE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM — You will have unlimited lifetime access to our private Virtual Classroom, where you can access the program content, classes and bonuses , as well as future upgrades, anytime that works for you.
BONUS 1 — INTRODUCTORY MASTERCLASS — In addition to the Core Program you will also get access to an Introductory 90-minute Masterclass that will help you become aware of what is holding you back, get unstuck + inspired, and take the next step into your writing journey.
BONUS 2 — WRITING SELF-ASSESSMENT + INTRODUCTORY WRITING PROMPTS — The Writing Self-Assessment contains 15 in-depth prompts and questions that will help you dig deeper into your WHY, and assess your relationship with writing through its ups and downs, as well as learn where you need more practice + improvement. A complementary set of Intro Writing Prompts will help you warm up + as you review the most impactful aspects of this year, so you can start the 30-Day Journey with an open mind + heart.
BONUS 3 — BOOK PROPOSAL GUIDE — Want to publish your book through an agent and/or publisher? A book proposal is your ticket there. This bonus training will help you create a book proposal from scratch, using our step-by-step book proposal model, tips and insight.
BONUS 4 — GENRES & STYLE KIT — Get essential tips & tricks, do's & don'ts and literary advice in different literary genres, subjects and styles you may want to try or improve. This Genres Kit includes 6 Literary Guides in: Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, Dialogue, Character Creation and Children's Story.
BONUS 5 — In-Depth EXTRA Email Coaching — Get additional coaching, resources, inspiration and book recommendations, supporting you through some of the biggest challenges that most writers + creators struggle with on the journey: rejection, not feeling good enough, perfectionism, consistency and talent.

EXTRA COACHING - FOR THE MORE COMMITTED CREATORS

CREATIVE MASTERY SESSION - As part of your Write Yourself Alive experience, you can optionally book a Creative Mastery Session where you will be coached on your writing or overall creative journey, with personalized feedback, insight + support in an exclusive 1-hour Video Zoom Session. Available in the Creative Alchemist tier.

DON'T DELAY YOUR CREATIVE ALIVENESS. JOIN TODAY!

SPRING CLASS ⏰ SAVE 50% ON BOTH PLANS

CODE: WRITE

>> Full 30-Day Course + Core Program

70% OFF: Separate 1:1 Zoom Coaching Sessions are $350. Save 70% by adding it to your 30 Days of Writing experience.

LAST 24 HOURS ⏰ USE THE CODE "WRITE" AT CHECKOUT TO SAVE 50%

"Since beginning and committing to 30 Days of Writing with Write Yourself Alive, my life has become unrecognizable. So much change, death, release, creation, light. Writing is the catalyst, the gift, the fire, the flow of becoming so much more of me!"

- Anne O'Farrell

Is your heart calling you to a more creative, abundant and empowered life?

If you are a writer, content creator, word lover or any other kind of creative troublemaker, with a desire to prioritize your creativity, turn writing into a non-negotiable daily habit, get excited and inspired about your creative journey, and fall in love with your words and your life...

COME WRITE YOURSELF ALIVE!

Don't postpone your aliveness! Come back to the creative flow of life right now, no matter how long you may have felt disconnected from it.

Your creativity, when reignited, will open doors you didn't know existed, and lead you to the most abundant, empowered and fulfilled version of you.

LET WRITING BRING YOU HOME TO YOUR TRUE SELF!

Write Yourself Alive!

Writers are not born they are created, it takes thousands of hours of practice and hard work., it takes commitment, discipline and faith in yourself., it takes a tough love for your life and your unique creative journey., not because it's easy, but because the world needs your stories. , not because you always love the process, but because the process helps you love life. , not because you feel worthy, but because turning life into art makes it all worth it. , your voice is all you really have. .

Writing Activities

105 Creative Writing Exercises To Get You Writing Again

You know that feeling when you just don’t feel like writing? Sometimes you can’t even get a word down on paper. It’s the most frustrating thing ever to a writer, especially when you’re working towards a deadline. The good news is that we have a list of 105 creative writing exercises to help you get motivated and start writing again!

What are creative writing exercises?

Creative writing exercises are short writing activities (normally around 10 minutes) designed to get you writing. The goal of these exercises is to give you the motivation to put words onto a blank paper. These words don’t need to be logical or meaningful, neither do they need to be grammatically correct or spelt correctly. The whole idea is to just get you writing something, anything. The end result of these quick creative writing exercises is normally a series of notes, bullet points or ramblings that you can, later on, use as inspiration for a bigger piece of writing such as a story or a poem.

Good creative writing exercises are short, quick and easy to complete. You shouldn’t need to think too much about your style of writing or how imaginative your notes are. Just write anything that comes to mind, and you’ll be on the road to improving your creative writing skills and beating writer’s block .

Use the generator below to get a random creative writing exercise idea:

List of 105+ Creative Writing Exercises

Here are over 105 creative writing exercises to give your brain a workout and help those creative juices flow again:

Set a timer for 60 seconds. Now write down as many words or phrases that come to mind at that moment.
Pick any colour you like. Now start your sentence with this colour. For example, Orange, the colour of my favourite top.
Open a book or dictionary on a random page. Pick a random word. You can close your eyes and slowly move your finger across the page. Now, write a paragraph with this random word in it. You can even use an online dictionary to get random words:

Create your own alphabet picture book or list. It can be A to Z of animals, food, monsters or anything else you like!
Using only the sense of smell, describe where you are right now.
Take a snack break. While eating your snack write down the exact taste of that food. The goal of this creative writing exercise is to make your readers savour this food as well.
Pick a random object in your room and write a short paragraph from its point of view. For example, how does your pencil feel? What if your lamp had feelings?
Describe your dream house. Where would you live one day? Is it huge or tiny?
Pick two different TV shows, movies or books that you like. Now swap the main character. What if Supergirl was in Twilight? What if SpongeBob SquarePants was in The Flash? Write a short scene using this character swap as inspiration.
What’s your favourite video game? Write at least 10 tips for playing this game.
Pick your favourite hobby or sport. Now pretend an alien has just landed on Earth and you need to teach it this hobby or sport. Write at least ten tips on how you would teach this alien.
Use a random image generator and write a paragraph about the first picture you see.

Write a letter to your favourite celebrity or character. What inspires you most about them? Can you think of a memorable moment where this person’s life affected yours? We have this helpful guide on writing a letter to your best friend for extra inspiration.
Write down at least 10 benefits of writing. This can help motivate you and beat writer’s block.
Complete this sentence in 10 different ways: Patrick waited for the school bus and…
Pick up a random book from your bookshelf and go to page 9. Find the ninth sentence on that page. Use this sentence as a story starter.
Create a character profile based on all the traits that you hate. It might help to list down all the traits first and then work on describing the character.
What is the scariest or most dangerous situation you have ever been in? Why was this situation scary? How did you cope at that moment?
Pretend that you’re a chat show host and you’re interviewing your favourite celebrity. Write down the script for this conversation.
Using extreme detail, write down what you have been doing for the past one hour today. Think about your thoughts, feelings and actions during this time.
Make a list of potential character names for your next story. You can use a fantasy name generator to help you.
Describe a futuristic setting. What do you think the world would look like in 100 years time?
Think about a recent argument you had with someone. Would you change anything about it? How would you resolve an argument in the future?
Describe a fantasy world. What kind of creatures live in this world? What is the climate like? What everyday challenges would a typical citizen of this world face? You can use this fantasy world name generator for inspiration.
At the flip of a switch, you turn into a dragon. What kind of dragon would you be? Describe your appearance, special abilities, likes and dislikes. You can use a dragon name generator to give yourself a cool dragon name.
Pick your favourite book or a famous story. Now change the point of view. For example, you could rewrite the fairytale , Cinderella. This time around, Prince Charming could be the main character. What do you think Prince Charming was doing, while Cinderella was cleaning the floors and getting ready for the ball?
Pick a random writing prompt and use it to write a short story. Check out this collection of over 300 writing prompts for kids to inspire you.
Write a shopping list for a famous character in history. Imagine if you were Albert Einstein’s assistant, what kind of things would he shop for on a weekly basis?
Create a fake advertisement poster for a random object that is near you right now. Your goal is to convince the reader to buy this object from you.
What is the worst (or most annoying) sound that you can imagine? Describe this sound in great detail, so your reader can understand the pain you feel when hearing this sound.
What is your favourite song at the moment? Pick one line from this song and describe a moment in your life that relates to this line.
You’re hosting an imaginary dinner party at your house. Create a list of people you would invite, and some party invites. Think about the theme of the dinner party, the food you will serve and entertainment for the evening.
You are waiting to see your dentist in the waiting room. Write down every thought you are having at this moment in time.
Make a list of your greatest fears. Try to think of at least three fears. Now write a short story about a character who is forced to confront one of these fears.
Create a ‘Wanted’ poster for a famous villain of your choice. Think about the crimes they have committed, and the reward you will give for having them caught.
Imagine you are a journalist for the ‘Imagine Forest Times’ newspaper. Your task is to get an exclusive interview with the most famous villain of all time. Pick a villain of your choice and interview them for your newspaper article. What questions would you ask them, and what would their responses be?
In a school playground, you see the school bully hurting a new kid. Write three short stories, one from each perspective in this scenario (The bully, the witness and the kid getting bullied).
You just won $10 million dollars. What would you spend this money on?
Pick a random animal, and research at least five interesting facts about this animal. Write a short story centred around one of these interesting facts.
Pick a global issue that you are passionate about. This could be climate change, black lives matters, women’s rights etc. Now create a campaign poster for this global issue.
Write an acrostic poem about an object near you right now (or even your own name). You could use a poetry idea generator to inspire you.
Imagine you are the head chef of a 5-star restaurant. Recently the business has slowed down. Your task is to come up with a brand-new menu to excite customers. Watch this video prompt on YouTube to inspire you.
What is your favourite food of all time? Imagine if this piece of food was alive, what would it say to you?
If life was one big musical, what would you be singing about right now? Write the lyrics of your song.
Create and describe the most ultimate villain of all time. What would their traits be? What would their past look like? Will they have any positive traits?
Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: Every time I look out of the window, I…
You have just made it into the local newspaper, but what for? Write down at least five potential newspaper headlines . Here’s an example, Local Boy Survives a Deadly Illness.
If you were a witch or a wizard, what would your specialist area be and why? You might want to use a Harry Potter name generator or a witch name generator for inspiration.
What is your favourite thing to do on a Saturday night? Write a short story centred around this activity.
Your main character has just received the following items: A highlighter, a red cap, a teddy bear and a fork. What would your character do with these items? Can you write a story using these items?
Create a timeline of your own life, from birth to this current moment. Think about the key events in your life, such as birthdays, graduations, weddings and so on. After you have done this, you can pick one key event from your life to write a story about.
Think of a famous book or movie you like. Rewrite a scene from this book or movie, where the main character is an outsider. They watch the key events play out, but have no role in the story. What would their actions be? How would they react?
Three very different characters have just won the lottery. Write a script for each character, as they reveal the big news to their best friend.
Write a day in the life story of three different characters. How does each character start their day? What do they do throughout the day? And how does their day end?
Write about the worst experience in your life so far. Think about a time when you were most upset or angry and describe it.
Imagine you’ve found a time machine in your house. What year would you travel to and why?
Describe your own superhero. Think about their appearance, special abilities and their superhero name. Will they have a secret identity? Who is their number one enemy?
What is your favourite country in the world? Research five fun facts about this country and use one to write a short story.
Set yourself at least three writing goals. This could be a good way to motivate yourself to write every day. For example, one goal might be to write at least 150 words a day.
Create a character description based on the one fact, three fiction rule. Think about one fact or truth about yourself. And then add in three fictional or fantasy elements. For example, your character could be the same age as you in real life, this is your one fact. And the three fictional elements could be they have the ability to fly, talk in over 100 different languages and have green skin.
Describe the perfect person. What traits would they have? Think about their appearance, their interests and their dislikes.
Keep a daily journal or diary. This is a great way to keep writing every day. There are lots of things you can write about in your journal, such as you can write about the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of your day. Think about anything that inspired you or anything that upset you, or just write anything that comes to mind at the moment.
Write a book review or a movie review. If you’re lost for inspiration, just watch a random movie or read any book that you can find. Then write a critical review on it. Think about the best parts of the book/movie and the worst parts. How would you improve the book or movie?
Write down a conversation between yourself. You can imagine talking to your younger self or future self (i.e. in 10 years’ time). What would you tell them? Are there any lessons you learned or warnings you need to give? Maybe you could talk about what your life is like now and compare it to their life?
Try writing some quick flash fiction stories . Flash fiction is normally around 500 words long, so try to stay within this limit.
Write a six-word story about something that happened to you today or yesterday. A six-word story is basically an entire story told in just six words. Take for example: “Another football game ruined by me.” or “A dog’s painting sold for millions.” – Six-word stories are similar to writing newspaper headlines. The goal is to summarise your story in just six words.
The most common monsters or creatures used in stories include vampires, werewolves , dragons, the bigfoot, sirens and the loch-ness monster. In a battle of intelligence, who do you think will win and why?
Think about an important event in your life that has happened so far, such as a birthday or the birth of a new sibling. Now using the 5 W’s and 1 H technique describe this event in great detail. The 5 W’s include: What, Who, Where, Why, When and the 1 H is: How. Ask yourself questions about the event, such as what exactly happened on that day? Who was there? Why was this event important? When and where did it happen? And finally, how did it make you feel?
Pretend to be someone else. Think about someone important in your life. Now put yourself into their shoes, and write a day in the life story about being them. What do you think they do on a daily basis? What situations would they encounter? How would they feel?
Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: I remember…
Write about your dream holiday. Where would you go? Who would you go with? And what kind of activities would you do?
Which one item in your house do you use the most? Is it the television, computer, mobile phone, the sofa or the microwave? Now write a story of how this item was invented. You might want to do some research online and use these ideas to build up your story.
In exactly 100 words, describe your bedroom. Try not to go over or under this word limit.
Make a top ten list of your favourite animals. Based on this list create your own animal fact file, where you provide fun facts about each animal in your list.
What is your favourite scene from a book or a movie? Write down this scene. Now rewrite the scene in a different genre, such as horror, comedy, drama etc.
Change the main character of a story you recently read into a villain. For example, you could take a popular fairytale such as Jack and the Beanstalk, but this time re-write the story to make Jack the villain of the tale.
Complete the following sentence in at least 10 different ways: Do you ever wonder…
What does your name mean? Research the meaning of your own name, or a name that interests you. Then use this as inspiration for your next story. For example, the name ‘Marty’ means “Servant Of Mars, God Of War”. This could make a good concept for a sci-fi story.
Make a list of three different types of heroes (or main characters) for potential future stories.
If someone gave you $10 dollars, what would you spend it on and why?
Describe the world’s most boring character in at least 100 words.
What is the biggest problem in the world today, and how can you help fix this issue?
Create your own travel brochure for your hometown. Think about why tourists might want to visit your hometown. What is your town’s history? What kind of activities can you do? You could even research some interesting facts.
Make a list of all your favourite moments or memories in your life. Now pick one to write a short story about.
Describe the scariest and ugliest monster you can imagine. You could even draw a picture of this monster with your description.
Write seven haikus, one for each colour of the rainbow. That’s red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Imagine you are at the supermarket. Write down at least three funny scenarios that could happen to you at the supermarket. Use one for your next short story.
Imagine your main character is at home staring at a photograph. Write the saddest scene possible. Your goal is to make your reader cry when reading this scene.
What is happiness? In at least 150 words describe the feeling of happiness. You could use examples from your own life of when you felt happy.
Think of a recent nightmare you had and write down everything you can remember. Use this nightmare as inspiration for your next story.
Keep a dream journal. Every time you wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning you can quickly jot down things that you remember from your dreams. These notes can then be used as inspiration for a short story.
Your main character is having a really bad day. Describe this bad day and the series of events they experience. What’s the worst thing that could happen to your character?
You find a box on your doorstep. You open this box and see the most amazing thing ever. Describe this amazing thing to your readers.
Make a list of at least five possible settings or locations for future stories. Remember to describe each setting in detail.
Think of something new you recently learned. Write this down. Now write a short story where your main character also learns the same thing.
Describe the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your whole life. Your goal is to amaze your readers with its beauty.
Make a list of things that make you happy or cheer you up. Try to think of at least five ideas. Now imagine living in a world where all these things were banned or against the law. Use this as inspiration for your next story.
Would you rather be rich and alone or poor and very popular? Write a story based on the lives of these two characters.
Imagine your main character is a Librarian. Write down at least three dark secrets they might have. Remember, the best secrets are always unexpected.
There’s a history behind everything. Describe the history of your house. How and when was your house built? Think about the land it was built on and the people that may have lived here long before you.
Imagine that you are the king or queen of a beautiful kingdom. Describe your kingdom in great detail. What kind of rules would you have? Would you be a kind ruler or an evil ruler of the kingdom?
Make a wish list of at least three objects you wish you owned right now. Now use these three items in your next story. At least one of them must be the main prop in the story.
Using nothing but the sense of taste, describe a nice Sunday afternoon at your house. Remember you can’t use your other senses (i.e see, hear, smell or touch) in this description.
What’s the worst pain you felt in your life? Describe this pain in great detail, so your readers can also feel it.
If you were lost on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, what three must-have things would you pack and why?
Particpate in online writing challenges or contests. Here at Imagine Forest, we offer daily writing challenges with a new prompt added every day to inspire you. Check out our challenges section in the menu.

Do you have any more fun creative writing exercises to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

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Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time..

LIVE – Fantasy

Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."

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Start your story with a character canceling their plans.

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Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

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Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

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Your protagonist is a voracious reader. Lately, they’ve been noticing odd synchronicities in the books he or she is reading. What does the protagonist discover is happening?

Dream up a secret library. write a story about an adventurer who discovers it. what’s in the library why was it kept secret, write a story about a future academic (or another influential person) “rediscovering” a book that, in its time, was dismissed. the book can be fictitious or real., your protagonist is a writer who discovers a new favorite author. how does their writing, or even their own personality, change as the protagonist falls under the writer’s influence, write a story about discovering a lost manuscript. it can be from a famous (or infamous) author, or an unknown one., your teacher tasks you with writing a story based on an eavesdropped conversation. when the story is published, your subject isn’t happy., a character overhears something at a black-tie event that puts the night in jeopardy., write a story in which someone can only hear one side of a conversation and must piece together the meaning of what they’ve heard., write a story about a child overhearing something they don’t understand., write a story in which someone is afraid of being overheard., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

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Everything You Should Know About Conquering a 30-Day Writing Challenge

When the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) was first launched in 1999 by freelance writer Chris Baty, no one could have guessed how much traction it would gain over the following decades. With 21 writers participating in the original event, within ten years, over 200,000 people would compose a total of over 2.8 billion words. By 2015, 431,626 people participated from 633 different regions.

The challenge asks participants to write a 50,000-word manuscript between November 1 and November 30. This is not to be considered a final draft but to meet the contest rules, you have to write 50,000 words in 30 days, and there are checks and balances within the challenge to make sure writers do just that.

Basically, it's a crash course in helping writers understand the amount of discipline required for productivity and getting a novel completed. The focus is on hitting 50,000 words and writers are encouraged to finish their first draft quickly so that it can later be edited when the challenge is complete. There is no fee to participate in NaNoWriMo. You only have to register and put your best effort into completing it successfully.

30-day writing challenges can be a crash course in helping writers understand the amount of discipline required for productivity and getting a novel completed.

30-day challenges that led to book deals

The results of a 30-day writing challenge speak for themselves. Since 2006, nearly 400 NaNoWriMo novels have been published via traditional publishing houses and over 200 novels have been published by smaller presses or self-published. Among these titles are books like:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen , published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, published by Delacorte Press
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, published by Dutton Juvenile
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, published by Doubleday
Wool by Hugh Howey, published by Simon & Schuster
Cinder by Marissa Meyer, published by Square Fish
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, published by St. Martin's Press
The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough, published by Del Rey Books
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy, published by HarperCollins Publishers
Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers, published by HarperCollins Publishers
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, published by Gollancz
The Cut Out by Jack Heath, published by Allen & Unwin
The Beautiful Land , by Alan Averill, published by Ace Books

I want to participate, what should I know to prepare?

If you plan to participate in the 2010 NaNoWriMo Challenge, here are a few tips to prepare for the enormous task ahead.

Be organized

As with any task, the better organized you are, the more likely you'll be to be successful and achieve your goal. So, on the front end, you'll need to set a daily word count goal, just like bestselling authors do .

November 2019 has 30 days. This means that if you're writing every day, you need to hit a daily word count goal of approximately 1,667 words, which is right under what Stephen King sets for himself as a daily word count goal. If you know that there will be days during the month you won't be able to write (Thanksgiving, for example), you'll need to factor that in.

Don't edit, just write

In her book Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within , which has sold over a million copies, bestselling author Natalie Goldberg advises:

Don't cross out. (That is editing as you write. Even if you write something you didn't mean to write, leave it.) Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar. (Don't even care about staying within the margins and lines on the page.) Lose control. Don't think. Don't get logical. Go for the jugular. (If something comes up in your writing that is scary or naked, dive right into it. It probably has lots of energy. Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

This advice has been repeated by other bestselling authors, and it's well-known within author circles that the best way to approach writing a book is to write first, edit later. There's a very logical, scientific reason for it, too. Writers create, using the right side of the brain, while editors analyze, using the left side of the brain. It's two different processes and needs to occur at two different phases of development in your creative endeavors. Since the NaNoWriMo challenge only requires 50,000 words to be written within a month, there is no need to edit yourself. The focus should be placed entirely on the creative process of writing.

Do the prep work now

If you plan to write a fantasy manuscript, the amount of work that goes into worldbuilding on the front-end is daunting, to say the least. This video can get you started on some of the core aspects of worldbuilding .

Regardless of genre, if you're not quite sure how to build your main character, this article is a good starting point for learning about the Hero's Journey and the steps that are traditionally included in it. Since all great stories follow a similar heroic arc, it's a good idea to know this arc before creating your own hero.

Additionally, a lot of writers have seen a lot of success with using The Snowflake Method. If you don't have a ton of experience in story drafting or plotting, the Snowflake Method is an easy way to get your story on the page. This article is a basic tutorial on how to approach the Snowflake Method to get your story outlined before the NaNoWriMo challenge gets started, and is good information to know on the front-end of any attempt at writing a story.

Consider creating a scene list

While a scene list is not required for writing a novel, some writers, like author J.K. Rowling , swear by them. If you want to create a scene list before your 30-day writing challenge, this article is a great resource for learning what a scene list is and how to make one .

Let your friends and family know what you're doing

American author Jessamyn West once said, Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.

There is a lot of truth in this statement, and it's perhaps a reason why writers throughout history have been notoriously crummy spouses and parents. In fact, being able to balance one's work and family life as a writer is an obstacle many writers admit to facing, so to prepare yourself for any 30-day writing challenge, you'll need to understand this simple truth on the front-end. Especially if you have a full-time job outside of your writing endeavors, you should have the conversation with your significant other and family members so they understand the amount of privacy you'll need to get 50,000 words on the page within 30 days.

Being able to balance one's work and family life as a writer is an obstacle many writers admit to facing

Anyone who has ever attempted to write a novel with multiple distractions around them understands that it's simply difficult—if not impossible—to do. Writing takes focus, and when you're not given the space and time to make that happen, you'll only be frustrated with the whole process and likely fall short of your goals.

Since the 30-day writing challenge is incredibly brief in the scheme of things (most writers take many months, even years, to complete a novel), this shouldn't be a difficult sacrifice for your friends and loved ones—especially if they understand how important writing is to you and the passion you have for accomplishing the personal goal of getting a book written and published. A little communication goes a long way in preempting any potential problems that could arise during the middle of your 30-day writing challenge, so make sure you take the time to explain to everyone why this is important to you and how they can help you succeed.

A final thought

If you're serious about getting a book written and published, taking on a challenge like the NaNoWriteMo is better than any writing class you could take. It will show you the enormous amount of discipline and creative effort that goes into writing a novel and set you on the path to better writing habits in the future.

Even if your manuscript is incredibly rough around the edges and needs a lot of editing, you've still done the hardest part of getting a book written, which is making that first rough draft. You'll end the 30-day challenge with a fresh perspective on your abilities as a writer and more passion to continue your goal of finding success in your creative efforts. So—what are you waiting for?

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Develop a Daily Writing Habit with the Write Now! 30-Day Challenge By Jennifer Onorati

Want to strengthen your writing?

Start with a daily routine.

This 30-day challenge is perfect for starting small … and sticking to it!

Get started below … and move one step closer to banishing blank page blues.

For added accountability … post about your daily practice on social media! Remember to tag us @AmericanWritersArtistsInstitute on Facebook and @awaicopywriting on Instagram to show us how you’re doing and to give us permission to re-share your amazing progress!

Write Now! 30-Day Challenge

Day 1: try a before-and-after approach by heather robson.

When writing persuasive copy, you must convince your reader that your product will change his life.

Day 2: Write the Next Chapter of Your Life By Lori Allen

Take control of your life by being responsible for every moment. If you do, each chapter will end the way you want.

Day 3: You Know More Than You Think You Do By Christina Gillick

We’re all full of interesting information and hungry to learn more. Learn something new today and share it wide.

Day 4: Become an Email Subject Line Machine By Pam Foster

Practice writing stronger email subject lines with this video from Pam Foster, Director of Copywriter Training at AWAI.

Day 5: Email a Story with Good Advice By Pam Foster

Collect 7 pieces of advice to share with a college graduate and write a story email. Do the same for a client.

Day 6: Decide When You Really Like to Write By Casey Demchak

Build a strong writing habit by choosing the best time of day for you and sticking to it.

Day 7: Where Do You Generate Your Best Ideas? By Casey Demchak

Like all writers, you must determine when and where you usually come up with your best ideas.

Day 8: Get Unstuck by Going in Reverse By Marcia Yudkin

Trick your mind out of writer’s block by writing deliberately bad copy… you’ll be surprised how many good ideas will grow.

Day 9: Ask Your Prospect 20 Questions By Jim Wright

Have a list of 20 or more questions to ask prospects about your product … both prospects that love it and those that find it useless.

Day 10: How Do You Want to Be Remembered? By Ted Capshaw

Another exercise to build up your storytelling chops… this time doing some soul-searching to define what people will remember about you.

Day 11: Describe Your Perfect Childhood Day By Jen Adams

To build up your storytelling chops, reminisce about your favorite day as a child, teenager, and adult, and write down your stories.

Day 12: Write a Vacation Postcard By Christy Goldfeder

In this exercise from Christy Goldfeder, get your imagination going and create a picture by vividly describing a vacation memory.

Day 13: Interview a Famous Person By Pam Foster

Practice your interview skills by writing a question script for someone you admire.

Day 14: Powerful Proofing Tips By Nick Usborne

Use Nick’s techniques for making your copy stronger.

Day 15: Your Major Marker Event By Ted Capshaw

Ted Capshaw, leader, coach, facilitator encourages all writers to be in touch with their feelings. Listen to Ted’s Truth on how to do that.

Day 16: Your Most Powerful Tool: The Verb By Jen Stevens

Good verbs infuse your writing with more spunk. Listen to copywriter and editor, Jennifer Stevens, and practice using your most powerful tool.

Day 17: Jumpstart Your Headline Writing By Elizabeth Blessing

Copywriter Elizabeth Blessing shows you a simple technique to stimulate your headline writing.

Day 18: Put Your Most Important Word Last By Gordon Graham

It’s a proven fact that people tend to remember the first and last items in a series best. And, the words in the middle always get lost. When writing copy, always save your strongest words for last.

Day 19: Write from Emotion By Carline Anglade-Cole

Spinning yarns and telling stories is an art. And being able to make others get caught up in your story by writing from emotion is a gift.

Day 20: Copy Your Hero’s Copy By Steve Slaunwhite

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned copywriter, practice is the key to long-term success. Steve Slaunwhite, B2B marketing guru, shares a fun and easy way to do just that.

Day 21: Solve a Problem By Li Vasquez-Noone

Murphy’s Law says ‘Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.’ And, it seems to happen most often on vacation or away from home. These events trigger emotions. Learning how to get past those emotions to solve the problem and then telling the whole story makes for strong copy.

Day 22: Tell Me Your Biggest Fear By Christina Gillick

Fear can be paralyzing and brings strong emotion to the heart and mind. Write about your biggest fear and how it makes you feel. Emotions sell and fear is one of the biggest. Practice writing stronger copy with this tip from Christina Gillick.

Day 23: Paint a Vivid Picture By Charlotte Hicks

The 4 P’s of copywriting are vital to the success of any copy. Use this prompt from Charlotte Crockett to develop your skills to help prospects picture your product benefits.

Day 24: List Your Prospect’s Pain and Pleasure Points By Brian Kurtz

In this writing prompt from Brian Kurtz, you’ll dig deep to discover what motivates your prospect.

Day 25: Your Favorite Childhood Storybook By Rebecca Matter

Take a playful approach to your writing practice by describing your favorite childhood story. Watch this video by Rebecca Matter, President, AWAI, to see how you can strengthen your copywriting by writing about the sweet memories that come from recalling a favorite childhood book.

Day 26: Write About Your Best Date Ever By Mindy McHorse

Think about the best date you ever had – or maybe the worst – and write a story about it. Watch this video by copywriter Mindy McHorse, Managing Editor of Barefoot Writer, and turn a great date – or a lousy one – into a compelling story that delves into all the senses.

Day 27: Assessing Your Assets By Brian Kurtz

Put on your thinking cap to figure out what makes your product or service unique. Watch this video by master marketer, Brian Kurtz, to get on your way to writing strong copy.

Day 28: Write a Story About an Object By Heather Robson

Pick an ordinary object and create a story about it … so you can connect with your reader’s senses. Watch this video by Heather Robson, web copywriter and Managing Editor of Wealthy Web Writer, to see how you can get creative and write about an “object d’art” — bringing it to life through a story.

Day 29: Make Benefits Irresistible By Sandy Franks

In this Write Now! exercise, you’ll discover a new way to take ordinary benefits and make them extraordinary … one of the secrets to strengthening the results of your copywriting. Watch this video by Sandy Franks, Copy Chief at AWAI, to see how you can create irresistible benefits and get someone to say yes to your sales letter.

Day 30: Write Every Day By Will Newman

Practice makes perfect in most skills, and writing is no exception.

Congrats! You’ve reached the end of the Write Now! 30-day Challenge!

Tell us how you did below!

Write Now! Persuasive Writing Prompts are presented by The Professional Writers’ Alliance (PWA) — a professional association just for direct-response industry writers. Learn about the many benefits of a PWA membership.

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4 Responses to “Develop a Daily Writing Habit With the Write Now! 30-Day Challenge”

Writing a short paragraph or two about a goal you have set for the day Your content will include a subject and as many details you can spell to best describe your pathway

Dominic Guisti – over a year ago

I have set a new goal to spend time everyday reading, writing, and learning to be a freelance writer, copywriter, and content writer over the next 30 days. My display name is my nickname and the word play with the year to remind me that i am not "working", i am "playing" as writing will be fun and enjoyable to me as I continue following my dream to be a freelance from home writer.

katsplay23 – 11 months ago

I wrote in my journal every single day when I was younger. I remember having stacks of notebooks. I have many notepads and journals to this very day. I know this is my true happy place. Now I get to learn how to write content persuasively and professionally for others. I'm elated to embark on such a profound journey that brings much restoration and peace. And to think this could be a main source of income for generations to come! I'm truly grateful. I'm truly thankful. I'm glad to have AWAI!

MajorFilexServicesLLC – 5 months ago

I've never had a journal, and instead, I always listed what I needed to do in my calendar book. Because of injuries, I took it upon myself to keep track of everything for specific reasons. I could write a book from the written information saved over the years. I started, or should I say, I tried to do that some ten years ago, but unfortunately, my wife became ill, and all my time was taken up in seeing to her needs. She has passed, and I am ready to continue my education through AWAI.

Johnboy5484 – 3 months ago

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IMAGES

30-Day Thought-Provoking Writing Challenge • via Sabine
30 Day Writing Challenge With Workbook Daily Creative Writing
My 30-Day Writing Challenge [Here’s How You Can Do It 2023]
30 Day Writing Challenge With Daily Creative Writing Prompts
30 Day Writing Challenge 2020
30 Day Writing Challenge With Workbook Daily Creative Writing

VIDEO

Day 17: Write a book in 30 day challenge
Day 21: Write a book in 30 day challenge
Day 11: Write a book in 30 day challenge
30 Day Writing Challenge
Day 26: Write a book in 30 days challenge
Day 30: Write a book in 30 day challenge

COMMENTS

30 Day Writing Challenge:The Complete Beginner's Guide
Novel Writing Challenge. The most popular example of the 30 day novel writing challenge is the NaNoWriMo challenge. It is held in November every year. Where you set out to write 50,000 words in thirty days. You can set your personal goal. You don't have to wait for Nanowrimo in November.
The 30-Day Writing Challenge: An Alternative to NaNoWriMo for Writers
This is the 30-Day Writing Challenge, where we've provided creative writing exercises for every day of the month. The best part is that you can write as much or as little as you'd like without pressure and without having to feel bad about it. After all, it's all about creation in any volume, right? The 30-Day Writing Challenge Day 1
One Full Year's Worth Of 30-Day Writing Challenges For 2024
Complete the challenge by selecting a topic that interests you, researching it, and writing one paragraph (200-300 words) about it per day. Craft 30 paragraphs on the same topic, or shake things up by writing 30 paragraphs on 30 different topics. Either way, use a formal, academic tone and explain your ideas clearly.
How to Complete a 30-Day Writing Challenge
How to Complete a 30-Day Writing Challenge. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Aug 18, 2021 • 2 min read. Many writers struggle with finding the time to actually sit down and write. A 30-day writing challenge is one method for getting on the right track. Many writers struggle with finding the time to actually sit down and write.
My 30 Day Writing Challenge: A NaNoWriMo Alternative
Developing a Daily Writing Habit. So, I gave myself a 30-day challenge. I would complete a daily writing challenge for all 30 days. Journaling, blogging, creative writing, writing a short story…nothing was off the table. I had no minimum word count, no set writing process. I would sit down, start writing, and see what came out. I needed results.
The 30 DAY Creative Writing Challenge!
30 authentic writing assignments designed to target the skills you need. This fun and rigorous 30 Day Challenge will energize your creative output! Complete the challenge in any style or genre you like! Write fiction, poetry, drama, or creative non-fiction - or ALL FOUR! Become a successful and confident writer!
NaNoWriMo Prep: Your 30-Day Writing Challenge Preparation Checklist
To prevent this from happening, gather the information you need to complete your book before you begin your 30-day writing challenge. 3. Commit to write daily, and schedule your writing times on a calendar. Before your month-long writing challenge, block out time on your calendar to write daily.
30 Day Writing Challenge: The Fast-Track to Book Progress
Day 12: Take a random book off your shelf. Flip to any page and take a look at the first sentence. Use that sentence to start a short story or poem. Day 13: Pick an emotion you feel strongly about (no pun intended). Write it at the top of your page, then write a piece of flash fiction about that feeling.
Diarly
Here, you'll find a 30-day writing challenge. This is 30 short prompts for you to do, doing one a day per day for 30 days. You don't have to set aside too much time for these, nor do you have to set a daily word count for yourself, unless a specific prompt calls for it. The most important thing is that you write.
30 Day Writing Prompt Challenge To Reignite My Creativity
The challenge is fairly simple: To write one story a day of at least 750 words for the prompts that will be included in this pledge post. My goal is to submit 4 stories a week to publications or ...
How to Overcome Writer's Block in 30 Days: a Complete Guide
Evaluate your challenge regularly How to Draw Conclusions From Your 30-Day Challenge. Step 1: Create a table with all the data. Step 2: Mark top views and engagement. Step 3: Mark curiosities and personal favorites. Step 4: Find the intersection of readers' and my own preferences.
30 Days of Creative Writing
30 Days of Creative Writing(™) is a month-long writing adventure that will inspire and support you in prioritizing your creativity, improving your voice as a writer or content creator, overcoming fear, stagnation and self-doubt, and turning your writing and creative self-expression into a non-negotiable daily habit. So far, 30 Days of Creative Writing has helped more than 10.000 Writers ...
A High Performance Approach to a 30-Day Writing Challenge
Exercise so you have the stamina to make it through 30 consecutive days of writing. (Don't let writing time eliminate exercise time.) Energize your mind. (Your brain relies on water and oxygen to work at an optimal level. Take breaks to stretch and breath deeply.) Eat a healthy diet, and, if necessary take vitamins.
The Busy Writer 30 Day Writing Challenge: August
The Busy Writer's 30 Day Writing Challenge For August. And a list for good measure, with a few extra details, and two extra prompts, bringing it to a total of 32 Prompts for August: The God of Light, Lúgh from Celtic Mythology, and his many marriages…. The Bad Stepmother or vice versa: The Bad Stepfather or The Nice Stepmother….
30 Day Writing Challenge
Each day you put in the work to try to get to the minimum of 300 words. Because that seems an ideal word count — enough for you to share your ideas and also continue with the challenge for a longer time. Writing 500 or 1000 words each day is a daunting task and you need to give yourself some time before you even try this.
30-Day Writing Challenge: Ignite Your Creativity!
Day 26: Explore World-building. Expand on the world of your current project, focusing on culture, history, or geography. Day 27: Rewrite a Past Prompt. Select a prompt from earlier in the challenge and revise or expand upon it. Day 28: Write an Opening Line. Craft a compelling opening line that hooks readers into a story or scene. Day 29 ...
105 Creative Writing Exercises: 10 Min Writing Exercises
Here are over 105 creative writing exercises to give your brain a workout and help those creative juices flow again: Set a timer for 60 seconds. Now write down as many words or phrases that come to mind at that moment. Pick any colour you like. Now start your sentence with this colour.
1800+ Creative Writing Prompts To Inspire You Right Now
Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted ...
Everything You Should Know About Conquering a 30-Day Writing Challenge
The focus should be placed entirely on the creative process of writing. Do the prep work now. If you plan to write a fantasy manuscript, the amount of work that goes into worldbuilding on the front-end is daunting, to say the least. ... Since the 30-day writing challenge is incredibly brief in the scheme of things (most writers take many months ...
The Busy Writer 30 Day Writing Challenge: September
The Busy Writer's 30 Day Writing Challenge For September. Following in the tracks of #listersgottalist (The Reset Girl), and the Boho Berry Challenge, I give you (and myself) a list of writing prompts, which are then to be used in one page (or more) of your journal, notebook, or bullet journal; a prompt which will give you a beautiful page in ...
Try These 30-Minute Writing Challenges
In fact, they're bubbling over with unique ideas that can easily be refashioned into exercises that challenge and inspire our writing. So set aside 30 minutes, choose one of the following exercises and, as Tim Gunn from "Project Runway" would say, "Make it work!". Incorporate unusual elements. Contestants on competitive cooking ...
Develop a Daily Writing Habit With the Write Now! 30-Day Challenge
Develop a Daily Writing Habit With the Write Now! 30-Day Challenge. Last Chance — AI Copywriting Mastery In just a few hours, we're closing access to our AI Copywriting Mastery. Make sure you grab it now. Your Copywriting "Iron Man" Suit If you've ever seen the Marvel superhero movies, you're probably familiar with Tony Stark ...
30 Day Writing Challenge
Best Books on Creative Writing 2019; Holly's Writing Classes: the BEST Writing Courses EVER! How to Write Short Stories - A Holly Lisle Class; ... The Busy Writer 30 Day Writing Challenge: August. Search. Recent Posts. 500 Fantasy Writing Prompts - Available Now!
ChatGPT
Write a message that goes with a kitten gif for a friend on a rough day (opens in a new window) Test my knowledge on ancient civilizations (opens in a new window) Write a text asking a friend to be my plus-one at a wedding (opens in a new window)