Exercise for the Writer

Do you write every day? Developing a daily writing habit will sharpen your abilities more than a dozen writing classes. More than reading a dozen 'how-to' books. You become good at what you do by sticking with it on a consistent basis.

For those days when you don't want to work on your manuscript (although my advice about that is to sit down and do it anyway) there are many ways to jumpstart your creativity without spending a dime.

Writing exercises:

1.) Your character is in the middle of a locked room. No windows. He/she can hear voices and by what they're saying, your character's every move is being observed. Why? What happened?

2.) Seconds before your character says 'I do', there's a commotion in the back. Your character's Aunt Bertha gasps and faints. What happened?

3.) Your character is framed for murder. The only way to prove his/her innocence is to run. Where?

4.) It's the 1800's. Your character was just gambled away in a poker game. What now?

A muse is a myth. If you're to achieve your writing dreams, it'll be because you were willing to work hard enough to get there.