Writing Group Exercises

Writing groups often meet to practise their writing and use exercises and story prompts to get started. Here you’ll find writing exercises to try with your group.

Many groups set aside a section of their event to do some writing. It’s a really useful way to improve writing skills and get some feedback as well. For instance, some groups encourage members to read out what they’ve produced, or simply discuss what they learned from the exercise.

But how do you get started? Well, here you can download some exercises to try with your group. Our free downloads are divided into four categories.

These are just some ideas, so if you have a favourite writing exercise and would like to see it featured here, get in touch. We love hearing from writers with ideas we can share with our community.

Breaking the ice exercises

Alphabet Story
Download
Connecting Stories
Download
One Word Each
Download
Three Things About Me and My Writing
Download
Writer Bingo – Experienced Writers
Download
Writer Bingo
Download
Writer Questions - Show of Hands
Download
Writer questions
Download
Writing Concepts Discussion
Download

Writing prompts

Random Inspiration
Download
A Movie from a New Angle
Download
Character Inspiration
Download
Explore Story Theme
Download
Exploring Emotions
Download
Exploring Senses
Download
First Lines
Download
I Remember
Download
Objects and Things
Download
One Word to Inspire a Story
Download
Quick Story Ideas
Download
Story Conflict
Download
Story First Lines
Download
Title Inspiration
Download

Story structure

A Simple Story Plan
Download
A Writing Goal
Download
Begin With the Ending Story Plan
Download
Consider Conflict
Download
Demonstrating Change
Download
Inspiration Homework
Download
No Words Just Feelings
Download
Passive to Active
Download
Pitch a Story for Another Writer
Download
Pixar Once Upon a Time Story Structure
Download
Psychic Distance
Download
Show Don_t Tell
Download
The Same, But Different
Download
Things are Going From Bad to Worse
Download
Writing Problems Resolved
Download

Character development

A Character Arc
Download
A Character Introduced
Download
A Character Plan
Download
A Character Seen Through Someone Else_s Eyes
Download
Character Prompts
Download
Characters Favourites
Download
Characters in Time and Place
Download
Detailed Character Plan
Download
Dialogue and Words Unsaid
Download
Exploring Characters in New Ways
Download
Quick Character Excercises
Download
The Proust Questionnaire
Download