10 Exercises to Become a Better Writer

10 Exercises to Become a Better Writer 10 Exercises to Become a Better Writer It’s true that practice makes perfect, so if you want to polish your writing abilities and become a better writer, the best thing to do is - you guessed it - practice! From creating your setting to beating writer’s block, we share ten exercises that can help you sharpen your skill set. Some of these come from different Reedsy Learning courses, so be sure to sign up to get even more advice, all by trade professionals, in your inbox each morning.Exercise 1: Change the Scenery - With Writing PromptsThere are very few things as frustrating as a bad case of writer’s block. But don’t despair! Instead of getting frustrated with it, try a change of scenery. Not literally (although that might also help) - do it with your writing.Activity: If your own story isn’t getting the creative juices flowing, using writing prompts  can help you break through the slump. This can help you change your mindset and any expectations your might have from what you are cu rrently writing. Have some fun with it! Here are a couple of examples to get you started:An accident during an experiment freezes you in time in public, completely invulnerable. Millennia later, you come out of stasis to find entire cultures centered upon your statuesque presence throughout their history. via /r/writingpromptsOn your path you meet two guards, one who always answers in sarcasm and one who answers a question with a question. via /r/writingpromptsGoal: Use writing prompts and short story ideas to get your creative juices flowing with a change of scenery that can help you clear out the block. "Use writing prompts for a change of scenery" and 9 other exercises that can help you become a better writer Exercise 2: Create character profilesCreating multifaceted and complex characters is something that takes time and effort, and it only gets trickier the more characters your story has. For readers to connect with your characters, you, the author, need to understand who they are and what motivates them. Easier said than done, but this exercise might help.Activity: Create character profiles for as many characters as you need. This can help you see the differences between them and give you a unique perspective on each of them. Going beyond their basic information and physical appearance can give you a greater understanding of what drives them and can help you capture their voice and point of view in an authentic way.Goal: Give characters their own unique voice, goals, wants, and needs. Exercise: Use character profiles to give your characters their own unique voice Exercise 3: Read out loudOne of the occupational hazards of being a writer is writer’s block. We can all agree that it’s difficult to get any ideas on paper when nothing seems to want to come out. But don’t fear: there are many ways to overcome it. Bec Evans and Chris Smith from Prolifiko show a tried-and-tested method to push through that wall in their writing routine course.Activity: As the name suggest, this exercise consists of letting yourself write freely - there are no rules! Put aside 15 minutes of your day and let the ideas flow. Write whatever is in your head. Don’t edit. Don’t consider your words. Don’t wait for that one beautiful sentence to appear. And, above all, don’t let your inner critic show its ugly face. Just write!Goal: What you write may not be pretty and it may not make much sense, but it will exercise your creative muscle and get your ideas out of your head and onto the page. "Freewriting - a tried-and-tested method against writer's block" and 9 other exercises Need more exercises to get your writing going? Check out this directory with over 100 exercises that cover topics from character development to writer’s block.As English author PD James once said: â€Å"Don’t just plan to write – write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it that we develop our own style.† Developing your writing skills doesn’t happen overnight, but exercising your writing muscle is the one tried and true way to become a better writer and reach your writing goals.What are some of your favorite exercises to become a better writer? Add yours in the comments below!