When it comes to writing, our motivation can sometimes float away just like that awesome idea you had while you were in the shower. People who aren’t writers don’t understand how difficult it can be to be a walking goldmine of ideas. As writer’s, we have to keep the spark of creativity alive and one excellent way to do it is to challenge ourselves!
I’ve seen lots of writer’s challenges on Pinterest and figured that I should make up some of my own. I have found many of them helpful and as writers, we have to support each other. Community over competition – am I right?
I’ve developed the following writing challenges that I myself will be completing as well. I hope that some of you lovely writers will join me 🙂 I’ll be sharing my progress on my Facebook page: Nerd Life and my Instagram and would love to follow along with any of you who decide to take up a challenge! You can also find me on Twitter! Let me know your social media links in the comments 🙂
30 Day Character Challenge
This challenge is all about getting to know one of your characters. This is great to use for a main character in your work. It’s easiest to have a notebook or document specifically for the character you want to outline. This is one of my favorite writing exercises to fully develop a character!
30 Day Flash Fiction Challenge
I have done multiple “flash fiction” challenges and it does really help improve your creative flow. It also helps refine your writing style. I made this one up today and hope it can be helpful to you 🙂
March Writing Challenge
I really want to create a writing challenge every month. I know how much these types of challenges have motivated me to write on specific topics and through that, I have been able to refine my writing style and story-telling skills. This is the FIRST monthly challenge I’ve ever created and I really hope it can get you flexing those writing muscles!
I’ll be beginning this one on March 1st and will be posting updates and motivation on my Facebook page all through the month: Nerd Life.
I’ll be doing more monthly challenge on my FB page only, so please give me a follow and join others completing these writing challenges!
Poetry Challenge
Even if you don’t write poetry, using a poetry challenge can be enormously beneficial to writers. You can use this writing to get more “in tune” with your creativity, to come up with comparisons and metaphors you normally wouldn’t think of and just to get those writing muscles working.
And remember: POETRY DOESN’T HAVE TO RHYME! Try and have fun with these 🙂
“3 Things” Writing Challenge
This is a great writing exercise for anyone who writes creatively. I use this method all the time and find that I come up with some really interesting story premises this way. 3 random things, (a person, a place or an item), are listed and all must appear, in some way, within a story.
I love using the “3 things” writing challenge when I wake up as a way to get writing and spark that creativity early!
“Just Write” Challenge
You can use your personal experiences to spark a great story idea. I created the “Just Write” challenge for anyone experiencing writer’s block, anyone on the hunt for a new writing idea or anyone who just wants to write daily!
This will be the 1st “Just Write” challenge in a series of many more.
What are you waiting for?
I created these challenges for myself but truly hope that writers out there can use them to enhance their craft. Writing is an art, and like many forms of art, it can be frustrating. Using challenges is great way to get out of a writer’s slump! Use these writing challenges to defeat writer’s block and hone your craft.
Let me know how these challenges work out for you! Comment, follow my Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s all flex our writing muscles together 🙂
Happy Writing, nerds!
Ooooh, some of these look really fun and I’m exciting about hopping on board for March!
🙂 Thank you!
Wow, great idea — I’m going to re-read the challenges and pick one for the month of March. I followed you on Twitter and I’ll follow you on Facebook & Insta too. Besides blogging, I write romance novels and I’ve been stuck the last few weeks. I need to begin writing a novella next week! Hoping one of these challenges will get my gears moving again. 🙂
http://www.livesimpleliveinspired.com
Thanks Debra! I’ll be posting monthly challenge on my FB page and hope it helps you out! I have always found that challenges really help get me writing. Good luck with your novella 🙂 I hope to see you interacting on the page 🙂
These all look like so much fun! If my life ever winds down to a pleasant morning lake where I’d have the time to give these ago, or if I get trapped into a writer’s block again, I’ll definitely give at least one of these challenges ago! Thanks for taking the time to create them 😉
Xoxo,
Laura // afinnontheloose.com
Oh my goodness, this is a gold mine! Definitely bookmarking this for inspiration!!!
Thank you Colleen 🙂
I’ve started a book and I really need to get back into writing again. I used to do really well, but I just haven’t been as motivated or had as much time, but I want to make it more of a priority. I love the 3 Ideas challenge! How fun.
-Lauren
Thanks Lauren!
Although I’m not a writer, I know a few people who are. I’m going to share this with them! They look like great exercises.
Thanks Beth!
Oh, how fun! These are some great prompts.
Thank you 🙂
Wow, all of these are such great challenges! (Except maybe the poetry — I just stink at poetry.) It’s too hard to just choose one!
Thanks, Amy! I’m really bad a poetry too 🙁 But, I do find that attempting to write it, (key word being attempt), it improves the quality of my other writing.
I love these! Pinning so I can try them!!
Thanks Nicole! I hope they’re helpful 🙂
I will try one of these challenges. I do believe that I need to challenge myself this way. Thank you