by Chrystina Trulove-Reyes

Created on: June 05, 2010

People practice to keep their skills at top notch. Violinists practice their music. Runners and swimmers practice to both keep in shape and to build on their abilities. Writers should practice to keep up their skills. It is too easy to forget things like grammar, spelling, and vocabulary without practice. This idea is known as, “use it or lose it.”

A good way to keep in practice for writing is to warm up before a session and to write daily. There are numerous exercises that can be used to keep your abilities refreshed. Here is a list of a few that you can use to warm up before starting your session.

Five senses - Object

Writing a description of an object is one of the most commonly used exercises by writers. The idea is to describe an object with words using your five senses. Choose an object, it doesn’t matter what kind of object. Just choose one and then write about it.

Study the object with your eyes, touching it only minimally. Describe in writing what you see. Does it look smooth? Is it shiny? Describe the colors and shape. Is it long, tall, short, squat, thin? Describe it as thoroughly as possible.

Next focus on how it feels. Close your eyes and touch it. Feel everything and describe the feeling. Don't think about what it looks like, just focus on what it feels like and write it down.

If it’s an object that you already own then make sure to clear a space in which you could study the object and write about it in length. First, you want to study it with your eyes. Is there any writing on it? Does it have any bumps or nicks? What are its colors? Is it tall or short?

Do the same thing through both taste and sound. Write down everything you notice, even if it doesn’t coincide with the other things that you noticed before. Remember to keep each sense separate. Try to write each thing you notice without thinking about the things you noticed using the other senses. Use only one object at a time and try to vary the objects for each exercise. If you use a statue of an angel in the first exercise, try a painting or picture for the next.

To spice up the exercise up a bit, try adding a description of how you feel. Notice one thing about the object at a time, and focus on your own emotions instead of the other senses.

Five senses - Place

This exercise is similar to the “Five senses – Object” exercise. The place can be a room in your house, your backyard, your favorite hiking, camping or fishing spot, or even your office. When you first try this exercise, it is best to go for simple rather than an area full of details. A thinly decorated room would be a good place to start. Use each of your senses, one at a time, and try to “forget” any senses used before. Try to notice the things you wouldn’t notice without a thorough study.

Journal

Keeping a daily journal is probably the best way to keep up your writing skills. By journaling, you train yourself to notice and remember things, and then write those things down. You will begin to notice a pattern of what you notice, think and feel, as you write, and be able to use that in your writing sessions for articles and stories.

If you ever run out of things to write about, you can ask yourself questions that are designed to make yourself think and remember. Describe family, friends, pets, and remember to write down the details. Describe their personality, likes and dislikes, habits, etc.

Conclusion

There are many ways to keep your writing in practice, to warm up before a writing session, and to keep your abilities top notch. Remember that with anything you do, you need to practice. The same goes for writing.

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