Novel Kicks Writing Room: Interactive Fiction
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today’s exercise is a fun and interesting one (I hope).
I love the choose your own adventure stories. Do you fancy creating your own? Well, here is your chance.
Pick one of the following fairytales –
Little Red Riding Hood
Hansel and Gretel
Three Little Pigs
Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Once you’ve decided, take some time to think about the narrative – what happens throughout the story?
Write it out chronologically. Now, think about what could happen if you had other options in the story. For example, what if Little Red Riding Hood reached her Grandmother’s house and the Grandmother is the villain? However, due to a previous choice to help the wolf, he then comes to the rescue.
This is how you could begin –
Little Red Riding Hood begins the walk to her Grandmother’s house. She reaches a crossroads:
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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Traitor or Faithful?
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Traitor and Faithful.
As Celebrity Traitors has been popular over the last few weeks, I thought it would be fun to put our own spin on it.
Place all of your characters from your current WIP into a castle and place them in a gameshow style situation. Who would be faithful and who not so much?
If you’d prefer to pick a set of characters from another piece of fiction, that’s fine too.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Picturesque Prompt
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, I wanted to focus on some free writing. Using the photo below, create a story.
What does the picture immediately conjure up? Is your protagonist in a boat and this is their view? Are they in a cave hidden along the coast? Why are they there? Who are they with? The sky is the limit with this prompt.
If you want to, you could always spend a few minutes writing down everything the picture sparks and then start your story from your notes.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Woken In A Daze
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Woken in a daze.
Your character wakes up in a room that doesn’t feel familiar.
However, going by the pictures on the walls, this seems to be where they live. They shout for someone, anyone to hear them but the home and the surrounding area remain quiet.
After checking the rest of the rooms, they go outside. Their head is hurting and vision is a litle blurred.
Out of the corner of their eye, they spot a movement…
Continue the story.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Scheduling Your Character’s Day
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
I have what I hope is a fun exercise today.
Take the three main characters from your WIP and fill out their schedule. For example, the character I have chosen is a police officer –
07.00 – Wake up.
07.10 – Morning Run.
0.8.00 – Shower and dress,
9.00 – Morning briefing.
10.00 – Interview Mr Green.
11.00 – Meeting with DCI Morgan.
12.00 –
13.00 – Press conference.
14.00 –
15.00 – Pick up Arianna from ballet.
16.00 – Lisa due at the station.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: By The Roll Of The Dice
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s Prompt: By The Roll Of The Dice.
Find a dice. There’s plenty of free dice apps on the various app stores if you can’t find one.
Roll and use the first line that corresponds to the number you throw.
1 – When walking down an alleyway, your character finds themselves in another time.
2 – Your character is lost in a forest and reach a crossroads. They go left instead of right and end up at an isolated farm.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Your Project’s Roadmap
Welcome Back To The Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, it’s all about our WIP’s. I know I need to focus on mine. If you’re in-between projects, think about an idea you’ve had for a while and been meaning to develop.
First, write down everything you do know about your plot and story.
Write the title of your WIP in the middle of an A4 piece of paper. Then write about what you do know about your main plot, sub-plots, characters, setting, genre, what it needs to meet in terms of beats? Are any elements of it connected to another – for example, if you’re doing a suspense novel, does part of your reveal at the end rely on one of the side characters?
Once you’ve filled in as much as you can with in terms of what you know, try and fill in the gaps. Remember, the novel you write is a living, breathing thing and subject to change but I’ve found this exercise helpful in giving myself a clear overview of the shape of my story.
Here’s an example I made earlier (excuse the handwriting).
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: A New Position
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: A New Position.
Pick two of the following people –
. A police officer.
. A teacher who has just started their first job.
. A volunteer in a charity shop.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Feeling The Fresh Air
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, it’s about getting out and getting some fresh air. If you can get out to a park, a beach or take a walk, that would be great.
Now I know you may not have access to an outside space but don’t worry, just opening the window will do too. It’s all about just feeling the air on your face.
Set a timer for about 10 minutes, observe the things around you. What can you hear? Smell? Feel?
What’s the weather like and how is that affecting the scene in front of you? What’s your relationship with what you can see? Make notes as you sit. You could also record the sounds via your phone if you like.
Once you’ve finished observing, write a short story incorporating everything you’ve written down. Do it from a fictional character’s point of view. Maybe it’s their first time in this area? Maybe they’ve never seen a neighbourhood like yours?
Write up to 1,500 words.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Universal Message
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation
Today’s prompt – Universal Message.
Your character gets a job with a space agency. When an error is made, they are accidentilly sent into space.
Wanting to get a message to earth to be rescued, the message ends up getting broadcasted throughout the universe.
Write about what happens next.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: To Start Not At The Beginning
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Many of us have heard of the saying, ‘let’s start at the beginning.’ I thought it would be interesting to approach our stories at a different place.
‘Two friends fall out within the story.’
Taking this premise, do the following –
Start the story at the beginning – instead of the beginning, wrtie a section from the end of this story. How do you see this premise ending?
Start in the middle – write a section from the middle of the story – from the heart of the action.
Conflict – write a scene that details the actual falling out. If you like, you could write from one point of view and then write it again but from the other point of view.
If you have a work in progress, feel free to use that rather than the premise above.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Your Fictional Hero/Heroine Comes To Visit
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Your Fictional Hero/Heroine Comes To Visit
Picture this scene…
Your character is sat eating breakfast, minding their own business when there is a knock at the door.
Standing on the doorstep is their fictional hero/heroine. They are there – a living, breathing person.
Write about what happens next. What do they make of our world? What is the same? What is different? How do they react to things?
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Writing Scenes
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, we will be focusing on writing a scene that will draw your reader in.
Pick a scene from one of your favourite books and read it.
Then re-read it. This time though, make a list of bullet points covering the following –
. What do you think is the goal from the author’s point of view?
. What plot points does it touch on?
. What characterisation does it reveal?
. What world-building does it disclose?
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Freaky Friday
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Freaky Friday.
After getting drunk and making a wish, your character wakes up to find they’ve swapped places with the person they admire most in the world or someone they feel has everything together like a rival or a celebrity.
Write about whether the grass is actually greener.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Plot Thickens
Hello and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
For today’s excerise, we will be looking at plots. Pick two of the following –
Rags to Riches – Your character is changed by money.
Coming of Age – Your character potentially becomes something better because of what they’ve been through.
The Quest – Your character must go through a journey to acomplish something great.
Mystery – Your character must solve a puzzle.
Stranger – Someone new upsets the status quo.
Now write a story that combines them. The genre and style is up to you. Try to write at least 750 words.
I’d love to see them in the comments but no pressure to post. Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Lucky Day?
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Lucky Day?
Your character wakes up to find that they are able to grant wishes – one per person who asks for their hearts desire. However, as the number of wishes they grant grows, the newly found genie discovers that luck runs out for someone else each time.
Write about one such case. You can begin the story at any point, from when the person discovers they can grant wishes, or when the luck runs out and any point in between. It’s up to you.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: All The Feels
It’s Wednesday. Welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room session.
Today’s writing will focus around emotions.
Listening to a favourite song, reading a great book or watching a compelling film – these are great ways of feeling all the feels.
Do one of the following –
. Pick a favourite song and then a favourite lyric.
. Grab hold of your favourite book and then re-read your favourite scene.
. Think of your favourite movie and think back to an important scene.
Once you’ve done one of these things, think about the emotion it elicits. Then, write a piece where your character is listening/reading/watching the same thing. Do they react differently to you to the film/song/book? Try to write for at least 10 minutes.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Musical Days
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Musical Days
Your character, who is usually someone who keeps to themselves, hates music and loves quiet, finds that when they wake up, they are singing. Everyone around them is singing and there is a full orchestral backing too.
Write about the day as your character tries to find out what has occurred? Who do they meet along the way?
Have fun!
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Show, Don’t Tell
Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, the exercise is going to be focusing on showing, not telling. With your writing, you want to try and be as sensory as you can to pull the reader into your story.
The scene: your character is drunk and they’ve just arrived back at what they think is their home. Write a passage about what happens without once saying they are drunk.
What are they feeling?
What can they hear?
What can they touch?
What can they see?
What are they tasting?
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Have fun.
How did you find that exercise?
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Three’s A Crowd
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Three’s a Crowd
You have the chance to spend a day with three people of your choice. However, it’s all at the same time and not everyone gets on.
Write about the day.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Genres & Pictures
Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, we are going to be doing a little mixing and matching.
I’ve posted four pictures below. Your task is to pick the picture that you’re instantly drawn to:
Pictures created using AI – Adobe Firefly.
Once you’ve picked a picture, pick one of the following combinations of genres:
- Historical Fiction and Sci-Fi
- Dystopian and Comedy
- Romance and Thriller
- Magical Realism and Suspense
- Young Adult and Mystery
- Western and Horror
Once you’ve got your picture and genre combination, set your alarm for 20 minutes and write as much of a story as you can, using the elements you’ve chosen.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Time Travelling Box
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s Prompt: Time Travelling Box.
A box gets delivered to your doorstep. Taped to the top is a handwritten note, ‘Step in’.
When you do, you get transported to another Friday 13th – one in the past. Write about your adventure.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Making a Plan
Hello Wednesday and I’m pleased to be welcoming everyone back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
I don’t know about you but I am a big planner when it comes to my daily life. I don’t always keep to the schedule but it’s the thought that counts right? Haha.
So, today is all about making a plan – a plan for your character.
Grab an A4 piece of paper and down one side, write the times out as if you were looking at a diary –
7am –
8am-
9am…
…and so on until you get to 11pm.
Once you’ve done that, either pick someone from a piece you’re working on or alternatively you could pick a character from the list below –
Dentist
Ballerina
Lawyer
A Parking Attendant
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: If I Could Do Anything?
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: If I Could Do Anything?
Start with the line – ‘If I could do anything’, from the point of view of one of the following people – delivery person, student, politician, a single parent, an animal.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Scenes From Different Genres
Hello Wednesday and welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room.
For our exercise today, I thought it would be interesting to write and then rewrite.
Pick from the following genres – Romance, Thriller, Dystopian or Fantasy.
Write a scene which includes the following details:
A open envelope with an address scribbled on it in unfamilar handwriting.
A library with sunlight coming in from the window.
A muddy footprint.
Once you’ve written your scene, pick another genre from the list above and rewrite your scene. Once you’ve done that, pick another genre and rewrite the scene again.
Write a minimum of 10 minutes each time. How different or similar did each one seem? Was one genre easier than the others? I’d love to know how you got on in the comments below.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Genre Change
Hello and welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
How are these Wednedsay’s coming round so quickly?
The exercise today is one I find interesting and I hope you do too.
Genre is an important aspect of a novel. However, what happens when we change things around a little?
Pick one of your favourite novels. Once you’ve done that, rewrite one of the scenes. The twist…change the genre and the events. For example, if your book is a mystery, try writing the scene as a comedy. For example, what would Jane Austen’s Emma be like if it was a crime thriller?
I’ve included some titles below if you can’t decide which book to pick.
Bridget Jones’ Dairy (Helen Fielding) – Contempory Fiction.
The Shawshank Redemption (Stephen King) – Thriller.
David Copperfield (Charles Dickens) – Fictional Autobiography
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Jumping Into Your Favourite World
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Jumping into your favourite world.
Pick your favourite fictional world. It can be from any medium – books, films, video games, even a music video.
You find yourself waking up in this world. Put yourself into the shoes of one of the characters. Write a scene from your point of view. How would you react to the world?
For example, if your choice is Bridget Jones’ Diary and you found Mark Darcy at your door closely followed by Daniel Cleaver, forget how Bridget reacted and that scene as you know it. Put yourself and your reactions and emotions into that scene.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Talking Whilst Doing
Hello Wednesday and I’d like to welcome everyone back to another Novel Kicks Writing Room.
For today’s task, I thought it would be fun to concentrate on writing dialogue.
Many of us will hold conversations whilst doing something else and your character will be no different.
Spend a few minutes listing some activities. Then pick an activity from that list and write a piece using mostly dialogue. Make sure to incorporate the activity into the piece.
Here are some examples of activities should you need them –
Driving a car.
Washing up.
Walking around a supermarket.
Painting a wall.
Moving house.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Labyrinth
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Labyrinth.
Using the prompts below, write a story.
Start with this line – ‘I didn’t know how long it would take me to find the centre’. Write 100 words.
Then use the next sentence – ‘I couldn’t believe that I was standing in front of a…’. Write 100 words.
Then use the next sentence – ‘I think I need to steal that…’. Write 100 words.
Then use the next sentence – ‘They were both identical but each held a different power. One I needed, one I didn’t. I only had one chance to pick the right one’.
Write at least another 100 words.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Using A Starting Point
Hello all. Happy Wednesday.
Today, the exercise requires you to use one of the sentences below as a starting point. Once you’ve picked one, write for five minutes.
Set a timer, don’t stop and just write until the time is up.
Feel free to change the POV if you’d rather write in third person.
‘When I look back…’
‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing…’
‘We, the jury find Cara Hardy not guilty…’
‘Once the bright light faded, the fear…’
‘The audience goes quiet as you step onto the stage…’
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Starting Lines And Genres
Hello Wednesday.
You made it. You’re halfway through the week. It’s time for another Novel Kicks Writing room writing exercise.
Today, I thought it would be good to take the following starting line and then write in different styles.
The starting line is as follows: ‘the last thing I broke was.’
Now pick a genre:
Crime/psychological thriller
Romance
Dystopian
Historical
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Choose a symbol
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Choose a symbol.
You wake up one morning and there is a tree in your garden that was not there before.
When you go out and inspect it, you realise that there is a door. There is a mark on it.
The mark is one of the following:
A four leaf clover
A love heart
A sword
Your character picks one door and walks through.
Write a story based on the symbol you picked. However, the symbol you’ve picked is representative of what is not present or needed in the world and you have to make it right.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Choose Your Own Adventure Story
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today, I thought we’d have a go at doing an interactive story where you can choose your own adventure.
Here is a link to writing.com to give you an idea of what you’re aiming for in terms of mechanics. Have a go at one or two of the stories. It can be very enjoyable. I loved the choose your own adventures as a child.
Next, find a story of your own. I found an idea by googling ‘interactive story generator AI’.
Once you’ve picked a story, write story threads for at least two characters with two endings.
This is a task that may take a while but it’s an interesting way to create a plot.
I hope you have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Into A Magical World
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Into a magical world.
Whilst working in the garden, your character turns around to see that a big white door with a blue frame has just suddenly appeared in front of them.
On the door handle, there is a sign instructing them to ‘open me’.
Your character walks up to the door and steps through.
Continue the story.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: A Prompt Every Hundred Words
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
I hope you’re having a great week so far and excited to get going on this week’s writing exercise.
I am personally looking forward to giving this a go.
There are five lines below. Start your work with the first line and write one hundred words. Then, once you’ve reached that word goal, add the second line. Write one hundred words, then use the third prompt. Repeat until you’ve used all the lines.
The lines to include are –
- It happened the day after my tenth birthday
- The elephant was walking down the road
- My Grandmother knocked on the door
- We drove for a few hours
- You’ve always had a determination I’ve admired.
How did you find that exercise? Did you enjoy it? Did you find it hard? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: A Story From Lyrics
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt – A story from lyrics.
Today’s inspiration is going to come from a song.
Head to your favourite playlist or an available playlist on wherever you stream your music. Hit shuffle. Then write a story inspired by whatever song plays.
If you don’t use streaming and are more about vinyl and CD’s, just pick a random one and hit shuffle/place the needle in a random spot.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Creating a Crime
Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Crime podcasts and novels have become really popular in recent years. I can date my interest back to the time I listened to the first Serial series. There was something about how the story was told that really got my interest. I was trying to work out what happened. What evidence did they have for and against?
So, today, I thought it would be interesting to plot out a similar situation.
You have someone who has been accused of a crime and someone who has been the victim of one.
The perpetrator – who are they? How old are they? What was their relationship to the victim? Interests? Hobbies? Personality.
Who was the victim? How old were they? Hobbies? Interests? Personality? What put them in harms way?
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Immersed
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Immersed.
Your character falls and suddenly finds themselves in a video game. This world they find themselves in has its dangers. They have allies and enemies.
Think Dreamlight Valley, Animal Crossing or Hogwarts Legacy – that kind of game.
Write an adventure in a world you create.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Learning By Imitation
Hello all and welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Another Wednesday has come around so fast. Today, I wanted to do something a little different.
Some people say that the best way to learn how to write is to copy out an already published novel. So, that’s what we are going to do.
Now of course, we are not going to be plagiarising work as it’s not going further than this exercise. We are just going to be studying the composition of a story.
Pick a favourite book and turn to page 100.
Copy out that page. Copy it a few times. What do you notice about how it’s written? How are the paragraphs, style and story presented? If you have the time, pick another book and repeat the exercise. Were there similarities and differences?
Did you find this exercise useful?
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Drawing A Map Of Your Setting
It’s Wednesday folks! I’m bringing this week’s Novel Kicks Writing Room to order.
I hope you’re all having a really good week.
I am so excited about this week’s exercise as I feel it’s a real chance to immerse yourself in the fictional world you are trying to create.
This week, using one of the stories you’re currently workng on, we are going to be drawing a map of the main setting. If you have many settings, pick the one that’s the most important to your protagonist.
Think about the layout of this place. Is it a town? A rural area? Is there a school? A Church? A Pub? A pier? A Harbour? An abandoned island? Where does your main character fit into this space. Is the space intergral to what happens to them? For example, have they gone missing. Does your map mark out where this person was last seen as well as mark out landmarks in the town.
Don’t worry if you’re not an artist. This is a sketch and it can be just for you to see. If you’d like to leave it black and white or colour it in, that’s up to you. Just have fun creating your fictional place.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Inspiration is all around
Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
This is our online writing group. Each Wednesday, there is a new writing task. Anyone is welcome. I’d love to see your work in the comments below but there is absolutely no obligation.
Today’s exercise is about getting inspired by what is around you.
Put on a song or a playlist you like.
Light a candle – one of your favourite scents.
Have a favourite snack – yes, this exercise involves a snack. Hahaha.
Once you’ve done the above, set a timer for ten minutes and begin to write. The music, the candle and the lasting taste of the snack – what are they making you think? How are they making you feel? Write it all down. Are you able to think of a story based on all of these sensations?
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Likes and Dislikes
Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
This is our online writing group. Each Wednesday, there is a new writing task. Anyone is welcome. I’d love to see your work in the comments below but there is absolutely no obligation.
For today’s task, we are going to be thinking about what we like and what we dislike.
First, set a timer for three minutes. In this time, write down all the things you like. Don’t think, just write what comes to mind.
Next, reset the timer for another three minutes. This time, write a list of all the things you don’t like.
No-one else will be seeing this list so don’t be frightened to make a note of everything you like and dislike.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Valentines Past
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: We are going back to past Valentines.
Your character is somehow given the ability to travel back to previous Valentine’s Days.
They have a chance to change the future.
Who do they meet? Are they able to do something about the love that got away? Does it make them appreciate what they have in the present?
If you’re struggling for a first line, here is a suggestion – “the light is so bright, I can’t figure out where I am. I pick up a familiar smell. No, it can’t be.”
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Freewriting and Prompts
Hello everyone and welcome to the first Novel Kicks Writing Room of 2025.
I thought we could start off with some free writing.
Using one of the prompts below, write a story. The word count is up to you but try and aim for at least 500 words. If you wanted to add an extra challenge, set a timer for 10 minutes.
I’ve also included some random words below you could try and include if you wish to.
A stranger on a bus tells you that in order to save someone you love, you must complete challenges. He then holds out an envelope and says, once you accept this, there is no going back but if you don’t a loved one will die.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Family Secret
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: The Family Secret
You are part of a powerful royal family who rule over most of the world. They have kept their power with the help of the dragons by their side.
The family is on the verge of war with another ruling power.
You are due to turn eighteen. This is when you find out the family secret… you find out where the dragons come from along with the plan to come out the winner in the upcoming conflict.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Video Game
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Video Game
Your character is very ordinary. However, when they enter what they think is a normal shop, they quickly find themselves inside their favourite video game.
Using the opening line below, carry on the story. What happens? Where are they? Who do they meet?
‘He/She/I jumped back, not believing what they/I was seeing.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Finding A Connection
I’m wishing you a Happy Wednesday and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.
Today’s exercise is about bringing two stories together.
Pick two stories – genre is entirely up to you. Picking two books from different genres could be fun.
Pick a section from each. One or two pages is enough.
Now, spend a few minutes making notes about how you can bring these two stories together.
Now set a timer for 20 minutes and write your combined story.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Ten Sentences
Hello Wednesday and welcome to all of you.
For today’s writing room, I wanted to explore a creative prompt.
You can either pick a WIP of your own, use a favourite story or your own life story.
Whatever you choose, try to write the story in ten sentences.
If you’re feeling brave, I’d love to see your writing in the comments.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Family Matters
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt is: Family Matters
You’ve been trying to escape the strange myths surrounding your family for many years but you soon realise that you can’t outrun your past forever.
When you inherit the family business from one of your family members, you decide to go back to put these old rumours to bed but when you are getting the shop ready for sale, something strange happens.
Continue the story….
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Conjuring Images
Hello all. Welcome back to Wednesday’s Writing Room here on Novel Kicks.
For today’s activity, we are going to be using the photo below as a prompt. What does it immediately make you think of?
Set a timer for five minutes and make notes on everything this image conjures.
Once you’re done, have a look through your notes. Is there anything that stands out? The makings of a story? A theme? A strong character?
Set an alarm for another twenty minutes. Start to write this story but when you begin, start right in the middle of the action. You could even try and write purely in dialogue if you like.
Don’t stop. Don’t think too much about the quality of your writing. Just write and see what you come up with.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Welcome To…
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt is ‘Welcome To…’
You’ve been driving for hours. You’re tired and you need to stop.
Eventually, you pass a sign. You pull the car over to read what it says.
‘Welcome to……’
Name the town.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Valentine’s Day Party
Happy Wednesday and another Writing Room exercise.
As it’s Valentine’s Day today, the exercise will be based around a Valentine’s Day Party.
Is it a party celebrating love or is it one for people who don’t have a significant other? What happens at this party?
Write up to 800 words. You could set a timer for 10 minutes?
To add to the challenge, try and get these words into your story –
Language, Love, Hate, Leave, Underneath, Sorry.
Feel free to post your writing in the comments below but as usual, there is no obligation.
Enjoy.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room – Reflections in Conversations.
Reflections in Conversations.
Happy Wednesday everyone.
What I thought we could do today is write a conversation in two parts.
The situation of your story is as follows – your character is a clown and has just been fired. They’ve been told that the upcoming performance is their last one. In the first conversation you write, your character is having a conversation with another colleague just after they’ve been fired.
Then write the conversation again but the clown is alone. He is looking into the mirror as he’s putting on his make-up. He is talking to his reflection.
How different are the two conversations? Would the clown be saying something different to his colleague than he would to his reflection?
Write up to 500 words per conversation.
If you feel like sharing your writing, please do post in the comments below.
Have fun.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: A Moment With… Monica Cafferky
Monica Cafferky is joining us with the blog tour for her novel, A Winter’s Sleep. She has made a living with words for over 30 years, first as a journalist and more recently with her supernatural thriller The Winter’s Sleep. Here, Monica shares her tips for making a start on your own novel – “stop thinking about it, just start writing.”
Tip 1: You need to read.
Before you put fingers to keyboard, or pen to paper, you need to know your genre. Read the kind of books you want to write.
If you love spooky stories, it’s Halloween after all, read the classics like Dracula by Bram Stoker and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Or, opt for more contemporary novels such as Thin Air by Michelle Paver or my own The Winter’s Sleep.
Or do you prefer historical fiction? Fill your boots with tales from writers Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick. If romance is your first love go for Sarah MacLean.
What’s important is that you READ. By reading, you will discover how to structure a story in your genre, how to construct a good plot, develop characters and layer in myth. Without these important elements there is no compelling story.
Tip 2: Start writing notes to yourself.
As the story starts to take shape in your mind you will have brilliant (I hope) insights, often when you least expect it – washing up, walking the dog, in the bath. It’s important not to lose these snippets of plot and character. You need to make a note of your ideas because, trust me, you won’t remember them later on.
Ideas are funny things, unless they’re fully formed, and repeated often, they slip away like a balloon in a strong breeze. Write these ideas down in your journal (that you use just for the novel) or create an audio note on your mobile, and then write it down later.
Let the foundation of the book take shape with these ideas, and collect these ideas together. You need to know what your book is about before you start the actual writing, otherwise you will find your story, and your sanity, unravelling around a quarter of the way through the plot.
Tip 3: What’s your character’s quest?
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Magical Builder
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.
The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.
Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.
Today’s prompt: Magical Builder.
Your character’s profession is a carpenter. They have been doing this for years but lately, business has been slow.
On the morning they decide to close the business down, a customer comes in asking your character to build them an object.
Once this object is built, the character realises it has magical powers. Word soon spreads as they continue to create objects that then become magical. They don’t know how they are managing it but as they are now successful, they don’t want to stop.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Art of Letter Writing
The art of writing letters is so wonderful.
I am such a fan of writing letters and fascinated in what can be said and the emotion that can be conveyed – how handwriting your thoughts and feelings to someone and the symbolism that represents.
So, what is the task today I hear you ask?
Writing a letter of course.
The letter is from the point of view of either the main character of a current work in progress or a favourite fictional character. The recipient is you.
What would your character say to you? What would they want to convey? Is there something about them that they want to tell you?
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Switching
Today, I wanted to focus on a writing prompt with a bit of a twist.
Your word target is a minimum of 1000 words.
The prompt – The story begins when your character discovers an object that convinces them that they can have the superpower they desire the most.
Begin your story using the prompt and one of the genres below. It doesn’t matter which one you start with.
Here’s the twist – every 200 words, change the genre, choosing another from the list.
Romance
Horror
Sci-fi
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Can Anyone See Me?
Happy Wednesday everyone.
For today’s writing room, I thought it would be fun to do a bit of free writing today but with a few additions.
Your prompt is that your character realises they have gained the ability to be invisible at will.
What do they do first? What are the consequences.
Also, just to add to the challenge, try adding these words –
Elephant, nightmare, market, eccentric, bibble. cattywampus.
Have fun with it and I look forward to hoping seeing your writing in the comments below if you feel up to sharing.
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Prose to a Script
Today, we are looking at changing a piece of prose to a script.
I feel that it’s good to change things up every so often.
I don’t know about you but, when I am writing, I imagine everything as though I am watching a movie. I found this helps.
Take a passage from something you’ve written and convert it into a script. What would you add/take out? What would the background look like? Would you include music? Continue reading
by Novel Kicks Writing Room: Ride Transportation
Today is a straight forward writing prompt. Try and write from a third person narrative and include more than two characters.
Your character is visiting a theme park. One of the rides is styled like an old hotel which has had a mysterious thing happen to it.
The ride is functioning normally but, when you’re in the middle of the ride, there is a bolt of lightening. There is such a loud crash, you close your eyes.
When you open them, you find that the hotel environment looks new, you’re dressed differently as is everyone around you.
You’re in the lobby and it’s not long before you realise that you’re no longer experiencing the ride, you’re standing in a hotel in a famous city in the 50s.
Continue the story.
by Book Club
