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How To Use Secrets to Find Short Story Ideas

From , former About.com Guide

This exercise is ideal for writing groups, but can be done with as few as two people. By exchanging secrets, fiction writers are prompted to explore a topic they may not have considered otherwise.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1-2 hours

Here's How:

  1. Each writer should take out a piece of paper.
  2. Write down one secret and fold the paper up.
  3. Put all of the secrets in a hat, box, or other container.
  4. Each person draws a secret. (Draw again if you get your own.)
  5. Use the secret you receive as a jumping-off point for your short story.
  6. At the end of the session, or the next day, share both the short story and the secret that inspired it.

Tips:

  1. Be creative in how you work with the secret.
  2. Have fun, both in picking a secret for the hat and in writing about the secret you choose. The best part about this writing exercise is the element of surprise.

What You Need

  • Secrets
  • Paper
  • Pen
  • Container of some sort

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