Enrich Your Creative Writing Club with Engaging Activities

Starting a Creative Writing Club at your high school is a fantastic initiative. It not only nurtures creativity but also builds a strong community of aspiring writers. However, ensuring that meetings are enjoyable and productive requires a variety of engaging activities. Here are some fun, simple, and creative ideas to make your club meet more interesting.

1. Writing Games

Writing games can add an element of fun and competitiveness to your meetings. Here are two popular options:

Story Cubes

Print out dice with images or words on them. Each member rolls one of these dice and then creates a short story based on the results. This activity encourages quick thinking and creative storytelling.

The Exquisite Corpse

Each member writes a sentence or paragraph, passing the paper to the next person without seeing what has been written before. The final piece of writing often turns out to be humorous and unexpected. This game can lead to some genuinely amusing results and keeps the writing dynamic and fun.

2. Themed Writing Sessions

Themed writing sessions can introduce new genres and perspectives to your club members, making the writing process more engaging.

Genre Days

Choose different genres such as horror, romance, or science fiction and have everyone write a short piece in that genre. Share and discuss the different interpretations to explore varying styles and techniques.

Character Development Workshops

Create a character profile together as a group. Then, have each member write a short scene featuring that character. This collaborative activity can help develop character depth and interaction within the club.

3. Peer Review Workshops

Promoting constructive feedback is crucial for improving writing skills. Set a specific time for members to share their work and provide feedback. This activity fosters a supportive community environment where everyone feels valued and inspired.

4. Writing Challenges

Writing challenges can help members practice different writing techniques and styles under time constraints.

Timed Writing

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and give a prompt. Everyone writes as much as they can in that time and then shares their work. This encourages rapid-fire creativity and spontaneous writing.

Word Limit Challenge

Write a story or poem using a specific word limit, such as exactly 100 words. This challenge forces members to be concise and precise in their writing, enhancing their skills and creativity.

5. Guest Speakers

Inviting local authors, teachers, or alumni to speak about their writing processes, experiences, or tips can be a valuable addition to your club meetings. It provides members with real-world insights and inspiration.

6. Writing Contests

Hosting friendly competitions with specific themes or prompts can be a fun way to keep the club engaged and motivated. Members can vote on their favorites, and you might offer a small prize to add an extra motivational factor.

7. Field Trips

Visiting a local bookstore, library, or literary event can inspire members and provide a change of scenery. These outings can offer new ideas and a sense of community outside of regular meetings.

8. Collaborative Writing Projects

Encourage the group to start a collaborative story where each member contributes a paragraph or a line. This activity can be a fun way to see how everyone’s writing styles blend and work together.

9. Creative Writing Journals

Encourage members to keep a journal where they can jot down ideas, snippets of dialogue, or sketches of characters. Hold sharing sessions where members discuss their journal entries. This keeps the inspiration flowing and encourages a daily writing habit.

10. Book Discussions

Choose a book or short story to read and discuss. This can help members analyze different writing styles and techniques, widen their reading horizons, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the craft.

11. Creative Writing Prompts Board

Create a board where members can post their favorite prompts or ideas for future meetings. This keeps the inspiration flowing and ensures there are always fresh ideas to spark creativity.

12. Visualization Activities

Use art or music as inspiration for writing. Play a piece of music and have everyone write a scene or poem inspired by it. Or, look at a piece of art and write about the story behind it. These activities can stimulate creativity and help members find new sources of inspiration.

Incorporating a variety of activities will keep the club dynamic and encourage creativity. Enjoy your time writing and sharing with your peers! Incorporate these ideas into your meetings and watch your Creative Writing Club thrive. Happy writing!