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Creative Writing Exercises You Can Try on National Pen Day ✍️
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Let’s face it—texting is convenient, but it’s also, well… flat. Every letter looks the same. Every word, uniform. There’s no room for loops or swirls or flair. But pens? Pens have personality. Whether you’re using a sleek gel pen with a bold, satisfying glide or a sparkly ink pen that practically cheers you on with every stroke, writing by hand brings a different kind of magic to the page.
That’s why National Pen Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate the joy of putting pen to paper—and to stretch those creative muscles in the process. Grab your favorite pen (the one that makes your handwriting feel a little more you), maybe even in a vibrant color or dramatic inky black, and dive into these playful, inspiring writing exercises. No need to aim for perfection. Don’t overthink it. Let your words wander. Let the ink flow.
Here are a few creative writing exercises to try today—or any day you want to reconnect with your imagination:
1. The Vintage Photo Story
Search online for a vintage photo—think early 1900s sepia tones, 1950s family snapshots, or any old black-and-white portrait that catches your eye. Don’t worry about who the people actually are. Your job is to make it all up.
- What’s their name?
- Where do they live?
- What’s their greatest dream or darkest secret?
Write a short story or character sketch based on what you see. Let the photo whisper ideas to you. Maybe that woman in the lace collar was a codebreaker during the war. Maybe the boy with the slingshot ran away to join the circus. Let your imagination fill in the blanks—and enjoy the ride.
2. Alphabet Name Sprint
This one’s great for speed, spontaneity, and surprising your brain with what it knows.
- Set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Starting with the letter A, write down as many girl names as you can think of before the timer goes off.
- Once the buzzer sounds, move on to B, and repeat the process.
Work your way through the alphabet, one timer at a time. Can’t think of more names? Doodle while you wait, or scribble silly name mashups like “Beffany” or “Zertrude.” No rules, just fun.
You can also try it with boy names, pet names, or even made-up fantasy character names if you’re feeling especially whimsical.
Not only is this great practice for writing and creativity, but it’s also a great exercise for increasing your intuition. I used to teach this in my psychic gym classes when I owned my metaphysical shop.
3. Celebrity Admiration List
Choose a celebrity you admire—someone who inspires you, entertains you, or simply fascinates you. Now, with pen in hand, write down why you admire them.
- What qualities do they have that you respect?
- What about them motivates you?
- Have they overcome something or used their platform in a way that speaks to you?
This is a great way to reflect on your own values, while also practicing a more personal form of expressive writing.
4. Page 26, Sentence 10
Ready to get weird and wonderful?
- Go to your bookshelf and grab a random book.
- Flip to page 26.
- Find the 10th sentence.
- Now… use that sentence as the first line of a brand-new story.
It doesn’t matter what genre the book is. That single sentence is your launchpad. Let it take your creativity somewhere unexpected—maybe somewhere a little wild.
5. The Time Machine Prompt
Imagine this: you find a dusty, humming time machine tucked away in your closet, humming with possibility.
- What year do you travel to?
- What (or who) are you hoping to see?
- Are you going backward or forward?
- Do you change anything? Do you leave a note for your future self?
Write this like a journal entry or short story. You can go deep, emotional, humorous, historical, or sci-fi. Just don’t hold back.
Final Thoughts: Let the Ink Be Messy
The beauty of writing by hand is in the freedom. Your loops can be dramatic. Your letters can lean or swirl. The page becomes a playground where your personality spills out in curves, dots, and dashes. So let go of perfectionism. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling or whether it makes sense. This is your creative time. Scribble. Doodle. Play.
Let the words flow from your pen like music, like magic, like something only you could create.
Because, unlike a text message, your handwriting has soul.
Which of these prompts are you trying first? Tag me or comment below—I’d love to read a snippet of your pen-powered creativity. Happy National Pen Day!