Practice Makes…Better?

by Bryan Patrick Avery

As a magician, I’ve been taught the value (and necessity) of practice. I had one mentor who told me he would practice a new trick at 1000 times before performing it publicly. That much practice not only helped him perfect his technique, but it made the work second nature. This allows him to focus on his interaction with the audience and his presentation of the trick.
The same thing is true when it comes to writing, practice won’t necessarily make your work perfect, but it can make it much better. Here are three practice exercises you can start today that can help make you a more confident writer.

Exercise #1 – Tell a Story
When it comes down to it, whether we write picture books, middle grade, or graphic novels, we are storytellers. Be honest, how much time to spend working on telling stories when you’re not working on your work-in-progress. If you’re anything like the writers I’ve talked to, the answer is probably “not much”. Practice telling a short, fictional, story everyday for the next 30 days. It can be any genre (mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.). Don’t write it down, just sit and tell the story the from beginning to end as if it actually happened. You can tell your partner, your kids, or your cat. The key thing is to get used to making up complete stories. If you want to jot down your ideas after the fact, that’s okay. Just make sure you tell the story without writing it down at first. This may seem odd or uncomfortable at first (especially if you’re talking to your dog) but stick with it. It really helps.
 
Exercise #2 – Write a Poem
Whether you’re a poet or not, writing a poem a day for 30 can help you become a better storyteller. Here are the rules:

1. Find an object in your home to write about.
2. Begin the poem by naming the object and describing something interesting about it. For example: “The pencil sharpener in the loft hasn’t been emptied since last year.”
3. Shift the object from inanimate to a more personified representation. For example: “He stares at me from his dusty corner, judging me.
4. Wrap up by taking the reader on a journey to something unexpected. For example: “If I can’t admit it to myself, how can I tell him I can’t hold a pencil anymore?”

The poem doesn’t have to be great, but it will get you used to describing things, and considering the environment of your story as you write. Give it try.
 
Exercise #3 – Pick up a Book
Good readers make good writers. For this exercise, read the opening page of 30 books you’ve read and enjoyed. After reading the first page, note the following things:

1. What do you know about the main character(s)?
2. What is the main character doing on page one?
3. What tone (funny, scary, mysterious, etc.) does the opening page set?
4. What questions does page one leave you with?

Once you’ve finished, compare notes on the first pages. Are there any commonalities? Does the main character tend to be in action on page one? Are there any common questions that are raised? You can use this exercise to help strengthen your story openings.

​I’d love to hear your feedback on these exercises. I hope you try them and get some value from them. That’s all for this month. Happy writing and have a magical month.