20 Five-Minute Writing Exercises

C. L. Nichols
Oct 16
3 min read

Break through writer’s block & spark new ideas.

Set a timer to generate fresh ideas, strengthen writing skills, and break through blocks.

Write Without Stopping

Pick a word, phrase, or random thought. Write nonstop for five minutes. Don’t pause, edit, or think too hard. Let the words pour out. If you get stuck, write about how you’re stuck. The goal is momentum, not perfection.

Describe a Scene in Detail

See a setting in your mind. Your kitchen, a rainy street, a futuristic city. Write as many sensory details as possible. What does it smell like? What sounds fill the space? How does the air feel against your skin?

Rewrite a Sentence Multiple Ways

Take any simple sentence. “The dog sat by the door.” Rework it in different ways.

“A golden retriever curled up near the entrance, eyes fixed on the knob.”

“The dog slumped against the door, waiting, ears twitching at every sound.”

“By the door, a restless dog panted, tail flicking impatiently.”

Change the Ending

Think of a well-known story. A fairy tale, a classic movie, a recent book. Rewrite the ending. What if Cinderella never made it to the ball? What if the villain won? What if the story took a completely unexpected turn?

Summarize a Complex Emotion

Choose an emotion. Grief, excitement, fear. Describe it without using the emotion’s name. How does it feel physically? What thoughts rush through a person’s mind? What small actions reveal it? Anger: “Heat builds in the chest, jaw tightens. Words sharpen, fists clench, steps quicken, then halt. Breath held, nostrils flaring, a decision waits to be made.”

Create a One-Sentence Story

Write a complete story in one sentence. “She never spoke his name again, but every morning, she set a second cup of coffee on the table before pouring her own.” Be impactful in a few words.

Use Unusual Comparisons

Take two unrelated things, like “storm” and “regret,” or “ice cream” and “betrayal”. Connect them in a way that makes sense. “Regret rolled in thick and fast, like thunder clouds swallowing the last bit of light.”

Write a Dialogue with No Context

Write a short conversation between two people but leave out descriptions. Focus only on their words.

“Did you bring it?”

“No.”

“You said you would.”

“I know. I couldn’t.”

“Then it’s over.” This forces tension and voice, without relying on background information.

Invent a Character Based on an Object

Pick an object. A key, a book, a cracked phone screen. Create a character who uses that object in a personal way. “The old key never fit any lock in his house, but he kept it, turning it over in his palm every night before sleep.”

Write the First Paragraph of a Novel

Start a novel. Just write the opening paragraph of an imaginary book. “The last bus left without her, taillights fading into the mist. She pressed the note deeper into her coat pocket, heart pounding as she stepped back into the empty station.”

Rewrite a Passage in Another Style

Take a paragraph from a book and rewrite it in a different tone, like turning a serious news story into a lighthearted blog post.

Limit Your Word Count

Tell a complete story in just 50 or 100 words. This sharpens precision and word choice.

Write the Worst Possible Opening Sentence

Be deliberately bad. Over-the-top, cliché, or awkward. It frees and sparks creativity.

Use a Random Word Generator

Get a random word and write a short piece using it as your central theme.

Describe the Same Scene in Different Moods

Write a setting twice, once as cheerful and inviting, then as eerie or sad.

Take a Common Phrase and Expand on It

Write the backstory behind a simple phrase. “I’m late again” or “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”