Writing exercises can lead to some of your most imaginative ideas, yet many writers overlook them.

The concept of "attic notebooks" came to me during a moment of creative struggle. I can't recall the exact moment I conceived of them—whether it was an act of desperation against my perfectionism or a casual experiment inspired by something I’d heard. Regardless, the outcome was surprising and gratifying, which is why I repeatedly return to this exercise. It consistently proves its worth, encouraging me to prioritize it whenever possible.

What exactly is an "attic notebook"?

This ongoing writing activity involves committing to fill a notebook through short, regular writing sessions without revisiting what you've written until the notebook is complete and a month has passed. You focus solely on creating new content, closing the notebook once filled, marking the date on the cover, and setting it aside for future reading.

When I finally revisit my entries, I often have little recollection of my previous thoughts. It feels akin to discovering an intriguing notebook in an attic filled with sparkling snippets of stories, poems, and ideas—hence the name "attic notebook." Unlike a random attic find, I can utilize the contents because they originated from my own creativity.

I’ve extensively discussed how engaging in playful writing exercises has shaped my career as a bestselling author published in over thirty languages. However, even with this understanding, I sometimes neglect this practice when overwhelmed by the demands of novel writing. Recently, an experience this summer reaffirmed its importance for me in a novel way, involving ghosts and a hippie festival in a forest, which I shared elsewhere if you're interested.

Now, let's explore the fundamentals:

Why should you embrace playful writing exercises?

Many writers in my Patreon community express that their busy lives don’t allow time for writing exercises; they feel pressured to focus solely on their novels. I completely understand this mindset, as time is indeed valuable. However, given how transformative these exercises have been for me, I believe it's essential to carve out time for creative play.

The reasons are numerous, but the most significant—and hardest to articulate—relates to the enigmatic nature of creativity itself. Where do ideas originate, and how do they evolve? What is imagination, and how can we tap into our deeper selves to create meaningful narratives? How do we access that magical realm where stories come alive and language flourishes?

Personally, I struggle to reach that place. My perfectionism has long manifested as a form of creative paralysis, making "writing" synonymous with meticulously polishing sentences while fantasizing about the novels I wished to write. For years, there was a stark disconnect between my aspirations and my actual writing habits. Eventually, I recognized this absurdity and began to develop strategies to genuinely write—creating stories and novels rather than merely refining sentences. This shift was propelled by sheer determination, leading me to occasionally uncover more creative corners of my mind.

I achieve this by circumventing my perfectionism, and playful writing exercises are my favored approach. They help diffuse that creative restraint, allowing me to delve into deeper wells of creativity—sometimes reaching a state where it feels like inspiration flows through me rather than from me. It truly feels magical. The thrill of uncovering unexpected ideas in just ten minutes with a prompt and a notebook never grows old.

To summarize: Engaging in playful, non-goal-oriented writing exercises can loosen you up and train your brain to enter a flow state, which comes with immense benefits for both your spirit and your writing.

This leads me to another compelling reason to practice writing exercises: they enhance your writing! The more you write, the more proficient you become. The question then arises: why invest time in exercises instead of your novel?

Firstly, these sessions only take a few minutes—perhaps ten or fifteen. Personally, I could easily spend that long tweaking a single sentence in my novel. The environment of my novel demands higher expectations and established guidelines regarding plot, mood, and theme. Writing a novel is a lengthy endeavor, and as you progress, your creative path narrows, leading to a more structured approach. The sense of limitless possibilities gives way to figuring out the complexities of the story. While I might occasionally discover exhilarating insights, I often find myself negotiating with characters and untangling narrative puzzles created by my earlier self.

In contrast, my notebook has no expectations or boundaries. Anything can occur, and it often does. For instance, yesterday's prompt was "cookie bitch," which sparked an amusing premise that I'm still chuckling about. I generate an abundance of ideas here—many of which I wouldn't have conceived otherwise, and some are quite remarkable.

During a retreat on the Oregon coast, I realized that writing exercises resemble beachcombing: new treasures wash ashore daily. Although there are often bits of seaweed and broken shells, there are also gems waiting to be discovered. If you don’t engage in the process, someone else might find what could have been your great story idea, or the ocean might reclaim it.

The way I approach these exercises is as an invitation to the unknown, actively beckoning creativity to join me. I show up consistently, and I’ve found that the more I do so, the better my chances of uncovering valuable insights. The ideas currently vying for my next novel both originated in my attic notebooks, along with countless other intriguing fragments that may one day evolve into stories.

Many writers either avoid exercises altogether or consider them exclusive to beginners—meant for honing skills before moving on to novel writing. That's perfectly fine; it leaves more opportunities for me. But if you're interested in trying, I've crafted a fun list of prompts for September, dubbed "Promptember," to simplify your creative process. There are no rules or right or wrong ways to engage. Personally, I take the daily prompt and begin writing. Planning can often hinder the creative flow, as it tends to breed expectations. Instead, I suggest holding the prompt lightly and allowing your thoughts to flow freely.

Here are a few guidelines:

1. If you veer off on an unexpected tangent, that’s okay! The prompt's purpose is merely to get you started.
2. If you lose interest in your current path, feel free to start anew.
3. You don’t have to complete your writing. Set a limit, whether in pages or time (for me, three pages roughly equates to fifteen minutes), and stop there without guilt. Of course, if you’re inspired to continue, by all means do so!

While an "attic notebook" isn’t strictly necessary for writing prompts, it can help establish a creative routine for a couple of reasons:

1. Since you can’t revisit what you’ve written until later, there’s no room for self-judgment or discouragement. You simply turn the page and move forward. As you progress through the notebook, the earlier entries become mysterious, and your inner critic tends to fade away. In fact, it may eventually retreat completely since it has no role to play! This shift allows the creative process to take precedence over the outcome, fostering a more flexible mindset and leading to greater creative discoveries.
2. Filling a notebook provides a built-in goal with a delightful reward at the end: the chance to revisit and be surprised by the unique ideas you’ve mostly forgotten. Even when I was younger, I often struggled to remember my writings, as the rapid-fire nature of this exercise creates a dreamlike quality, capturing ephemeral thoughts on paper.

— Tip: Opt for thinner notebooks to make the task more achievable. If you aim to fill 500 pages, you may feel discouraged and quit. I prefer using Moleskine “cahiers,” which are the “large” size (about 5x8 inches), consist of 40 pages, are soft-cover, and come in packs of three.

— Writing in a document is also an option if a notebook isn’t feasible. However, I encourage you to try writing by hand if possible. Research supports its benefits, but personally, I find it easier to unleash my creativity when writing by hand. Plus, a physical notebook serves as a constant reminder to practice, making it easier to cultivate a habit. I often revisit my notebooks for inspiration, even years later.

So that’s my pitch! I hope you consider giving it a try!

Here are the “Promptember” prompts:

Yesterday's prompt was "cookie bitch." Next up, I’m diving into "ransom note"!

Feel free to use these prompts as you wish. Many members of my Patreon community are participating in Promptember, and we have a Discord channel for sharing our progress. It's been exciting to witness the diverse directions each person takes with the same prompts. Additionally, we engage in writing exercises at the end of our weekly Zoom meetings, and other fun activities are scheduled for this month, including a book group featuring the author and a workshop where we each write a story from scratch in two hours. It’s all about having fun!

(Over on my Patreon, you’ll also find various exercises beyond prompts designed to fill your notebook and take your creative thinking to new heights.)