Writing Challenge: Playing with Sentences

I tried this out on my Genealogy Class and the results were terrific. So I offer it up for your consideration. This is a true beginners exercise, but even seasoned writer’s can have fun with it.

Ground Rules

• Limit yourself to one or two sentences to start
• You can write about anything you want. Maybe pick an ancestor and describe something about them ie Grandma Jones always wore a red gingham apron.
• Limit yourself to 5 minutes to write your initial sentence or two

Okay once you have your one or two sentences you are going to revise them as many ways as you can in 5 minutes. Try:

• Rearranging the words
• Adding sentences
• Putting in more or less descriptors
• Write whatever comes to mind
• Have fun

My Example

• She walked into the room and the fragrance of orange blossoms was overpowering.
• The fragrance of orange blossoms nearly knocked her over as she entered the conservatory.
• A familiar scent, tickled her memory; instantly transporting her back to her grand mum’s orangery.
• What was that smell? She inhaled it like someone thirsty for something they did not know they needed. Her shoulders relaxed as she pondered forgotten memories.

The whole idea of this exercise is to get your creative juices flowing. There is not RIGHT way to WRITE anything. There are many, many choices we have in selecting words, their order, their context. Playfulness often unlocks depth and interest in our writing. Especially with Family History Writing. Ask yourself, “Who is my audience?” If its your descendants ask yourself, “Will they read this, will it interest them?” If your answer is NO. Then its time to move past your first draft of a sentence to something a bit more interesting.

Kelly Wheaton ©2023 – All Rights Reserved