Every writer, at some point, faces the challenge of a blank page. Maybe you have an idea but don’t know where to start, or perhaps your creativity feels stuck. Finding the right idea—that spark that makes a story come alive—is often the hardest part of writing.
This is where creative writing exercises become powerful tools. They’re not just warm-ups to get words flowing; they’re designed to push your imagination in unexpected directions, break free from routine thinking, and help you explore new perspectives. Some of the best stories come from simple prompts that force us to think outside the box and approach storytelling in ways we never expected.
So today, let’s dive into a fun and intriguing writing challenge that will spark new ideas and help you craft an exciting scene or short story. Ready to get inspired?
The Challenge: Who’s Hiding in the Closet?
This exercise starts with a single sentence: “I heard a noise and hid in the closet.”
Now, let’s turn it into a story idea generator.
Step 1: Who’s Speaking? Why Are They Hiding?
Before you start writing, take a moment to brainstorm. Answer these two questions:
Who says this sentence? A child? A detective? A time traveler? A ghost?
Why are they hiding? Fear? A prank? A crime? A misunderstanding?
Write down at least five different possibilities—the first ideas that come to mind, no matter how strange or unusual.
Step 2: Pick Your Favorite Idea
Look at your list. Which idea excites you the most? Maybe it’s the one that surprises you or the one that instantly sparks a scene in your mind.
Step 3: Start Writing!
Now, turn that idea into a short scene or story. Let your imagination guide you—don’t overthink it, just write freely and see where it takes you.
Need Inspiration? Here Are a Few Possibilities…
· A child playing hide and seek—but what if they’re alone in the house?
· A detective sneaking into a crime scene at the wrong moment.
· A ghost hiding from the living instead of the other way around.
· A pet who has no idea why their owner just panicked and ran into the closet.
· A time traveler who accidentally ended up in a dangerous past (or future!)
The possibilities are endless!
How to Develop Your Story in Story Planner
Want to take this exercise further? Once you have your idea, use Story Planner to develop it into a fully structured story:
1. Create a new project in Story Planner and write your chosen idea as a one-line summary.
2. Develop your protagonist by answering: Who are they? What’s their goal? Why are they in this situation?
3. Sketch out your plot using the three-act structure or any method you prefer.
By doing this, you’ll not only complete the exercise, but you might just discover the seed of a great new story. Happy writing!