No matter which holiday you celebrate at this time of year, there are always tempting treats associated with the way that you traditionally celebrate it. What’s your favourite holiday nibble? When did it start to become a tradition; do you have any memories associated with it; and what do you especially like about this edible treat?

Your exercise today is to incorporate all of the following words into an article, short story, poem or whatever comes to mind. You must use all of the words (in any order) to complete the exercise, but the context in which they are used is up to you. Think about the words for a few minutes before you start to write and see what pictures come to mind - then see if you can weave them all together into a piece of writing.

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First of all, think of a theme - as if you were going to fill a gift basket for someone you care about.

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Idea Seeds! Start your page with any of the following and see where your creative muse takes you:

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Is your character good a hiding her/his feelings or do they wear their emotions like a flashing neon sign? Today write a scene where your main character receives a gift that she absolutely hates from someone she loves. What does she do? Would it make any difference if the giver of the gift was someone she wasn’t close friends with?

Timed Exercise. Set your timer for 15 minutes, type "The Visit" at the top of your page and then start. Keep the writing going until your timer goes off. Fiction, non-fiction, personal memory – it doesn’t matter. Whatever the title brings to mind, write it down. When you timed session is over, read through what you’ve wrote – maybe there’s the start of a new work in progress there, or the bones of an article just needing some meat on it!

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Your exercise today is to incorporate all of the following words into an article, short story, poem or whatever comes to mind. You must use all of the words (in any order) to complete the exercise, but the context in which they are used is up to you. Think about the words for a few minutes before you start to write and see what pictures come to mind - then see if you can weave them all together into a piece of writing.

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Consider the world of the superhero for a moment and then decide which superhero you would like to be for a day. If you aren’t impressed with any of the current contenders, why not make one up? For fun, write down what you’d wear and what your super name would be. Then, whether you are a traditional superhero or a new one fresh out of the training center, write down what your mission for the next 24 hours is, and how you would go about accomplishing it!

Idea Seeds! Start your page with any of the following and see where your creative muse takes you:

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The words you use in your writing are invaluable in allowing the reader to journey along with the characters you write about. Choose them well and anyone reading can be transported to another world and experience life along with the people in your novel.

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