25 Character-Boosting Writing Exercises

If you are suffering from writer's block or just like to play around with words, here are 25 writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing, so you, too, can create characters that project emotion, just like the rabbits in the photo. 
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1. The “Bad Day” Test
Write a scene where your character has the worst day imaginable—spills coffee on themselves,
misses a deadline, and gets attacked by an angry goose. How do they handle it? Gracefully?
Meltdown? Bribe the goose?

2. Pet Peeve Rant
Let your character go on a full-on, irrational rant about something minor—like the sound of
people chewing or socks that disappear in the dryer. Bonus points if it turns into an existential
crisis.

3. Who Would They Be in a Zombie Apocalypse?
Would your character be a fearless leader, a coward hiding in a potato sack, or someone starting
a gluten-free café for survivors? Write a short scene.

4. Secret Snack Confession
Your character is caught red-handed with their weirdest guilty pleasure snack. Write the
confrontation. Is it ranch-flavored Oreos? Tuna in peanut butter? Explain the obsession.

5. The Ex Text
Your character accidentally texts their ex something meant for someone else. What did they say,
and how do they recover? (Or do they spiral?)

6. Musical Soul
Assign your character a theme song. Now write a scene where that song starts playing in real
life. What happens? Do they dance, cry, sue the radio?

7. Childhood Hero
Who was their childhood hero? A parent? A Power Ranger? A bus driver named Carl? Now
write about how that person inspired them—or let them down.

8. Room Service Personality Test
Your character is in a fancy hotel. What do they order from room service at 2 a.m.? Do they flirt
with the staff? Eat the tiny soaps?

9. Terrible Tinder Bio
Write your character’s dating profile—but make it absolutely cringey. Then write the first
awkward message they send someone.

10. Arrested… But Why?
Your character has been arrested. What’s the charge? Make it ridiculous (stealing garden
gnomes, trying to marry a celebrity wax figure). How do they explain it?

11. First Crush Flashback
Describe your character’s first crush in painful detail. What did they do to impress them? How
did it go wrong? (Please say it involved glitter.)

12. Talk to the Plant
Your character owns a houseplant. Write a monologue where they vent to it. What secrets spill
out while watering the ficus?

13. Bizarre Talent Show
They’ve entered a small-town talent show. What odd skill do they reveal? (Mouth trumpet?
Dramatic readings of cereal boxes?) How do the judges react?

14. Awkward Elevator Moment
Your character gets stuck in an elevator with their boss, ex, nemesis, or their crush. What do they
say? Who breaks first?

15. Text Message Autocorrect Fiasco
Your character sends a serious message, but autocorrect has other plans. Write the exchange.
Bonus if it starts a fight or proposal.

16. Tattoo Reveal
They drunkenly got a tattoo years ago. What is it, where is it, and how do they explain it now?
(“It’s a wizard banana. I was going through things.”)

17. Reality TV Meltdown
They’re a contestant on a chaotic reality show. Write the moment they snap. Is it during a
cooking challenge? A group date? A goat yoga session?

18. Apology Tour
Your character has to apologize to three people. What did they do to each? Write one of the
apologies—but make it very awkward.

19. The “Unhelpful” Advice Column
They write an anonymous advice column, but they are terrible at it. Write two letters and their
hilariously bad responses.

20. Time-Traveling Tantrum
Your character meets their younger self. What do they argue about? (Hair choices? Life
decisions? That time they ate glitter?)

21. What’s in Their Junk Drawer?
Inventory your character’s junk drawer. What bizarre objects are in there? Why do they keep an
old retainer, a slingshot, and a broken mood ring?

22. Worst Job Ever
Describe your character’s worst job in painful, vivid detail. Who was their boss? What did they
spill? What made them quit—or get fired?

23. Caught Lying About a Hobby
They’ve pretended to know about opera/coding/birdwatching to impress someone. Now they’re
asked to demonstrate. Disaster ensues.

24. Late-Night Google Searches
List five things your character Googled between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. Then write
their inner monologue during search #3.

25. The Imaginary Friend Reunion
Your character’s childhood imaginary friend shows up—very real and very mad about being
forgotten. What happens next?
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Use these exercises to build character profiles, punch up dialogue, or find unexpected plot
turns. Funny doesn’t mean shallow—sometimes humor digs into the most human truths.

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