A short time ago, an ESL student asked me an interesting question. She asked, “How can I get creative ideas?”
This writing lesson is one answer to that question. This ESL writing activity helps English students learn a process to produce creative ideas.
ESL Creative Writing Activity
This is a three-part writing exercise. By the end of this writing activity, you should have one or two well written paragraphs. You will also have learned a way to be creative when good ideas don’t seem to be coming into your brain.
Part 1. Choose a topic. Here are a few topics.
- music
- watching TV
- the library
- university
- computer games
- the future
- one night
- one morning
- a trip
- a dream
- food
- being nervous
Part 2. Brainstorming
Spend ten minutes writing down words or phrases. These are the words that come to your mind easily. Don’t edit your ideas. Make a long list of words that come to mind.
Using a mind map might help you think of words and ideas more quickly.
Once you have finished your list, look at the words and make changes. Use a dictionary to find better words, like synonyms.
Part 3. Write the first draft.
Now you are going to write a story. Try to be as specific as possible when choosing a topic. For example, don’t write about why playing the piano is fun. Instead, write about one special piano concert that you remember. Use your memory to write about the special details, the sounds, the sights, the feelings, and so on.
If you don’t know what to write, look at your word list. The words will give you ideas.
After writing one or two paragraphs, take a look at your opening sentence. If you are like most writers, that sentence can be improved.
Now make changes and edit.