Creative Writing Exercises: Improve Your Craft Through Play

Mark Boutros

Sep 2025 · Creative Writing Books Book 2 · Mark Boutros

About this ebook

International Emmy nominated writer, creative writing teacher, and author of The Craft of Character, Mark Boutros, offers writing exercises to shake up your process and reconnect you with creativity through play.

With experience teaching over 4,000 students across world renowned universities such as NYU, London Film School, and through online courses, Mark shares themed exercises and explains their value in improving your craft, while also offering general tips and ways to manage your mental health, as writing is about more than just the words.

If you’re stuck on a project, struggling for ideas, looking for inspiration, or just want to shake up your thinking, then this book of over 50 exercises is for you. The topics covered are:

- Creating Ideas

- Character and Motivation

- Story World

- Raising the Stakes

- Structure

- Technique

- The Writer's Mind

Whether you're a screenwriter, playwright, or author, this is an invaluable tool for beginner and experienced writers.

Ratings and reviews

I took a screenwriting course with Mark as my tutor and it was absolutely life-changing! His advice and guidance made me believe I could truly get into writing and actually make something of myself. This book was so helpful to play around with writing without pressure, and it's helped unblock so many tricky story points I was in. The mental health section and tips were things I didn't know I needed. 100% recommend!