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#NaNoWriMo padding: Have characters debate a fandom divide

Have your characters get into a heated debate over a fandom divide. Have it blow up into a massive argument. Then you can draw out the cooling down…

IRL writing dare: Write in a dimly lit room

Write at least 350 words in a dimly lit room. Bonus points if you wear sunglasses the curtains are closed there are underpants on your head you are…

Writing dare: How many objects can you fit in one scene?

Here is a pretty random collection of items. How many of these items can you squeeze into a single scene? Bonus points for making them all plot relevant…

Writing dare: Some of your characters are only imaginary

It turns out that some of your characters are figments of another character’s imagination.

#NaNoWriMo padding: The car breaks down

Bring your characters to a grinding halt with car troubles. Take us through what the characters do to solve this issue. Who do they call? Can they fix…

IRL writing dare: Live-stream your writing session

We dare you to live-stream your next writing session or sprint.

Writing dare: Your character tells a needless but complicated lie

For reasons they might not even understand themselves, your character lies about something. The lie is every bit as complicated as the truth – more so even. Now…

Writing dare: Ice cream denial

Have a character crave some ice cream. Have them go out of their way to try and get some ice cream and yet plot, fate, and chance mean…

#NaNoWriMo padding: Expressing a crush theory

Have one character tell another that a third character has a crush on them. Have them explain in great detail why they think they are right. Allow the…

IRL writing dare: Let your Twitter followers add some crazy

Post a tweet asking your followers to shout out crazy ideas for you to include in your story. Click to Tweet

Writing dare: Introduce a majestic elephant into your story

Introduce a majestic elephant into your story. How will your plot change now? What does the elephant’s presence say about your protagonist? Bonus points if there is a…

Writing dare: Include a wicked witch to make trouble

Add a wicked witch to your story not as the main antagonist but as a persistent and annoying troublemaker who complicates things regularly to troll the protagonists.

#NaNoWriMo padding: Why are we doing this?

In the lead-up to your characters trying to get whatever it is they want, have them talk about why they are doing what they are doing. Have them…

IRL writing dare: Cosplay at a café

We dare you to dress in your favourite cosplay outfit and then go to a café to write your 1.667 words.

Writing Dare: Add a comedy writer using your characters as their subject

Introduce a new character who slowly gets closer to the main characters before it becomes clear to them that the writer is writing a comedy with your characters…

Writing dare: Waiting for cabbo

Start a chapter with at least two characters calling a taxi/cab. Follow the conversation and activities they engage in trying to pass the time. Every time they call…

#NaNoWriMo padding: That one childhood toy

Have a character explain in great detail to another character why they value a childhood toy so much. Have them derail the plot slightly by going back to…

IRL writing dares: Dictate a scene while doing jumping jacks

Today, try to dictate your scene while doing vigorous exercise. For example, jumping jacks.

A secret crush with bad timing

A character with a secret crush on your protagonist finally admits how they feel in a most dramatic way. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible timing and the…

Writing dare: Introduce a talking animal that only some characters can hear

We dare you to introduce a talking animal that only some characters can hear.

#NaNoWriMo padding: The correct way to place the toilet roll

Bring the plot to a screeching halt while your characters debate the correct way to place the toilet roll on the holder.

Writing dares from the muse archive

Here is a collection of writing dares from earlier NaNoWriMos. We have a growing archive of writing dares. How many of these writing dares can you take today?

Writing dare: An innocent social media post causes trouble

An innocent social media post results in accusations, drama, and all sorts of trouble for your characters. The entire plot grinds to a halt while they try to…

Writing dare: Give characters strong feelings about each other that they never admit to

Pick a pair of central characters to have strong feelings for each other. They never admit it to their crush but drive the protagonist (main character) absolutely spare…