Forgotten Object

Your character is a half hour away from home when s/he remembers an object s/he left behind. For five minutes, write about the object that's so important, your character would go back home to get it.

Scent Memory

Memories are often triggered by a familiar scent. For five minutes, write about a memory you (or your character) associate with a specific smell.

Rewriting the Past

Everyone has conversations they wish they could go back and change. Try rewriting a conversation you had with someone, making it play out the way you wish it had.

Omit Needless Words!

As William Strunk, Jr. often said: "Omit needless words!" Take a page of your writing (or someone else's) and cut out any unnecessary words. Try to get as much meaning into as few words as you can.

Reading

Often characters are too busy in stories to have time to read, but their reading habits can tell us a lot about them. For five minutes, write about your character's reading habits and what his/her favorite book might be.

Sleep

Some people only need a few hours of sleep a night while others have to take daily naps. For five minutes, write about your (or your character's) sleeping habits.

Lies

Everyone lies; some people just do it more than others. For five minutes, write about a time when your character wanted to, or had to, lie.