Writing Exercises: From the Blank Page to Everyday Practice
A course by Aniko Villalba, Author of Interactive Journals
Engage in creative writing exercises that document and generate ideas, and transform it into a regular practice
Writer Aniko Villalba, author of books such as Días de viaje (2013) and El síndrome de París (2016), as well as interactive diaries like [i]Diario de viajes mágicos[i] (FERA, 2020), is wholeheartedly convinced that everyone has a story to tell...and write. That's why she started escribir.me, a website where she offers workshops on writing and creativity.
In this course, Aniko explains why writing is like exercising and teaches you how to turn it into a daily habit. Learn about each stage of the writing process and follow your teacher through more than ten creative exercises, from generating ideas and documenting your life to timed writing. Start filling up your notebook and build your own writing routine.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 24 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know your teacher for the course, Aniko Villalba. She tells you about her relationship with writing, how traveling helped her grow professionally, and about the artists that inspire her work.
Before you go any further, gather all the materials you need for your final project. Then discover why adopting a realistic mindset is crucial to developing a writing habit and learn about the stages of the writing process as well as how to approach each one. Aniko also gives you some tips on where to find ideas for stories and explains why writing is just like exercising.
Meet your new best friend, the notebook, and find out why you should always carry one on you, whether analog or digital. Now get ready to fill it up! Following your teacher's instructions, complete ten short exercises ranging from timed writing to documenting experiences and generating ideas; use your imagination and draw inspiration from your surroundings–even the most mundane objects can spark an idea.
Tie everything together by seeing how you can use the texts you wrote in your notebook throughout the course, as well as how to improve them. Finally, learn why knowing yourself and developing your own voice is the key to becoming a better writer and fully enjoying the act of writing itself.
- 99% positive reviews (1.6K)
- 61,638 students
- 12 lessons (1h 34m)
- 24 additional resources (6 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Start a notebook for creative writing exercises that's ready to use or add to once you finish the course. You can repeat these exercises as many times as you want, and you'll always end up with new ideas.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to start writing, write more often and have fun with their texts, or exercise their creative muscles.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge is needed to take this course, just some curiosity and the drive to write.
The materials include a notebook, your preferred writing tool (pens, pencils, markers, or a computer if you'd rather create a digital notebook), a timer, pieces of scrap paper for writing words, any book you have on hand, and graphic material like old photos, illustrations, tarot cards, or anything with an image on it.
Reviews
Aniko Villalba
A course by Aniko Villalba
Aniko Villalba is a writer and the author of books such as Días de viaje (2013) and El síndrome de París (2016), as well as interactive diaries like Mapa subjetivo de viaje (2017) and Diario de viajes mágicos (FERA, 2020). She spent ten years traveling through more than 50 countries, photographing what she saw and writing about her experiences in magazines, newspapers, websites, and her blog viajandoporahi.com. She also spoke at events and conferences, published her first two travel narrative books, and started interactive travel diaries with prompts, triggers, and questions for readers to complete.
After her nomadic life, she settled in Amsterdam to dedicate herself completely to her project escribir.me, a website dedicated to promoting writing and creativity, where she has been teaching writing, journaling, and creativity workshops since 2015. She also has a podcast titled Mientras no escribo where she gives listeners an insider's look at the creative writing process.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Writing practice
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Materials
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The mindset: writing is like playing sports
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The stages of the writing process
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Where to get ideas
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U3
Your exercise book
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Exercises to generate ideas
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Exercises to document everyday life
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Playing with the imagination: timed writing
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Playing with the imagination: triggers and slogans
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U4
What to do with what you wrote in your notebook
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And now that?
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Your own voice: discovering what you want to tell
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FP
Final project
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Writing Exercises: From the Blank Page to Everyday Practice
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for people with no prior experience in creative writing or journaling. It covers everything from the basics to practical techniques for building a personal habit and boosting creativity.
All you need is a notebook or journal, pens or other writing tools, and if you like, some basic scrapbooking or collage supplies. You can also use digital apps for writing.
You’ll learn how to generate ideas, establish writing routines, overcome creative blocks, document daily experiences, and craft personal stories. The course also explores self-editing, blogging, and independent publishing techniques.
No, the course is tailored for beginners in personal and creative writing. It starts from scratch.
The course includes timed writing exercises, word lists, interactive prompts, sensory observation, autobiographical collage, and brainstorming techniques to spark literary ideas.
It offers routines, targeted exercises, and strategies to unlock creativity, reduce self-criticism, and build sustainable daily writing habits.
Yes, you’ll learn how to design travel blogs, self-publish books, and share your writing across various digital platforms.
Un curso muy creativo, me gusta su metodología.
Es un curso muy práctico , Valoro todo el aprendizaje que Aniko brinda es la puerta a un mundo de tu propia experiencia y de valorar el proceso de tus letras.
El curso es breve pero muy completo. La autora nos ofrece tips y ejercicios de escritura que son muy utiles e interesantes, y sobre todo insiste en que debemos practicar, no pensar que todo lo que escribimos es para publicar, en divertirnos y encontrar nuestra voz.
Me encanta este curso no nada mas Aniko es inspiradora por sus historias propias sino también traza de una manera muy sencilla y practica crear el habito de escribir. Estoy emocionada de seguir sus consejos e inspiraciones.
Me ha encantado el enfoque práctico que la profesora toma en este curso. La metodología es muy clara, la docente realiza los ejercicios al mismo tiempo que el estudiante, comparte su resultado y explica los elementos más importantes de ellos.
Tomo prestada la cita de alguien, no recuerdo de quién: lo importante es que la musa te encuentre trabajando; la inspiración solo puede llegar si tienes el hábito de escribir cada día, aunque sea poquito a poco.
¡Muy contenta con este curso!