Word Grid

Pick three books from your shelf. The more dissimilar the better. 

Pick a random number between 1-100, 1-15, and 1-10. Put the numbers in a sequence. (Example: 97-12-4)

Do this three times, so you have three sequences. 

Get a friend to do the same. Once you both have your books, give each other your sequences. The first number in each sequence is the page. The second number is the line. The third is the word.

Use each sequence on each of your books and you’ll end up with nine random words.

Write the words in a 3x3 grid. Include seemingly insubstantial words like it or the. (If all your words are it or the, or there aren’t enough lines on the page, pick the next closest word.)

Stare at the grid until a sentence rises from within. You don’t have to use all nine words. Keep it loose. Change tenses. Add plurals, possessives. Whatever sentence emerges is the seed of your free-write. 

Free-write for five minutes. Share.

Pick new books and new numbers. Make new grids and new seeds.