Melissa Harkin

If you’re looking for a simple, inspiring way to improve your writing craft, I have a recommendation that comes with a personal connection. I recently watched a fantastic video from Story Lab—and it just so happens to focus on a book I already own and love: Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin.

The video walks through two of Le Guin’s most effective writing exercises and shows exactly how they can help strengthen your prose. Whether you’re between projects or just looking for a creative reset, I highly recommend checking out both the video and the book.

Writing is a skill—and practice makes progress

In the video, the presenter (Hayley, a writer and teacher) reminds us that writing is a skill that improves with regular practice. On days when she’s not working on a specific project, she turns to writing exercises to keep her creative muscles strong—and the ones she comes back to again and again are from Steering the Craft.

Why Steering the Craft stands out

Written by acclaimed author Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering the Craft is more than just a book about writing—it’s a hands-on guide to becoming a better storyteller. Each chapter focuses on a different narrative element, like rhythm, voice, or point of view. Le Guin offers examples from literature, followed by writing exercises and reflection questions that challenge you to explore language in new ways.

I’ve owned this book for a while, and it’s one I return to regularly. Seeing someone walk through its exercises in real time brought it to life in a new way for me.

Highlights from the video: two standout exercises

1. “Being gorgeous” – focus on sound and emotion

This exercise asks you to write a paragraph that sounds beautiful—meant to be read aloud—using repetition, alliteration, and other sound effects. The goal isn’t story or plot, but the rhythm and feel of language.

The second part takes it further: you write a passage that evokes a strong emotion like rage or joy, using the flow and movement of your sentences to reflect that feeling.

The presenter used this exercise to bring her fantasy setting to life, especially the sea, and later explored the emotion of rage. She shared how it helped her slow down, dig deeper, and connect to emotion through language.

2. “Again and again and again” – the power of repetition

Repetition is often considered a no-no in writing, but Le Guin argues that it can create powerful echoes when used with intention. This two-part exercise starts with writing a short paragraph that repeats a key word multiple times. Then, you write a longer piece in which an action or line is repeated later in a new context—by a different character, in a different setting, or with a changed meaning.

For the presenter, this exercise unexpectedly unlocked vivid visuals—a birthday scene that came to her fully formed, even though she doesn’t usually “see” what she writes or reads.

Why I recommend both the book and the video

I’ve always appreciated Steering the Craft, but this video reminded me just how useful its exercises really are. It was also fun and encouraging to see someone else dive into the same book I’ve learned so much from.

So whether you’re feeling stuck or just want to stretch your writing muscles, I highly recommend giving both the video and the book a try. They complement each other beautifully—and who knows what scenes, sounds, or stories they might spark for you?

📺 Watch the video from Story Lab: https://youtu.be/pzVDFJdmkbw?si=yEdxY96T-D3XMz5D

📖 Read the book: Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin*

*Heads up: this is an affiliate link, which means if you grab the book through it, I might earn a tiny commission (like, coffee-sipping tiny) at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog!