Like any job, the more you work at it, the better you will get. Writing is no exception. Whether you’re writing novels or ad copy, practice definitely makes perfect. What’s more, when you write outside of your comfort zone, you stretch writing muscles you didn’t even know you had.

The great thing with writing is that testing yourself and keeping yourself on your toes can actually be quite a bit of fun. Here are some fun exercises you can undertake to practice. You may find yourself coming back to some of them just to have a bit of extra fun.

• The next time you’re flipping through a magazine or scrolling through a news website, choose a story at random. Read it and then create five alternate headlines for it. As any copywriter knows, headlines are among the most important bit of information to be written when it comes to articles.

• The next time you get a spam mail, open it up and read it…chances are it’s poorly written. Re-craft it and make it sparkle. (For anyone that has actually seen certain spam mails, you know that this may actually be a huge challenge).

• Use Twitter as a quiz. Putting anything in 140 characters is tricky…much less as a writer. Start out with a statement that you know for a fact will go way over 140 characters. Then find at least three ways to shorten it to 140 characters or less while getting the same message across.

• Find a short news story in your local paper and rewrite it to be funny. Or, if the piece is already lighthearted, give it some dramatic flair.

• Choose any random item from your pantry. Come up with clever slogans and taglines for whatever products you select.

• Write a book report (or even a review) on an exceptional book you have read lately.

Who says the world of copywriting can’t be fun?! Enjoy these little exercises on your quest to improve your writing!