Writing Using Playing Cards

So, how do you use a deck of playing cards to get writing ideas? You do not have to actually play any card game with the cards, just have your deck ready. This is more of a writing game, where you will get, perhaps, a plot idea, a character and some main points to work with. When you have those things, then you begin writing and write as much as you can about it with a beginning, middle and end.

Before you begin, sort the cards into a pile containing only numbers(with aces) and a pile containing people(King, Queen, Jack, Joker). No need to organize the two piles in any fashion, just keep them the way you sorted them out.

This is the only preparation you need to do. Have your pen and paper handy and prepare to start writing about random things.

Below are various genres that you can use the cards to get writing ideas for. If you want to stick with what you are familiar with, that's okay. But I would suggest that you try and get out of your comfort zone, writing a story in a genre that you don't write in. This whole exercise is just for the fun of it, so feel free to go a little crazy!

A regular deck of the playing cards actually have some interesting symbolism and meaning to them, so you may be able to use the symbols in your writing as inspiration:

Each king represents a great king from history:
Spades- King David.
Clubs-Alexander the Great.
Hearts- Charlemagne.
Diamonds- Julius Caesar.

The King of Hearts is always shown with a sword sticking out of his neck, thus he is often called the Suicide King.

Each of the suits represents the four major pillars of the economy in the Middle Ages:
Hearts- The Church.
Spades- The Military.
Clubs- Agriculture.
Diamonds- The Merchant Class.

The Nine of Hearts card is considered the symbol of love.

The Ace of Spades symbolizes death.

If you are more of the mystery writer, playing cards can actually be a place to start off with.

The four symbols on the number cards represent what the main crime of the story is:
Diamonds-Theft.
Spades-Murder.
Clubs-Violence(attack?), kidnapping.
Hearts-Affair, rape.

Pull out 1 number card. Ace(1) through 10. That number symbolizes the number of twists, obstacles, etc. that you character has to overcome to solve the mystery. Of course, having just 1 obstacle may seem boring, but it can work if you are writing a short story, or if you make the obstacle the made problem that blocks the character throughout. You can sprinkle smaller problems throughout the story, but you have to have at least the number you have on the playing card.

If you are writing a non-fiction article of book, use the numbered cards as the number of points, tips or chapters you have to write about.