Why do we need writing prompts?
Because staring at a blank page is no joke. Sure, that dent in the wall from banging your head against it is a rite of author passage… But, we’ve found that writing prompts are a quick and reliable fix for rejuvenating a weary writer moment.
Trying to come up with your next greatest scene? Trying to add grit, humor, or depth to dialogue? Can’t find words to begin the story you have floating in your head? Writing prompts are your answer.
With writing prompts, the trick is truly being open to whatever flows from your fingers (or pen). Overthinking your response to a good writing prompt is like attempting to guess the next number in Bingo. Don’t try to “figure it out.” You’ll just kill the excitement of landing somewhere cool. So just go with it.
Here are our favorite writing prompts that work every time:
Prompt 1: Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full
Think fast. Is the glass half empty or half full? Write your first instinctual response to this question. Explore the reasons you hold your point of view. Then take it a step further. Convince someone who believes the opposite why your perspective is correct. You can even write a rebuttal to your own argument. Use images, actual experiences, and voices to color your writing with authenticity.
Prompt 2: True Lies
Create a scene that builds to the revelation of a secret. You can write the revelation first or last. It’s completely up to you. An optional twist: have your character’s secret actually be a lie. Consider the traits of the secret holder. Why is not as important as how the secret is revealed and of course what happens next.
Prompt 3: Hear it Through the Grapevine
Seek moments to eavesdrop. Airports, coffee shops, buses, trains, doctors’ offices, your work cubicle–hunt locations that provide delicious opportunities to overhear snippets that could be provocative material for your book. This prompt works for almost every genre. Children’s books authors can seek actual phrases overheard between a mother and child for example. Begin a scene with a line you actually heard someone say.
And for our favorite of all writing prompts…
Prompt 4: Less is More
Write a scene in which your character isn’t present, but include other characters who are discussing him. Portray your character through the voices and actions of these other characters. To spice it up, slant the discussion unfairly or falsely.
So here they are. What are your thoughts? Are you inspired? Share your favorite writing prompts — we’d love to have a crack at them.
These prompts could be used for daily writing practice & perfect for blogging. All of them encourage creative use of the way the subject is written, that is why this post had to go into my Evernote!.
The prompts themselves are not necessarily original, but it’s the WAY/MANNER in which you encourage us to write about the topic that is creative. Creativity invites more creativity!
Excellent post!
Thanks for the comment and compliment Monique. I’d love to know what your fav writing prompts are? I’ve actually never tried a writing prompt for helping spur ideas for blogging, but that’s a FANTASTIC idea!
Thank you for this enlightening information, Iam passing it on to witing friends,k…encouragement and refreshed in skills of literacy. Again, thanks, X KJ
Thanks for passing it on Karen!
Thank you for this enlightening information. Iam passing it on to writing friends,k…encouragement and refeshed in skills of literacy. Again, thanks, X KJ
Great post! I especially like #3. When I have writer’s block, I go out and observe the world around me. It keeps me from staring at the keyboard, and when I return home, I am filled with ideas. My writing is rejuvenated, and so am I.
Thanks for the comment Susan! Number 3 is a favorite of ours too — obviously. It’s good to know it works for someone else!
This is a great site about writing. I am impressed with the range of topics and the way they are presented!
I really liked the fourth tip.
Though I don’t think this is exactly what you meant, if your protagonist has a distinct way of speaking, you could have the other characters talking like him, mocking him. That would cover “slant the discussion.”
Love the idea of other characters “mocking him.” Fantastic tip! Thanks for the comment Michael.
Great post! I especially like the True Lies and Heard it Through the Grapevine Ideas. Both of them have worked for me. Here is one of my favorite prompts:
When Universes Collide:
Think of one of your favorite characters from something you have read/written in the past and have them show up for a conversation with the main character in the piece you are working on now. Choose a setting from your current work that makes sense for the introduced character. Focus on the dialogue. What would they say to each other (or not say)? How would they react? Would they get along or be at each others throats?