Tag Archives: writing prompts

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , , , , , ,

Writing Prompt Wednesday

In honor of National Grammar Day, here’s a list of prompts that . . . ah . . . have nothing to do with grammar. Just celebrate this day by picking a prompt (or two!) and write something. Honor this momentous occasion with a short story, poem or flash fiction. You’re welcome to post it in the comments section, on your own blog (link it, baby) or among the pages of your journal. 

  • Evan couldn’t believe his luck, when the elevator doors opened and . . .
  • At first, the lake appeared flawlessly iced-over, then Amy saw . . .
  • Dave knew he’d never be allowed back . . . 
  • It wasn’t supposed to get out of hand.
  • The memory of her walking . . .
  • The man stood behind the glass and waited . . .
  • Layla took one last swig of beer and  . . . 
  • I hated that he knew about . . .

Happy writing!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , ,

Writing Prompt Wednesday

 

You know what to do. (But in case you don’t . . . these prompts are a way to help you get the writing juices flowing. Post a story in the comments section, journal it, post it on your blog, or get a jump on a short story; whatever. They’re here for the taking.)

  • Knowing his name meant little to her.
  • Fallen ash from his cigarette collected in a pile below his hand.
  • I stood at the edge of woods and listened to . . .
  • Paul knew he shouldn’t have looked . . .
  • I should have told my wife the truth that first day when I . . .
  • “I wouldn’t drink that; it has [fill in the blank] in it.”
  • In the beams of the dying headlights, stood . . .
  • The morning sun peaked through the trees. He told me I’d be dead by sunrise.

Happy writing!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , , ,

Writing Prompt WednesdayYou know the drill. (Dean, I’m expecting big things from you, my friend.)

  • There’s never the right moment to tell . . .
  • The marinara sauce dripped down the wall . . .
  • As usual, I said something . . .
  • The remote trail led to . . .
  • Something didn’t feel right when I entered . . .
  • His keys hung from . . .
  • The shrubbery concealed . . .
  • The ER nurse gave me . . .

Happy writing!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , ,

Writing Prompt WednesdayIt’s that time again where I attempt to wow you with these sure-to-inspire writing prompts. I’m also going to try real hard to stump Dean this time around . . . (check out Dean’s wicked prompt skills in previous WPWs).

  • “You’re a terrible liar,” Adam said.
  • The slash marks . . .
  • The sisters made a pact . . .
  • She didn’t recognize the car.
  • His laugh scared her.
  • They only had seconds before the . . .
  • Like a bad omen . . .
  • I had sworn I left the box . . .

Happy writing!

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , ,

Writing Prompt WednesdayWelcome to Wednesday, as well as another edition of “Writing Prompt Wednesday” where I hope to get you over the weekly hump and into the land of writing. Try these on for size:

  • “Next!” the woman behind the glass yelled
  • The house made her feel . . .
  • “You’ll want to step back . . .”
  • Meg saw it before I did.
  • The empty bottle . . .
  • Robert felt the effects immediately.
  • He picked her for a reason.
  • She’d seen him [fill in the blank activity] a thousand times. This time . . .

Happy writing!

 

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , , , ,

Writing Prompt Wednesday

I love writing prompts—they’re a heck of a lot of fun to come up with. In my efforts to blog more regularly (aren’t you folks lucky 😉 ) I’ve decided to designate every other Wednesday as “Writing Prompt Wednesday.” I hope you’ll find them useful and that they jump start your creativity; they certainly have for me. Since my first writing prompt post, I’ve written a couple of flash fiction pieces that I’ve then submitted: one to an anthology and one to a contest. Instead of keeping these prompts tucked away somewhere on my computer, I thought I’d share them with all of you. 

  • The peeling wallpaper revealed . . .
  • Kevin said a prayer and took a step . . .
  • She wore it just to . . .
  • All this time she thought she was being clever.
  • Anyone could see it didn’t fit.
  • She loosened the screws on the . . . 
  • I saw it coming, but no one . . .
  • The fire burned . . .

Happy writing!

Writing Prompts: You Gotta Start Somewhere

Writing Process & Tips, Writing Prompt Wednesday, , , , , ,

Blank Document

Look familiar? That’s right, it’s a blank document. For many of us writers, that’s the stuff of nightmares—you know, the one where you’ve been paper cut to death by a swarm of rejection letters? That’s the one. Well, it’s an all-too common problem many us could live without. Oftentimes, instead of having this wordless screen stare back at me with a “Uhm, hello? I’m blank. You going to write something on me, or what?” I’ll close the laptop. Ha! Take that! Although that’s typically unproductive . . . unless I pick up  a pen and a pad of paper. At times, I find I’m more productive when I go Old School and write on paper; it’s less intimidating than a blank Word Doc. But then what? 

Get writing. Dennis Palumbo, author and former screenwriter, who spoke at the Jackson Hole Writer’s Conference a few years back said, “Writing begets writing.” Turns out, he’s right. However, when you need a hand to get going, story starters or writing prompts can help wake the muse. Here’s a few to try out:

  • Emma knocked on the door and immediately regretted it.
  • Ben hated what he had to say next.
  • Had he been conscious, he probably would have said . . .
  • “It won’t hurt a bit,” she told him.
  • Most of the time I keep my promises, but . . .
  • I thought I had more time, but the doorbell rang . . .
  • She held out the box. “No, you open it.”
  • She/He/It slipped in through the front door unnoticed.
  • They didn’t believe me at first. 
  • Daniel thought she was crazy when she first told him . . .
  • I tried to give back [fill in the blank] but he told me to keep it/them.
  • Eric wanted to take the words back the second he said them.
  • It went completely against his nature, but he had no choice but to . . .
  • He walked in and saw her sitting with . . .

The following two prompts come from The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood:

  • I could have avoided all that trouble if I had only remembered to . . .
  • Seven days ago [fill in the blank]. Now, no one will talk to me.

Okay, now it’s time to take my own advice and write.

Do you have some writing prompts? Please, do share in the comments below.

Inspiration Passing You By

Writing Process & Tips, , , , ,

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As writers, we often hear our fellow kind talk about finding material by eavesdropping on conversations in coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Maybe I’m too busy inhaling my latte while focusing all my attention on Pinterest actual writing. Sure, if I happen to overhear great little tidbits of potential story dialog, great, but I don’t make it a point to listen. However, this weekend, I learned that I could inadvertently gather inspiration by just walking through a little touristy town, minding my own business. I didn’t have to feel bad about listening in on anyone; these are folks passing by. They were worthy of jotting down in my little notebook.

“We’re tourists; tourists do stupid shit.”

*

“Remember that cotton candy phase you went through?”

*

Wife: “Honey, look . . . I found something I can buy.”

Husband: “Imagine that.”

Sometimes, some of the best stuff comes completely out of context from people passing you on the street. Use them as a writing prompt for a story, create a character based on one, or simply construct a conversation based on one and work it into your WIP. This made me think about if I’ve said something that caused a passerby to think, “Did I just hear that?”