ANYWAY.
I'm short on ideas today, so I thought I'd do something we all always need, and provide some gentle kicks in the butt to get us writing. In other words, I've got PROMPTS, y'all.
I've collected a few of my faves for you. Some of them are non-fiction, cuz, y'know, that's what I'm writing these days, but I think they would make really cool fiction prompts, too. I've given the original authors of these prompts credit whenever possible, and I came up one of them myself. If you're looking for more where these came from, definitely click on the links below, as almost all of them lead to longer lists of prompts, and some other great resources.
Ok, so, PROMPTS:
- Write a story from the perspective of your favorite animal (from http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises, which is a great resource for new prompts)
- Choose a familiar myth or fairy tale, and then choose an unimportant secondary character in that story. Now re-write the familiar story from that character's POV.
- Write an apology to someone in your past (or your character's past). Adapted from https://brevity.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/of-swerve-the-apology-epistle/
- Write an apology for something your character didn't do (see http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/How-to-Write-Your-Memoir-by-Abigail-Thomas)
- Write a story based on (or starting with) this: A rock is thrown through a window. (See the full, and excellent, list of story ideas at http://www.creative-writing-now.com/story-ideas-8.html)
- Write a story based on this idea: "The most important thing is the thing most easily forgotten." (from http://stoney.sb.org/eno/oblique.html, another great site that generates prompts on command.)
And there you have it. Now - go write!! And if you have a favorite prompt or two, put it in the comments, please!
Wonderful prompts. So many ideas for "A rock is thrown through a window."
ReplyDeleteI've done the fairytale thing. When I was trying to get a handle on structure, I tried rewriting Snow White to get the feel for the story arc. It's a great tool because the story is so familiar, and you just plug in your own setting and characters. It wasn't for sharing, but it taught me some stuff about writing. :)
ReplyDeleteI do love a good retelling. The plots are so rich and evocative. Maybe someday you'll rework and share that story? :)
DeleteThese are all great ideas! I love number 4 and I might just have to take you up on these. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz
Great ideas. The fairy tale idea reminded me of when I wrote Piper. Only my goal there was to take the "villain" and make them the hero.
ReplyDeleteWrite on!
If only I had time to 'go write' this week. I'm getting ready for the A to Z. I'll miss you this year.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I love the myth/fairy tale one. But I think I have way too many of my own ideas bothering at me right now to try to prompt any new ones :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing A to Z this year either. Too many other projects in the air. But thanks for the writing prompts!
ReplyDeleteInteresting prompts! I like the last one. Going to file that one away for later. :)
ReplyDeleteAre Ninjas animals?
ReplyDeleteI joined the first Challenge with two days to spare and somehow survived.
I particular like the second prompt.
ReplyDeleteExcellent prompts! Love the idea of writing from my dog's perspective.
ReplyDeleteThere's something like 1,000 participants this year. If you want to visit even some of them, yeah, you better be prepared in advance.
ReplyDeleteI think the rock through the window prompt is my favorite.
I love prompts! All of those are great.
ReplyDeleteI love prompts! All of those are great.
ReplyDeleteExcellent prompts. Great mid-week inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteI am a coughing, hacking bad girl....have my list...still need to write them up:) Before I head off to pillow heaven, I would love that animals rule the world and we know they should and apologise to them for everything we have done...now that is a fairytale and my Katie girl would love it:)
ReplyDeletejust what I needed--I've been so dry on ideas lately...I love the animal perspective one, must try! :)
ReplyDeleteHmm. That last one could work for what I'm currently plotting, as forgetting is part of the plot. And there is that fairy tale-based one that I should get back to someday... gah. Funny how suddenly having all the time in the world doesn't automatically transform into more time spent writing. >_<
ReplyDeleteI thought about doing A-Z this year but I have got to finish my novel before the end of April. No way around it. And I love that second prompt. I just might do that one.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll hop on over to Creative Writing Prompts mentioned in your links. I could always use a few more ideas. Thanks.
ReplyDeletePrompts are so helpful. They say we should write every day, but that's hard for me with a full-time job. Writing can feel like work. I try and use prompts to spark my imagination while doing chores, working out, or even driving to work! Still gets the mojo flowing and exercising those creative muscles.
ReplyDeleteI've written most of my posts for the 4 blogs that I've entered in A to Z over the past week. It hasn't been that difficult because I've been keeping the posts short. My first two years I winged it without a theme and still did okay.
ReplyDeleteI say just do it! A good writer can manage just fine. So can any imaginative thinker with a will to finish!
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Great links. Look forward to visiting them. No, not doing the A to Z (I couldn't write a post a day if I wanted to--kudos to you A to Zers) but one can always use a good kick in the pants.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas for prompts -- and a few of them correlate to anthology calls that are currently open. So get crackin'!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all these great ideas and links.
ReplyDeleteI love these prompts, especially the animal one. (Surprise, right?) I always getting excited reading things like this. Then the actual writing comes into it LOL.
ReplyDelete