stop waiting. start writing.
One of the most difficult aspects of the writing life is learning to balance the big picture with the day-to-day. One moment I'm caught up in the dreamy vision of the finished work. I can sense the story's potential. In the next I'm distracted by the snarled plot point that won't unravel. Both are … Continue reading Let’s Be Adventurers
Some of the best songs are those that tell a story. Choose a song and listen carefully. Then write the story you hear there. Write a song of your own. Experiment with form and technique. What's your favorite (or least favorite) song? How did you first encounter it? What is the song's significance in your … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Song
Tell us the story behind the image (below). Where did the pictures come from? What is their significance? Who is going through them? Why? Pick even one of the images in the stack and tell us about the photo. Pull out a scrapbook, album, or even your Instagram feed. Pick a photo and then write … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Photograph
Yep, I am definitely late posting this week's writing prompt. I got thrown off with the long weekend here in the States. So, let's write about being late. We've all been there, right? Write about a time when you were running late. What happened? What held you up? Did it have a funny ending? A … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Late
When I walked into a showing of the film A Quiet Place earlier this week I expected thrills, chills, and awkward popcorn munching in an otherwise silent theatre. I didn't know that I was heading into not only an entertaining and intriguing movie but also a display of excellent storytelling. I came out of the theatre energized … Continue reading Storytelling Tips from A Quiet Place
What are you afraid of? Is it something silly you can't quite explain? Is it something entirely rational? Can you pinpoint an experience that started it? Have you ever been in a situation where what you were afraid of actually happened? Use this as a character development tool. Write about your character's greatest fear. What … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Fear
Why did you start writing? What pushed you to tell your story? We all have different journeys that have led us to discover writing and the part it plays in our lives. But if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that most (if not all) of our journeys into the writing life may be … Continue reading You Write What You Read
Recently, I've been rereading The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien and it has gotten me thinking a lot about adventures, why characters go on them, and how they get started. In the case of The Hobbit's Bilbo Baggins, his story begins when a wizard arrives on his doorstep, bringing thirteen dwarves with him, and informs Bilbo … Continue reading Unexpected Adventures of the Writing Life
Switch up the setting. Do a freewrite where you change up the setting of your story. What would change if your characters lived in a city? How might the plot play our differently? Invent a city of your own. Work out how it is arranged. What structures and traditions set it apart? Who lives there? … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Urban Adventure
Home is a deeply powerful theme in our lives. Whether warm fuzzy feelings, mixed memories, or even confusion, considering home in your writing will resonate with readers while helping you to explore your own experiences and/or that of your characters. Use any of the prompts below to jumpstart your writing today. Write about a homecoming. … Continue reading Writing Prompt: Home