Writing prompts: two reasons why they rock
Sometimes, that blank page — er, laptop screen — can feel like a mental desert. This is especially true for fiction writers, but is also applicable to basically any writer who’s trying to flex her creative muscles. That’s where writing prompts come in!
Writing prompts are basically a phrase, word or sometimes a photo or computer image that gives you an idea to focus on when you start to write. I find prompts especially useful for two reasons:
- It stimulates my creative jui — wait, I hate the word “juices.” It’s right up there with “moist.” Yuck. Anyway, writing prompts really help to get my creative energy flowing. While I primarily deal in the world of nonfiction, scribbling out a creative piece really helps to expand my mind and my awareness.
- It gives your brain a productive break. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, switching mind-tracks completely gives your brain some time to recover in a way that’s much more productive than vegging out in front of the television. You might even find yourself drawing ideas from your writing prompt exercise back into your actual writing!
So, what are some example writing prompts? Think of the following phrases as the start or introduction to a story, and let your pencil/keyboard take it from there!
- The drizzling rain kissed the pavement.
- It had been four years since he’d last seen her.
- He frowned. Fixing the car would cost a lot more than he’d originally thought.
- Mother always was right, after all.
5. The jet blazed a cloudy trail across the blue expanse.
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