Writing prompts, which are
by their very nature “fresh” and different, help me to stay out of a writing rut. The ones I like the best have variety built
into them: different genres, subjects, formats, tones and approaches. Some are intended to inspire new material for
a current project, and others are tools for exploring a completely new
piece.
One of my favorite writing books
is The Write Brain Workout, which has
a new prompt on each page, and is full of large color images (I’ve included
three here), which automatically rev up my creativity and sense of fun.
I haven’t always, but lately
I’ve been forcing myself to do each writing prompt in order, whether it’s one
that appeals to me or not.
On a recent
holiday / writing retreat, I ended up writing a piece that left the character
no choice but to dredge up sad and difficult memories. I guarantee that I would not have chosen to
do that on my own! I resisted at first,
but felt it was necessary to write outside of the box, and I’m actually glad I
did.
Also on my holiday, I wrote pieces
guided by the following prompts from two other favorite books, Creative Writing Activities and The Writer’s Book of Matches:
“Well, to be honest, I just
threw it away.”
Write a make-believe
conversation between you and something in nature.
“Why do you have ten jars of
Easy Cheese in your cart?”
Who knows what these short
starts will turn into?
They may go
nowhere.
But they gave hours of
enjoyment, made me think deeper than usual, and did a lot to shake the dust off
my creativity!
Posted by Ramona
These are some wonderful prompts! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI, too, am often stretched with prompts. For the writer, they're like the Star Trek intro - going where no man has gone before. Writing from a prompt you wouldn't choose on your own is good advice. Thx Ramona.
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes use writing prompts at our writers' meetings to help us get into the writing "space". Thanks for reminding us to use them!
ReplyDeleteAs Women Word Weavers, we use prompts also. When I'm on a writing date with my good friend, Glenice, we also use prompts, but I like what you're suggesting here, Ramona, about going through a book of prompts in order. That would be a better stretch of one's writing abilities, rather than picking and choosing, as we are inclined to do in writing and in life. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteHours of enjoyment is very important too as writing can, of course, be a tough discipline sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI too like a variety of writing prompts--a good work out for the brain. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reading suggestions. The Five-Minute Friday bloghop is also a great launching point for free-writing. And you get to make new friends!
ReplyDeleteI think by writing the prompts you are practicing writing, so that even if the little vignettes go nowhere, you are a stronger writer for it! I must look up these books and buy them. I need the daily practice too!
ReplyDeletePam Mytroen