prompts

Writing Prompt

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[I’m checking out a new book of writing prompts. To be honest, I usually find these unhelpful because, as a writer, I can usually write my own prompts, but in previewing this book, I like how it’s set up, and thought I’d share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.]

This prompt comes from the book, 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts: 501 Prompts to Unleash Creativity and Spark Inspiration by Tarn Wilson, currently on sale in the Kindle Store for $1.99

Prompt 40

Adventure, Plot

Brainstorm ways characters could be confined in a space together (stuck on an island, in an airplane, in a stopped elevator, etc.). Choose one. Decide which characters are in the space.

Continue the Story Write a scene in which they are in conflict.

[Note: Exercising my right of personal preference: By the time this prompt posts, I will be almost three weeks post-op from my torn Achilles tendon repair surgery, which means for the last three weeks, I’ve been more or less in bed, staring at my family who has been helping me, which is kind of like being confined in a space together since my bed was moved to the first floor, etc., so I might be writing about this experience. Time will tell, as you’re reading this in the future from my writing it in the past. Have a good week. Welcome (soon) Fall, but not literally, let’s just say Welcome Autumn.]

Writing Prompt

Standard

[I’m checking out a new book of writing prompts. To be honest, I usually find these unhelpful because, as a writer, I can usually write my own prompts, but in previewing this book, I like how it’s set up, and thought I’d share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.]

This prompt comes from the book, 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts: 501 Prompts to Unleash Creativity and Spark Inspiration by Tarn Wilson, currently on sale in the Kindle Store for $1.99

Prompt 23

Memoir, First Lines

Begin a story or memoir with “The first time I saw. . .” You might write about a person,m, place, animal, landscape, or object.

Continue the Story End your story or memoir with “The last time I saw. . .”

Writing Prompt

Standard

[I’m checking out a new book of writing prompts. To be honest, I usually find these unhelpful because, as a writer, I can usually write my own prompts, but in previewing this book, I like how it’s set up, and thought I’d share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.]

This prompt comes from the book, 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts: 501 Prompts to Unleash Creativity and Spark Inspiration by Tarn Wilson, currently on sale in the Kindle Store for $1.99

Prompt 13

Fantasy

A character is assembling a jigsaw puzzle and realizes the image is of their own kitchen – with one difference. What do they see?

Continue the Story They look up from the puzzle, and…

Writing Prompt

Standard

[I’m checking out a new book of writing prompts. To be honest, I usually find these unhelpful because, as a writer, I can usually write my own prompts, but in previewing this book, I like how it’s set up, and thought I’d share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.]

This prompt comes from the book, 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts: 501 Prompts to Unleash Creativity and Spark Inspiration by Tarn Wilson, currently on sale in the Kindle Store for $1.99

Prompt 5

Mystery

Your character goes down to the basement to get something and notices the pale outline of a hidden door. They open it to find an elaborate labyrinth of tunnels.

Continue the Story What happened 100 years earlier?

Writing Prompt

Standard

[I’m checking out a new book of writing prompts. To be honest, I usually find these unhelpful because, as a writer, I can usually write my own prompts, but in previewing this book, I like how it’s set up, and thought I’d share a few of them with you over the next few weeks.]

This prompt comes from the book, 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts: 501 Prompts to Unleash Creativity and Spark Inspiration by Tarn Wilson, currently on sale in the Kindle Store for $1.99

Prompt 3

Memoir, Voice

Remember a place you have lived that has emotional significance. In the voice of a tour guide, introduce someone to this place.

Continue the Story The tour guide shares important “historical events” from your life.

National Biographer’s Day

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Today is one of those made up holidays (aren’t they all) that caught my eye as I was planning the subjects for this month’s writing. I have taken a memoir class for the last thirteen years, and now that I’m working again, I won’t be able to return. This has made me fall into my feels, so I thought that memoir is very similar to biographies, and as it turns out today is National Biographer’s Day, which isn’t as generic as I thought it would be.

It commemorates the anniversary of the first day that Samuel Johnson met his biographer, James Boswell in 1763 in London. Samuel Johnson was an English writer and the biography written about him is said to be one of the most celebrated English biographies. Dr. Johnson himself was a biographer in his own right in addition to his other writing talents.

He is also known to have said that the “best biographers were those who ate, drank, and ‘lived in social intercourse’ with those about whom they wrote.”

In honor of this momentous occasion, a few thoughts, suggestions, and writing prompts:

  • 1. What is the best/most satisfying biography you’ve read?
  • 2. Whose biography would you like to read but haven’t yet?
  • 3. Begin writing a biography of someone you care about or want to discover more about.
  • 4. It’s not biography as much as autobiography or memoir, but write a few paragraphs of your own biography. Start anywhere in your life.

Spend your weekend learning about others and yourself.