More Writing Prompts

Writing has been a real struggle for me in recent weeks - nothing has flowed, from the ideas to the stories I've worked on. I've kept going, reminding myself that 'a writer is someone who writes'.

One of the strategies is to use writing prompts. In a previous post, I've listed sites that offer writing prompts. The post will look at other options.

1) Themed competitions

These can be a great prompt, as they give you a first line, or a theme. I've recently been intrigued by the first line: 'Mrs Morrison was too young to die..." and one about discovery for a tea promotion. The competition deadline gives an added impetus!

2) Do it yourself prompts game

Create a table with three columns and six lines.

Label the columns: Setting; Character; Event

Label the lines 1 - 6

On each of the six lines for setting, enter a different location - which could include a time and place - desert island in the 1800's or a newly discovered planet. You can make these unique to the genre of your writing.

Now, list six characters - a twenty something geek; a fat woman etc

Then list six events - a fire; a death; losing something etc

Now, roll the dice, once for each of setting, character and event. The number on the dice corresponds to the line numbers.

Now write your story, using the character, setting and event that you came up with.

3) Newspapers

Look at news headlines, and imagine you are either the person experiencing the news, or someone on the sidelines. Write about the event from your perspective.

Or think about the back story - what happened to lead up to that event? What happens afterwards?

Many crime writers use real life crimes to inspire their stories, and even keep clippings of articles that they find particularly interesting.

4) Bootsale items

Think of something you've found in a bootsale - does it have a story?

5) If you could be someone else, who would you be, and what would be your story?

6) Write a different ending to your favourite novel or film

7) Do a search for the year of your birth - write about one of the major events or about someone else who was born at the same time

8) Christmas is coming - write three original greeting cards

9) Write about your happiest childhood memory.

10) Write a story that ends 'and that's why I'll never do that again.'

And if none of these work, do a Google search for writing prompts - there's bound to be one out there that can get you back into your writing groove.

Happy writing folks!