Category: Writing Prompts

October 31, 2017

Horror or Humor? A Writing Prompt

Tis the season to be scary, so why are so many “horror” movies funny instead? What is the boundary? What makes a story horror or humor? Explore the answer with this hilariously scary writing prompt. Are You Writing Horror or Humor? Interestingly, what determines whether a story is funny or scary is less the topic and more how the topic...

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July 25, 2017

Breaking Hyperbole as Writing Inspiration

Breaking hyperbole as writing inspiration is one of the mainstays of creative writing. Especially genres like fantasy and science fiction. And since this tactic is so common, I’m guessing it’s not going to be a totally unfamiliar idea for most writers. That’s why this article isn’t meant to be a treasure trove of new ideas. Although that would be cool. ...

Categories Creative Process/Inspiration/Literary Device Exercises/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques/Writing Prompts Comments: 4

June 13, 2017

A Found Poetry Writing Prompt

If you haven’t discovered found poetry yet, you should check it out because it’s pretty cool. Actually, I’d recommend doing an image search because it can be a really interesting combination of poetry and visual arts. Which means that it may be a little different from the poetry you’re used to writing, but don’t worry – here’s a found poetry...

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May 25, 2017

The Concealed Carry Writing Prompt for Fashionistas

Guns, knives, garrotes, guillotines – some weapons are more easily concealed than others. And unless you want to use the “Where was he hiding that?!” joke, it’s something you want to think about before writing the scene, and the concealed carry writing prompt for fashionistas will walk you through the basic considerations required. Well, required for fiction. I have no...

Categories Characterization Exercises/Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

May 16, 2017

A Writing Prompt for the Braindead

Talked to any teachers lately? I have, and I can tell you that they are simultaneously seriously overworked and seriously excited as the school year comes to a close. In honor of that hair’s edge of consciousness, here is a writing prompt for the braindead. Designing a writing prompt for the braindead is like setting up a marathon for the...

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May 2, 2017

A Spring Writing Prompt in 3 Acts

Well, 3 parts. It’s not a play or theatrical piece (or cohesive whole), so “acts” may be a bit of hyperbole. But don’t worry – it’s definitely a spring writing prompt for exercising different skills. 3 Takes on a Writing Prompt for Spring Technically, these are 3 different writing exercises that relate to the idea of Spring. After much debate,...

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April 6, 2017

A Writing Activity for Music and Poetry

This exercise is great for demonstrating how so much of a song’s power and meaning come from how the music and lyrics work together (I may refer to lyrics as poetry and vice versa). Technically, it’s only a writing activity for music and poetry if you do both parts; however, even the first part alone is worth the doing. Both because of...

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March 23, 2017

6 Word Short Story Writing Prompt Challenge

Can you express a story in 6 words? Or less? If you’ve practiced and mastered writing 50 word short stories like “They Call Him the Philosopher,” you might be ready for the 6 word short story writing prompt challenge. An Advanced Writing Prompt: The Challenge of the Six Word Short Story Pregaming the 6 Word Short Story *cough* I mean, “prepping...

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March 7, 2017

A One-track Mind Writing Prompt Challenge

Yes, the phrase “a one-track mind” often has connotations of X-rated content; however, all it really means is that person is fixated on a specific topic. It could be a video game that a person loves, a show someone watches all the time, a favorite author, a significant other, politics, world news, dieting, a pet – anything a person could...

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February 16, 2017

3 Types of Appeals as Writing Prompts

What on earth is an appeal? Isn’t that something you do when a trial goes the wrong way? (Kind of, but no). The 3 types of appeals I’m talking about are rhetorical techniques. If you’re unfamiliar with the term rhetoric, think of it as the art of persuasion whether in speech or writing. To use these appeals as writing prompts (or even...

Categories Characterization Exercises/Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques/Plotting Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 2