Category: Writing Prompts

August 6, 2016

Scene Dissection: A Writing Prompt for Improving Complexity

The people-watching writing prompt is a good starting point for any exercise, and if you want to improve complexity in your writing, all you need to do is add a little scene dissection. Improving Complexity with Scene Dissection Now, in film, scene dissection is the way a single scene may be broken down into multiple camera shots from different angles....

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

June 11, 2016

A Writing Prompt for Dreams

I don’t mean the goals kind of dream. This writing prompt is meant for those weird, hazy, wtf dreams that happen in your sleep and fade within hours (if not minutes) of waking. Most of the time, they make no sense – talk about the art of the unexpected! That’s actually one of the best reasons to apply dreams to...

Categories Literary Device Exercises/Worldbuilding Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

June 6, 2016

A Word-Stealing Writing Prompt

Have you ever seen the Victor Borge bit where he cuts up pieces of famous uncopyrighted music and tapes them together to make a new piece? This writing prompt is a bit like that. Since I would never suggest that you cut up a book, however (sacrilege!), simply copy, print out, or write the lines to be used by hand....

Categories for Children/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

June 3, 2016

A Writing Prompt for Logophiles

I like words. No, I love words (I might’ve mentioned that I’m a logophile. Or you might’ve assumed it, you know, with the whole writing thing.). That’s why it makes perfect sense to me to use words (or a word) as inspiration for a story. Because really, why not? Ok. Here’s the idea. Pick a word. It could be a...

Categories Creativity Builders/Inspiration/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

May 22, 2016

Travel Delays Are Writing Opportunities: A People Watching Writing Prompt

Why is it that we pay more attention to other people when we travel? I’d like to think it’s because we’re exposed to people from more cultures – who dress and behave differently and pique our curiosity. But it’s probably only because we get stuck in airport terminals with nothing to do. Wait. As writers, we always have something to do:...

Categories Characterization Exercises/Inspiration/Travel/Writing Prompts Comment: 1

May 17, 2016

A Writing Prompt for the Worst Time of Your Life

Unless you’re amazingly lucky and have never had a low point in your life (*sigh* Wouldn’t that be nice?), as soon as you read the title, you knew what time of your life that would be. Or maybe you’ve thought of a series of moments that are all in the running for that title – the worst time of your life. If...

Categories Literary Device Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 2

May 4, 2016

5 Ways to Simplify the Writing Prompt Game

Anyone remember the Writing Prompt Game? (If you don’t, click the link.) Well, if you’re not thinking of 3 random things easily, you don’t have anyone to give you the 3 words, or you simply want to mix it up a little, then you can use 1 of the 5 options below.  1. Rory’s story cubes The story cubes are...

Categories Literary Device Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 0

May 3, 2016

A Where’s Waldo Inspired Writing Prompt

Do you guys remember Where’s Waldo? – a book series intended for kids where you have to search the intricate images for specific objects and a strange little man (we assume) named Waldo. I have no idea what brought this to mind, but I think this could make good writing prompt for an interesting characterization exercise. Step 1: Go to the Where’s...

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April 22, 2016

Writing Prompt: Explore the Outrageous with Similes & Metaphors

When your writing feels stagnant, you’re struggling to come up with a new or unique idea, or the art of the unexpected is completely evading you, it can help to spend some time exploring the ridiculous and outrageous with a simile/metaphor writing prompt. It’s like how Robin Williams explained part of the acting process in his interview with Inside the Actor’s Studio (one of...

Categories Literary Device Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 2

April 15, 2016

Writing Prompt: A Moment in History

Here’s a writing prompt to practice shaping your writing to the point of view of the character. It’s fairly simple yet fairly difficult at the same time (like most of writing, I suppose). It goes something like this: 5 Step History Writing Prompt  1. Pick a famous moment from history. It doesn’t have to be a famous moment. It could be...

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