Writing Prompt: Urban Adventure

Switch up the setting. Do a freewrite where you change up the setting of your story. What would change if your characters lived in a city? How might the plot play our differently? Invent a city of your own. Work out how it is arranged. What structures and traditions set it apart? Who lives there? …

Writing Prompt: Home

Home is a deeply powerful theme in our lives. Whether warm fuzzy feelings, mixed memories, or even confusion, considering home in your writing will resonate with readers while helping you to explore your own experiences and/or that of your characters. Use any of the prompts below to jumpstart your writing today. Write about a homecoming. …

Writing Prompt: Senses

There's something fascinating about the way the written word allows us to capture and utilize all five of our senses. That doesn't mean it's easy to get it down on the page and make it feel real to your reader, though. With today's writing prompts let's challenge ourselves to engage the senses. Who knows what …

Writing Prompt: Childhood

Once upon a time someone said something about how anyone who has had a childhood has something to write about. I can't remember where I read this comment. I wish I could give credit where credit is due as well as present you with the actual, well-stated quotation. Alas. I cannot. (If this stirs anyone's …

Writing Prompt: Obstacles

Use the image as a starting point. What is striking to you? Is it something about the light? The shape of the columns? The mountaineer suspended mid-ascent? Write about a time you faced an obstacle. Throw a new challenge in your character's path. How will he or she respond? What did you discover today? Share …

4 Tips to Get the Words Flowing

Every writer knows what its like to get stuck. We've all drummed our pens against the empty page or counted the blinks of the cursor against a blank screen. So when it's time to write but you're having trouble tapping into the creative mindset, what's a writer to do? Many times it's important to muscle …

Writing Prompt: Beginnings

Writing exercises can be just what we need to break through an idea drought, unlock a new perspective, and challenge you to continue developing your writing skills. They can also be a good way to give some structure to a writing habit on a day when you're just not feeling the motivation. Each Wednesday the …