Write about something someone thinks about you, but it’s not true. A misconception. Just Write!
Category: Prompts
Mistranslation . . . Prompt #855
Playing With Abstract Poetry Abstract poetry is a form of poetry that prioritizes the auditory and emotional impact of words over their literal meaning or conventional grammatical structure. Prompt 1 – The Warmup Write for 2 minutes about something troubling or sad. Write for 2 minutes about something using the opposite emotion: joyful, hopeful. Write for 2 minutes on something from nature, something from the natural world. Keep that writing nearby for Prompt 2. Why write an abstract poem “Science has shown that when we engage in play, we increase brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, where creative thinking happens. “You are not striving for perfection. You’re striving for perfectly unpredictable.” — “Words Gone Wild,” by Dr. Finnian Burnett, Writers Digest, Nov/Dec 2025 Prompt 2 Write an abstract poem, using only the words you have written in Prompt 1. Write for 15-20 minutes. It doesn’t have to make sense. It shouldn’t…
Symbolism . . . Prompt #854
Photo by ArtHouse Studio on Pexels.com Using Symbolism in Writing Symbolism refers to using a material thing to represent a nonmaterial thing, usually a tangible item that illuminates an intangible concept. Paraphrased from “Thematic Writing” by Jane K. Cleland, Writer’s Digest, Jan/Feb, 2024 The importance of Symbolism Symbolism has the power to evoke an emotion or an idea without overtly saying it. When we pair a part of a poem, story, scene, character, or emotion with a repeated object, we begin to transfer the character’s wants, needs, and dreams onto that object. The symbol serves as an echo of that idea or sentiment, without retelling the story. Symbolism is the secret language of storytelling, adding depth and layers to what appears on the surface. It’s like finding a hidden treasure within a story, enriching the reader’s understanding and enhancing the reader’s appreciation of the narrative. Examples of Symbolism An object…
Metaphors and Hyperbole . . . Prompt #853
Prompt One Make a list of things that surprised or astonished you or made you feel uncomfortable. Something from a long time ago or recently. Just a list for now. Prompt Two Using your list, make a list of emotions you felt either during what you experienced or emotions you felt today or are feeling right now. For example: Fear, anger, surprise, annoyance, joy, angst, acceptance Prompt Three A metaphor compares two unlike things to show a relationship without using “like” or “as.” Metaphors imply that one thing is another. Examples of metaphors: Chaos is a friend of mine. —Bob Dylan You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time. —Elvis Presley Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream. —Taylor Swift My heart, a church where no one prays. Lonely pews and smudged stained glass. The Forever Workshop Writing Prompt: Choose an emotion from your list. Write what happened that caused…
Our brains like order . . . Prompt #852
“Our brains like order,” explains Kristi Phillips, a Minnesota-based psychologist “having less stimuli around us helps promote relaxation.” She points out the popularity of home-decluttering Reels and TikToks, as well as TV series such as Get Organized With the Home Edit and Hot Mess House. “But while we enjoy the afterglow of a cleaned-out junk drawer, we still procrastinate when it comes to tackling more complex areas of clutter in our lives. When we’re trying to declutter our own spaces, we have an emotional attachment to those items,” she says. “Whether there are memories linked to those objects or simply the guilt of getting rid of something you spent money on, the task of mentally weighing each item can be overwhelming, with a video, you see the fast-forward of how quick it is … so it gives us that hope and positivity of, Oh, I can do that too.” — “Why Watching Decluttering Videos…
Can’t explain . . . Prompt #851
Write about something you can’t explain. Something that makes no sense that’s happening to you now, or happened in the past. #justwrite #amwriting #iamawriter
A quirk . . . Prompt #850
Write about a quirk you have. It could be something you do, or participate in, or watch. There may not be a logical explanation for this, except that it brings you joy or satisfaction. #justwrite #amwriting #iamawriter
Photo prompt. An owl . . . Prompt #849
Today’s writing prompt is a photo of an owl. Photo by Marlene Cullen Here’s what happened: I looked out my kitchen window and saw the most majestic owl sitting on the roof of our shed. She (he?) literally took my breath away. I took a picture through the window. Then I went outside to take a better look and a better photo. She swiveled her head and looked right at me. I snapped a photo. Then she flew away to the top of a pole. Poetry in flight. My friend Kathy, who works at a bird sanctuary, said it’s a juvenile great horned owl. Prompt: Photo of an owl Just Write! #iamwriting #iamawriter #justwrite
Mondegreen . . . Prompt #848
Excerpt from June 16 River Teeth, “Mondegreen,” by Diane Gottlieb: A mondegreen is a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning. Mondegreens are most often created by a person listening to a poem or a song; unable to hear a lyric clearly, substitutes words that sound similar. American writer Sylvia Wright coined the term in 1954, recalling a childhood memory of her mother reading the Scottish ballad “The Bonnie Earl o’Moray,” and mishearing the words “laid him on the green” as “Lady Mondegreen.” Diane’s piece begins like this: “I found a lost memory today. Discovered it inside a writing prompt: recall something you’ve misheard. The title of the 1971 Sly and the Family Stone song is ‘It’s a Family Affair,’ but I swore it was ‘A Family of Bears.’ How wonderful it felt to belt out a song about bears and more bears, a…
Beyond Your Neighborhood . . . Prompt #847
Recall a time in your young life when you went beyond your neighborhood. Perhaps you had the experience of being somewhere out of your comfort zone. How old were you? Did a grownup or older child stay with you? Or, were you left alone? Look around. Describe this place. Did it feel friendly? Scary? Were there a lot of people there? What did you do? What emotions roll over you as you remember? What energy did you pick up at the time? What is that energy like now? Does that energy still have a hold on you? #justwrite #iamwriting #iamawriter