How do writers develop characters? How do writers get to know their characters beyond their looks, their desires, and where they went to school? For this prompt, you can write about your main character, a supporting character, or you can write about someone you know. If you are writing about something that really happened, you can use that incident and those involved as your characters. When you write about real people, they become “characters” in your story. Here’s how it works: Interview your fictional character as a journalist would, but not at the age they are in your story. If they are older, interview a younger version of your character. If your character is young, imagine what he or she might be like as an older person. For your real-life person, have an actual interview, if you can. If not, imagine what they were like as a child, a pre-teen,…
Category: Prompts
What are you afraid of? Prompt #553
Like many, I am worried about the future of America. I believe in the power of writing as a path to healing. If you are feeling overwhelmed and scared, please take a few minutes to write about your feelings. You can’t change what happened. You can change what you think. Today’s prompt is a hope and a chance for you to write about your thoughts and your feelings, as a way to start healing. For more prompts and suggestions for healing through writing, please consider reading the anthology, The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing, available as a paperback and as an ereader through Amazon. Prompt: What are you afraid of?
Expect The Unexpected . . . Prompt #552
Today’s writing prompt: Expect the unexpected. Marlene’s Note: I thought of this prompt, then remembered the photo from Susan Bono’s Inklings page on her website. They seem like a good match.
Best Year of Your Life . . . Prompt #551
If you could choose the best year of your life, what would it be and why?
Graphic T-Shirt . . . Prompt #550
If you were going to design a graphic t-shirt that explains you, or your fictional character, what would it say and what would the graphic be?
Silence . . . Prompt #549
Write about a silence. A silent night. A silent vigil. A quiet experience perhaps in a church or in nature. Or a calm experience, perhaps while watching a performance, or listening to music, or while watching children or animals or while walking.
The Lotus Flower Miracle . . . Prompt #548
Before diving into writing, I’m inviting you to sit back, and relax. Take a deep in. Exhale fully. Another deep breath. And exhale. Take some deep nourishing breaths as you read this prompt. Notice where there is tension in your body. Put your hand there, if you can. Or, put your thoughts there. Easily and comfortably think about what could be causing that discomfort. If you are not experiencing any discomfort, notice what you are thinking about. Going over, in your mind, the past few days, have you had a troubling conversation or a difficult interaction? For now, just notice these things. Set them aside, or make a quick list of these things. Staying as relaxed as you can in your body, read the first part of the prompt, which is inspired by Viktor Frankl. You have probably heard of him or you might be very familiar with him. He…
What is the cloud hanging over you? Prompt #547
What is the cloud hanging over you? What is the cloud that surrounds you now? Write about a situation or feeling that’s so all-encompassing it’s hard to see forward or back, left or right. Then, write about seeing a rainbow after the clouds disperse. Today’s writing prompt is inspired by Rebecca Rebouché, Prompt 106. of Suleika Jaouad‘s “The Isolation Journals.”
Inescapable longing. Prompt #546
Quotes from The Rainbow Comes and Goes by Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. “You don’t grow up missing what you never had, but throughout life there is hovering over you an inescapable longing for something you never had.” — Susan Sontag “As a child, you generally aren’t aware that your family is different from any other. You have no frame of reference.” — Anderson Cooper Writing Prompts: Can you miss what you don’t know? Can you miss what you didn’t have? What, or who, do you miss? Write about an inescapable longing.
Imagine . . . Santa . . . Prompt #545
Imagine you, or your fictional character, are six years old. It’s time to sit on Santa’s lap. What happens? Or, what doesn’t happen?