The Write Spot Blog by Marlene Cullen

Category: Prompts

  • Outside the Norm . . . Prompt #744

    “Totem of Confessions” by Michael Garlington at Burning Man

    What have you done that is “outside the norm?”

    Been to Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert?

    “Burning Man is all about self-expression and the rejection of corporatism and capitalism. The experience of creating and viewing art and living in the moment is Burning Man’s purpose.” —Reno Gazette Journal, Aug. 31, 2022

    Or,  perhaps something like seeing the musical Hair, “where friends struggle to balance their young lives, loves and the sexual revolution, with their rebellion against the war, their conservative parents, and society.”

    Writing Prompt:

    Write about an experience you have had that is “outside the norm.”

    #justwrite  #amwriting  #iamawriter

  • Neuroplasticity & Character Development . . .  Prompt #743

    Neuroplasticity

    We have well-worn neural pathways that help us get through routine activities without having to think about the details of each one.

    For example: Driving to a destination and arriving without having remembered every detail on the route.

    When that neural pathway gets interrupted, there is an opportunity for:

    Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to form new connections and neural pathways. 

    That change of habit can enrich perspectives:

    The way we look at our world, the way we meet challenges, and problem solve.

    Prompt #1

    Set the scene.

    Choose a fairytale character, a fictional character you create, or someone from your life (this could be you):

    Finish the sentences:

    A character wants ___________________________

    To get it, character needs to ____________________

    But (obstacles) ______________________________

    What if: Neural pathway gets interrupted. An opportunity for neuroplasticity? _________

    Prompt #2

    Choose one path to follow

    Path One: Fractured Fairytales: Start with a well-known fairytale and mix it up.

    Give the character another obstacle, or add on to existing obstacle.

    Embellish the details, be as unrealistic and as crazy as you want.


    Path Two: The main character is the person you just wrote about or someone from your life, (could be you).

    Path Three: Main character is a fictional character created by you.

    Whatever path you choose, use these questions to develop character and situation:

    What does the character want?

    What are the obstacles?

    If you choose to write about person from the first prompt, use “add-ons” to flesh out the story.

    Add-ons: For every sentence you wrote in Prompt #1, add three more sentences.

    For example:

    Original sentence; Little Red Riding Hood wants to deliver tasty morsels to Grandmother.

    Add-ons: She carries the muffins in a basket. She made the muffins that morning. She’s worried about Grandma’s health.

    Prompt #3

    What does the character need to do to get what they want?

    How does character solve problem? Able to form new connections and new neural pathways?

    This could be a brainstorming session where any and all solutions are possibilities.

    You can be creative in how character solves problems. Anything goes!

    Or, you can be realistic, overcome obstacles in a reasonable way.

    More on character development

    Character development – discovering characters

    What does your character want? What gets in the way?

  • Grandparents . . . Prompt #742

    What did you call your grandparents? Great-grandparents?

    If you didn’t know your grandparents, why is that?

    Do you know stories about them during their young years?

    Write about your grandparents and/or your great-grandparents.

    #justwrite #iamwriting #iamawriter

  • Intuition . . . Prompt #741

    Writing Prompt:

    Write about a time you paid attention to your intuition.

    Or, a time you didn’t pay attention.

    Just Write!

    More on Intuition: Calm Your Brain.

    #justwrite #imawriter #iamwriting

  • State fairs, county fairs, bazaars . . . Prompt #740

    Photo by Denisse Leon

    Writing Prompt: State fairs, county fairs, bazaars

    Where you . . .

    Tried your luck at winning prizes.

    Threw a dart to win a stuffed animal, tossed a ring to win a goldfish.

    Went on a dizzy, scary, gravity-defying ride.

    Ate fair food:  Fried food, caramel covered apples, cotton candy, funnel cakes, soft-serve cones.

    Were entertained: Music, hypnotist, magicians, stilt-walkers.

    Inhaled a variety of smells: Barnyard animals, food.

    Gazed at exhibits: 4-H crafts, fine art, photography, sculptures.

    Prompt: State fairs, county fairs, bazaars . . . an overabundance of sensory riches. 

  • A building . . . Prompt #739

    Write about a building that has or had meaning to you.

    Describe the building.

    Where is it? Or, where was it?

    Write about the energy of the building or the place.

    Did you like being there, or going there?

    If you no longer go there, would you like to go back?

    If you continue to go there, what draws you to this place?

    In your mind’s eye, turn to the building. Wave good-bye.

    Tell it you will see it again, either in your imagination or for real.

    “A Building,” by Cheryl Moore, might offer inspiration.

    #justwrite #iamwriting #iamawriter

  • Sensory Detail . . . Prompt #738

    Writing Prompt

    Look around.

    What catches your eye?

    Choose an item near you, or in your room,  to write about.

    Hold it in your hands, if you can.

    Move it around in your hands.

    Feel it.

    What is the weight?

    The heft?

    The texture?

    Where did you get the item?

    What meaning does it have for you?

    You can start your freewrite like this:

    “I want to tell you about . . .”

    Use sensory detail

    Sight: Color, shape

    Feel/Touch: Smooth, bumpy, texture

    Smell: “Smells like . . .”

    Sound/Hearing: If it makes a sound, what do you have to do to make the sound?

    More posts about Sensory Detail.

  • Reaching . . . Grasping . . . Prompt #737

    Sit comfortably in your chair.

    Feet flat on floor. Hands on lap.

    Sit up tall. Take a deep breath in. Hold for a few counts.

    Release your breath.

    Take a couple more deep breaths.

    Relax into your chair.

    Notice your non-dominant hand.

    Lift it and rotate it in a circle a few times.

    Rotate opposite direction a few times.

    Gently stretch fingers out.

    Relax hand.

    Stretch and relax hand a couple more times.

    Stretch arm in front of you or to the side.

    Stretch and notice your arm.

    Relax Arm. Return hand to lap.

    Take a deep breath in. Hold breath for a few counts. Release your breath.

    Notice your dominant hand.

    Lift it and rotate it in a circle a few times.

    Rotate opposite direction a few times.

    Gently stretch fingers out.

    Relax hand.

    Stretch hand a couple more times.

    Stretch arm in front of you or to the side.

    Stretch and notice your arm.

    Relax Arm. Return hand to lap.

    Take a deep breath in. Hold for a few counts. Let go.

    Travel back in time. See yourself at 10 years old.

    Eight years old.

    See yourself doing whatever you liked to do.

    Six years old. See yourself playing.

    Deep breath in. Hold.  Release.

    Writing Prompt:

    I see an arm, reaching for . . .

    I see a hand, grasping . . .

    #justwrite #iamwriting #iamawriter

  • Shadows, fears, insecurities . . . Prompt #736

    “We all have shadows, fears, insecurities, and doubts. Acceptance of them all leads us to realizing an unconditional love for ourselves.

    When we can begin to love the parts of ourselves that we’ve deemed to be unlovable, when we invite in our shadows and let them know they are welcome, when we acknowledge and become curious to our fears, doubts, and insecurities, then we begin to realize that our innate nature (Love) has the capacity to hold them all.

    Everything within us is part of us. When we accept this, our true nature is revealed.” —Alister Gray

    Writing Prompt: Explore your fears, doubts, and insecurities as a curious child would explore sand, rain, flowers.

    Observe. Imagine. Create.

    Invite your shadow self to peek around the corner. Take a deep breath in. Let it out. Another deep breath in. Hold for a moment. Release.

    Acknowledge your fears, doubts, and insecurities.

    Give words to these thoughts.

    What does fear look like?

    What does doubt feel like?

    How does feelings of insecurity affect you, and your work, and your relationships?

    Let your thoughts dance on your page as you explore these feelings.

    As you write, remember to take deep breaths and release.

    Release your fears, doubts, and insecurities.

    Let them go.

    Alister Gray shares videos on Instagram related to the 8 Stages of I Am Love.

    Just Write!

    #iamwriting #iamawriter #justwrite

  • The Right Thing . . . Prompt #735

    Write about a time you did the right thing, even though it was difficult and you didn’t really want to do it.

    Or, write about a time you didn’t do the right thing. 

    What happened?