Prompts

Yard Sale Find, But . . . Prompt #260

What kind of writing prompts do you like? Let me know and I’ll see if I can create prompts to meet your desires. Today’s writing prompt is inspired by one of my all-time favorite authors, Hal Zina Bennett. What if . . . During a long car trip, you stop at a yard sale in a strange town and find an interesting picture frame. It holds the photo of a familiar face —your fiancé’s or fiancée’s! There’s a passionate inscription to a stranger, dated three weeks ago.  Write about what happens next. From “40 Prompts To Get You Writing,” The Writer Magazine, February 2012. Hal Zina Bennett is the author of more than 30 books including: Write From the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity; Write Starts: Prompts, Quotes & Exercise to Jumpstart Your Creativity; and Writing Spiritual Books: A Bestselling Writer’s Guide to Successful Publication. Hal has helped…

Prompts

Someone Who Is Always There For You Prompt #259

Write about someone who is always there for you. Or someone who needs you.   I thought of this prompt when reading the quote from To Kill a Mockingbird:  “I was to think of these days many times. Of Jem, and Dill…and Attticus. He would be in Jem’s room all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.” Let me (Marlene) know if you have a favorite quote. . . I can use quotes for writing prompts and for Tuesdays – Quote Day on The Write Spot Blog.

Prompts

Stumped for writing ideas? First lines . . . Prompt #258

First lines from books can make good writing prompts. “There was death at its beginning as there would be death again at its end.” The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans “Whenever my mother talks to me, she begins the conversation as if we were already in the middle of an argument.”   The Kitchen’s God’s Wife  by Amy Tan “I woke up to find the message in my left hand.”  Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox   “I drove up to the restaurant and parked, then leaned back in my seat to think for a moment.” The Celestine Prophecy  by James Redfield “We used to stay in bed most of the weekend”  My Dream of You  by Nuala O’Faolain “Take care to chop the onion fine.”    Like Water For Chocolate  by Laura Esquivel Click here for more first lines for writing prompts.

Prompts

Know your characters intimately. Prompt #255

How to flesh out fictional characters . . . Give them depth . . . Get to know them intimately. Let’s say your fictional character has just received devastating news such as a job loss, death of a family member or close friend. How does he react? What are her immediate thoughts? What actions does he take next? Imagine your fictional character had an epiphany about a betrayal, a loss, an old grievance. . . something new has been revealed. What does he or she do? Take a few minutes to write about the purpose this character serves in the story. Ready?  Just write!