Choose an old object from your home. If you don’t have one, find a picture of an antique. Imagine that when you touch the object, you are transported to its original time and place. Where are you? What happens? How do you interact with the object? What emotions does the object evoke? Prompt inspired from Rochelle Melander, excerpt in The Writer Magazine, February 2012
Tag: The Write Spot Blog
Glimpse through the fog. Prompt #256
Writing Prompt: Glimpse through the fog. Set your timer for 15-20 minutes. Write whatever comes up. Keep writing until the timer rings, or until the fog lifts. Yeah, that might take awhile.
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!
Survival Kit . . . Prompt #253
What would you put in a survival kit?
Elevator Pitch. . . Prompt #251
This has been Rachael Herron Week on The Write Spot Blog. It’s been fun highlighting her and her work. Today’s writing prompt is inspired by her latest book, The Ones Who Matter Most. “What begins as one woman’s search for truth becomes a deep bond forged between the unlikeliest of people. Their surprising journey reveals how strangers can quickly find themselves to be family, and how kindness can bridge even the widest of gaps.” Choose something from this synopsis, or elevator pitch, to write about. Perhaps: Write about a kindness offered to you, or something kind you did for someone. Or, write about a surprising journey. Or, write about a stranger. Write about what a search revealed. Write about family. Note: An “elevator pitch” is a short summary of a book or project that can be explained in the time it takes an elevator to go from ground floor to…
What did you expect? Prompt #248
Today’s writing prompt: What did you expect? Don’t think about it. Write about it. As soon as you can, write your response, your first reaction to What did you expect? Pro_Deluxe Photography by Jeff Cullen
New ways of looking at old- Prompt #247
If you have been writing for awhile, you might notice that you keep writing about the same things over and over again: how Aunt Luella always sticks her nose in everybody’s business; how Uncle Ray tells those awful jokes and doesn’t seem to notice that no one laughs; how Nonna’s getting on everybody’s nerves, should Aunt Silvie be put in assisted living and what the heck is up with Joey’s latest tattoo? We all have our stable of characters that we dwell about incessantly. Here’s an opportunity to look at old things in new ways. Inspired by the poem, The visible and the in- by Marge Piercy Read the stanza below (or the partial stanza), then quickly make a list of everybody this reminds you of. No prolonged thinking. You can always add names later. Ready? Go! First stanza of The visible and the in-: Some people move through your…
A poem, from the inside out . . . Prompt #246
Today’s prompt is inspired by Poet Georgia Heard, who suggests the following as a way to create a poem from the inside out. Choose something on your body: a strand of hair, a nail, a ring, glasses, a belt, a necklace, an item of clothing, a freckle . . . anything! Describe the object with as much detail as possible. List all the feelings that the object evokes. Be specific. Create similes for the object: It is like. . . It reminds me of . . . Put yourself in the place of the object. Take on the voice of the object and write from the object’s perspective. Take your time with this. Read what you have written. Add anything that comes up while reading. Take a few moments to reflect. Settle in with what you have written. When you feel done with this part, go on to the next,…
Got fiction, essay , poetry, art? West Marin Review wants.
Fiction! Essays! Poetry! Art! Got any? West Marin Review, a literary and art journal, wants ’em. Deadline: September 1, 2016. West Marin Review is such an upbeat publication, this should be called Upline: September 1, 2016. Need ideas for material to write about? Click Prompts. Choose one and write. Edit. Submit. West Marin Review Submission Guidelines. Cover art for current issue of West Marin Review.
Random words plucked from a poem . . . Prompt #244
Random words (plucked from a poem) as a writing prompt. Tell a story, truth or not, with these words: heavy linger delicate footprints flat maroon foam hard perfume Or use the photo as a writing prompt. Set your timer for 15-20 minutes. Write. Polish. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog. Photo by Karen Bobier