Don't know what to write? Try a prompt!
Do you sometimes find yourself staring at a blank screen with no idea what to write? I have yet to talk to a creative who has not had this problem at some time or another. Maybe you want to buckle down and finish that novel. Or perhaps you needed to complete that blog post yesterday. Regardless of your circumstance, prompts can be your ticket out of creative purgatory and back to the writing of your heart.
What is a writing prompt? It’s a brief passage of text or an image that provides you with inspiration for your creative writing. Writing prompts can be super handy, especially if your creative well is running low.
Put pen to paper. Instead of thinking about what to write about, writing prompts give you a topic to start writing about immediately. Don’t feel like you need to follow the prompt exactly, they are meant to be used for sparking your creativity. Write whatever comes to mind, don’t think too much about what you should or shouldn’t be writing, just write and see what becomes of it. Don’t worry about grammar and spelling, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Write as much or as little as you want. The prompt is the starting point. The finish is up to you.
Here's some to try:
Ever since childhood, a dark figure no one else can see has been following you around, whispering in your ear. Today you see it lying a few feet away, screaming and asking you to run.
A divorced former couple find each other on the same flight to Paris… Sitting next to each other.
After people die, their spirits can be brought back from death but at the cost of one random human life. Is it worth it?
A rare form of cancer is the newest superbug. With a team of scientists, you all must find a cure before the population is wiped out
A prompt may suggest a feeling, a mood, a situation, or a theme. Writing prompts can make you see the world in a new light, or a way you’ve never imagined. And don't forget practice makes perfect. Writing prompts are a tool to help you build your writing “muscles”. This habit will help make it easier for you to start writing and will teach you to write longer.
Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. Hopefully these blog posts will keep you motivated and inspired along your journey.
Sarah 🩷
