Writing Prompts for November 2016

If you’re launching into NaNoWriMo and still need a story idea, I hope that today’s prompts will give you a boost into your month of writing adventures. If you’re not in NaNo, I hope that you find some creative ideas to feed your stories for the rest of the month.

For my readers in the US, this month hosts one of your favourite holidays, Thanksgiving. Here are some other special days celebrated this month that may give you a story idea or two:

• 1 All Saint’s Day
• 2 All Soul’s Day ,
• 2 Deviled Egg Day
• 2 Look for Circles Day
• 2 Plan Your Epitaph Day
• 3 Housewife’s Day
• 3 Men Make Dinner Day – first Thursday of Month
• 3 Sandwich Day
• 4 King Tut Day
• 5 Book Lovers Day – first Saturday of the month
• 5 Gunpowder Day
• 5 Guy Fawkes Day
• 6 Marooned without a Compass Day
• 6 Saxophone Day
• 7 Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
• 8 Cook Something Bold Day
• 8 Dunce Day
• 8 U.S. General Election Day – first Tuesday of the month after first Monday of month
• 8 Young Readers Day second Tuesday of month
• 9 Chaos Never Dies Day – you’ve got that right
• 10 Forget-Me-Not Day
• 10 USMC Day
• 11 Veteran’s Day
• 12 Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
• 13 Caregiver Appreciation Day
• 13 National Indian Pudding Day
• 13 Sadie Hawkins Day
• 13 World Kindness Day
• 14 Operating Room Nurse Day
• 14 World Diabetes Day
• 15 Clean Your Refrigerator Day
• 15 America Recycles Day
• 15 National Philanthropy Day
• 16 Button Day
• 16 Have a Party With Your Bear Day
• 16 National Fast Food Day
• 17 Electronic Greeting Card Day – now who do you think created this day!?
• 17 Great American Smokeout  – third Thursday in November
• 17 Homemade Bread Day
• 17 Take A Hike Day
• 17 World Peace Day
• 18 Occult Day
• 19 Have a Bad Day Day
• 19 National Adoption Day – Saturday before Thanksgiving
• 20 Absurdity Day
• 20 Beautiful Day
• 20 Universal Children’s Day
• 21 False Confession Day
• 21 World Hello Day
• 22 Go For a Ride Day
• 23 Eat a Cranberry Day
• 23 National Cashew Day
• 23 National Tie One On Day
• 24 All Our Uncles are Monkeys Day
• 24 Evolution Day
• 24 Thanksgiving – Eat, drink, and be thankful.
• 25 Black Friday – Friday after Thanksgiving
• 25 Buy Nothing Day – always the day after Thanksgiving…does anyone abide by it!?!
• 25 National Parfait Day
• 25 You’re Welcome Day – the day after Thanksgiving
• 26 Shopping Reminder Day
• 27 Advent begins
• 27 Pins and Needles Day
• 28 French Toast Day
• 28 Make Your Own Head Day
• 28 Red Planet Day
• 29 Square Dance Day
• 30 Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day

http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/november.htm

Here are some groups of random words. Use one, some, or all of the words in a group to create a story or poem:

• window, grey, flight, shatter, rain, drift, moment
• owe, remember, threat, run, fear, black, record
• partner, plan, certain, calendar, loss, confusion, red
• shelter, storm, hidden, wet, laugh, memory, walk

Here are some first lines that might suggest a story or two:

• When I looked at the pieces of broken vase on the floor, I found something that had nothing to do with flowers or vases.
• Playing with Henry’s drone at the beach had been fun until it showed us the body.
• When Helen played with fire, she really played with fire.
• Today, we were glad it was raining.
• Henry refused to answer.
• Somewhere in the house a door slammed.
• It was too quiet.
• Why don’t you have a date?
• Sometimes, telling the truth is overrated.
• Henry rolled up the map. “Not far now.”

Perhaps one of these titles suggests a story: Once a Robot, Summer Song, The Fairies of Krendor, Mars Lullaby, Dinner for Thirty, Henry’s Run, The Gold Chalice, The Minotaur Chronicles, Skate, Magic’s End.

See if you can imagine a scene around one of these short dialogue excerpts:

• Why are you so angry?
• I just heard about Helen.
• Oh.
• Did you already know?

• When did you last see Henry?
• About a month ago. Why?
• He’s changed.

• Can’t you stay quiet for even a minute?
• Talking helps when I’m scared.

• What news?
• None of it good, Your Majesty
• It’s fortunate for you that killing the messenger is out of fashion for enlightened rulers.
• For which I am grateful, Sire.

Have a writerly month!