July 1 marks my country’s birthday—and more important—my mom’s. I have teased her that she only immigrated to Canada from England in order to have a holiday on her birthday. My country is 153 years old. My mom is 92. For both, their story began long before their official birthdays, needing the right people to get together at the right time with the right intentions and a commitment to nurturing their “child” through the years ahead. I’m proud to be a Canadian and my mom’s daughter, and July 1st is as good a day as any to remember the gifts I have been given by both.
If you’ve been writing all along through the pandemic, that’s wonderful, and I’m thrilled that your creativity has weathered the storm. If you’re like me, and only just lately finding your way out of the creative doldrums, yay for you, too. I’m enjoying finally putting words on the page again. Small steps—but happy ones.
If you’re a plotter, rather than a pantser, and looking for some useful software to help you create your novel outline, check out this new software, Pottr. It’s working for me, and the price is very reasonable—and nope, I’m not an affiliate.
If you’re looking for some story ideas this month or a way to break out of your current creative fog, I hope the following writing prompts will give you the inspiration that you need.
Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to inspire a story or poem.
- Harbour, boat, dark, quiet, secret, danger
- Storm, safety, run, thunder, dog, wet
- Sun, heat, beach, horses, surprise
- Phone, text, lie, challenge, friend, angry
- Trees, shade, rest, stranger, fear, change
- Car, highway, divert, follow, blue, ditch, chase
Use one of these sentences to start a story or a scene.
- I really wish he were here right now.
- I was sorry that I’d said I was ready for a challenge.
- I can’t find Helen!
- You’ll have to take over now.
- Screeching tires, shouting voices, fists pounding on the front door—not a typical Christmas Eve.
- Just keep driving, she thought. Just keep driving.
- Safe Harbour. Never was a small town more completely misnamed.
- Revenge is a dish best served cold.
- Don’t ask again. We’re all hungry.
- The sun shone through the stained glass windows and dappled the stone floor with pools of coloured light.
- Henry sighed, “Not again.”
Use one of these dialogue excerpts to spark your imagination.
Henry said he’d given it to you.
Well, I don’t have it.
Why would he lie?
How well do you know Henry?
Stop that racket!
I can’t, sir. Something’s broken.
Then fix it.
But ….
What’s the last thing you remember?
A noise and a rush of wind.
Anything else?
A voice.
Helen volunteer to help.
Nice of her.
What’s the matter?
She never volunteers unless there’s something in it for her.
Where did you get this?
Henry found it.
Is that what he told you?
See if one of these titles suggests a story: Amber Alert, Last Weekend, With Charlie, The Dog Who Loved Rhubarb, The Caves, Hiding in Plain Sight. Book of Lies, Lesson Learned, Boy/Girl and the Eagles, High Tower Castle, Always Tomorrow.
Other Writing Ideas
a) Three questions to ask your character:
- What are you afraid of?
- What do you want no one to ever know about you?
- What or whom do you value more than your life?
b) If you could make a film of your story, what actors would play the roles of your major characters?
c) Compare your main characters to animals or insects. What would they be? Does that tell you more about their natures?
d) Can you make a change in the weather impact your story?
WISHING YOU A WRITERLY JULY!
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