Writing Prompts September 2020

Yesterday was a day of bays: Red Bay, Hope Bay, Pike Bay, Stoke’s Bay, and Colpoys Bay, plus Sauble Beach, Oliphant, Lion’s Head, and Wiarton. Too windy for golf or sailing or enjoying the beach, we opted for a day trip to explore some of the Bruce Peninsula, dodging clouds like those above and enjoying sunny blue skies as in the photo below.

I hope your last long weekend of the summer held some lovely moments for you, too. Those of you heading back to school or who have family members doing the same, my good wishes for a healthy and smooth beginning to the school year are with you. Teachers, if you ever need any ideas or material to support your creative writers, please drop me a line anytime. I’m very happy to help in any way I can. I know your side of the desk well.

For the writers, here are some new writing prompts for September. I hope they keep you amused, distracted and creative in the days ahead.

Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.

  • umbrella, storm, shelter, run, stranger
  • car, highway, speed, escape, mountains
  • windows, outside, broken, old, black, reflection
  • table, meal, argument, whispers, over
  • door, open, unusual, echo, empty, note

Here are some opening lines that might suggest a story.

  • We did all we could.
  • Others have written about this, but I think it’s time you knew the truth.
  • When I watched his car top the crest of the hill, I knew that life would never be the same.
  • Yesterday was not a good day.
  • I never thought I’d say this, but trusting Henry was a good idea.
  • The crowd was getting restless. Where was he?
  • We didn’t know.
  • Dragons have bad days, too.
  • I thought that opting to live on Mars would mean leaving Earthly problems behind.
  • Dungeons are as bad as you think they are.

Here’s a list of titles borrowed from mystery writer, Agatha Christie. What stories can you imagine belong with these titles: The Big Four, Dumb Witness, Cards on the Table, Death in the Clouds, The Hollow, Evil Under the Sun, The Clocks, Third Girl, Elephants Can Remember, Curtain.

Here are some short dialogue excerpts that might inspire a scene or story.

I thought you were leaving.
I changed my mind.
I though we made it clear that you didn’t have a choice.

I’m selling the amulet.
But it should never be sold.
You haven’t heard the price I’ve been offered.

Shouldn’t we be heading north?
Plans have changed.
Why? To what? And by whom?

Did you hear that?
No.
It came from over there.
It’s just your imagination.

Wishing you a writerly month ahead!


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Writing Prompts for August 2020

Writing Prompts for August 2020

August already? No wonder I’m seeing ads for back-to-school shopping. Here I was thinking that the advertisers were really jumping the gun. Hard to believe that, in spite of everything, this year seems to be moving along at top speed.

I’m still working on my new online course, Your Novel: From Idea to Outline. All of the modules are drafted. Now, I have the visuals/videos to work on, during which, I’m sure I’ll find content that I want to fine tune. I’m enjoying working on this project a lot. I’ve added another project into the mix just for fun–a romance idea that may turn out as a screenplay or a book. Early days. I’ve had a great time using Plottr to create my outline. Check it out if you’re a plotter and not a pantser. (No, I’m not an affiliate.) I also have two more short stories that I need to finish before I get a new book of short romance stories ready to publish.

I spent several months this year feeling like I would never write anything – again – ever. I was brain dead, lacking energy or drive–basically a lump of uncreative blah. Now, I seem to have finally climbed out of the pit. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you. In my case, writing for others has been the best stimulus. I tried keeping a journal–writing just for me–but it just didn’t happen. Once I decided that people could use a course about creating a novel outline, and the more I thought about what they might need to help them, the more I was inspired to write. As for the romance stories, who doesn’t need some kind of escape with a happy ending right now? If you’re climbing out of a slump, think about who needs to hear your story? Who will be happier, wiser, or inspired because of your words. Try thinking in those terms and see what happens. I wish you all good things.

If you need some inspiration, I hope one of the following writing prompts will help you tell your story.

Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to write a story or poem.

  • time, green, story, fight, escape, fear
  • blue, weather, danger, shelter, below, black
  • yellow, summer, grass, picnic, envy, quarrel, loss
  • child, play, mystery, voice, imaginary, umbrella, rain
  • night, stars, planes, attack, beach, tunnel

Here are some opening sentences that you might use to start a story.

  • Where were you last night?
  • I found it on my way home. Can I keep it? Please?
  • This was one awkward time to find out that time travel really worked.
  • The sun glinted off his sword as he pulled it from its scabbard.
  • I have no choice. I’m leaving now.
  • It’s too much. We can’t keep going like this.
  • I was all ready to sit down and relax when the call came.
  • The boat sails at 3. Don’t be late.
  • I don’t understand why they keep dying.
  • Helen has changed so much.
  • Do you think that Henry’s behind all this?
  • Shadows. They shouldn’t be moving.

Here are some dialogue excerpts that might inspire a story or a scene.

What broke?
That old vase.
Well, why haven’t you picked up the pieces.
There was something inside.

I don’t want to play.
That’s because you always lose.
No, it’s because you always cheat.

Have you seen Helen today?
No. Why?
We were supposed to meet at 10. She didn’t show, and she’s not answering her phone.
That’s not good.
Why?
She was going to meet someone else at 9.

I’m not going in there.
Why not?
Spiders.

But I thought you were going to get engaged.
Yes, about that.

What’s that music?
What music?
Can’t you hear it?
No.
Well, I do. And I’m going to find out where it’s coming from.

Henry likes you.
Well, he should after all this time.
I mean, he really likes you.
Oh. That could complicate things.

Some questions for your story and characters.

  • How could you change the weather to add a problem to your story? What would a thunderstorm do to your story right now?
  • How does your character react to someone being rude?
  • Speeding tickets always happen at the wrong time. What happens if your character gets caught speeding?
  • What is your character’s most treasured item?
  • Whom would your character risk everything to protect?

Wishing you a writerly August


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WRITING PROMPTS FOR JULY 2020

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:

  1. What are you afraid of?
  2. What do you want no one to ever know about you?
  3. 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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Writing Prompts for January 2020

I chose a photo of a road for my header today because I’m looking ahead at a year that seriously needs a sense of direction. Last year, I created 4 new books and had fun on the craft market circuit selling books and promoting my coaching. Yes, I had fun, but not what you’d call success.

This year I need to focus on marketing and promotion and deciding my purpose. What I love is presenting workshops and working one-on-one with coaching clients. How do I reach them? Do I rent rooms and promote workshops, do I run webinars, do I create online courses, do I venture onto YouTube–yikes! Decisions need to be made, risks need to be taken, marketing needs to be done–all of which make this introvert cringe more than a little.

In the meantime, I will continue to reach out to you with some new writing prompts to help you on your creative journey. I love creating these, too.

Here are some questions for your main characters:

  • What New Year’s resolution would your character make? Why?
  • What person from your character’s past would he or she like to be with on New Year’s Eve? Why?
  • What would your character like to leave behind in the old year?
  • What is your character looking forward to (or dreading) in the new year?

Use one, some, or all of the random words in one of the following groups to create a story or poem.

  • lamp, glow, shadow, noise, dark, cold
  • moon, silence, snow, window, visitor, shiver
  • gulls, water, sand, discover, surprise, fear
  • sounds, distant, castle, walls, archer, threat
  • forest, sunlight, run, hide, cave, danger

Here are some opening sentences you can try:

  • Where have you been?
  • I’m afraid that you’re too late.
  • Waves slapped the side of the boat.
  • No one loved the holidays more than Helen.
  • No one hated the holidays more than Henry.
  • Henry discovered the body at 6:32 a.m.
  • Too many creatures were stirring, including the mice.
  • The crows scolded me awake.
  • After ten minutes, the rain had soaked through our clothes.
  • Henry raised his hand, and the room fell silent.
  • I couldn’t stop looking at the door. Where was he?
  • Some mornings should just be skipped.
  • Pirates!

Here are some dialogue excerpts that might suggest a scene or story.

  • Helen is lying.
  • Why are you so sure?
  • She made more eye contact in that one sentence than she’s done in a lifetime.
  • I’m not sure that I agree with you about Henry.
  • That;s okay. We don’t have to agree.
  • Good. I think he’s a louse.
  • The Protectors are coming for us tomorrow.
  • You seem very calm about it.
  • It’s our destiny.
  • It may be your destiny, but it’s not mine.
  • That cabin is supposed to be empty until next month..
  • So, what’s the problem?
  • Yesterday the flowers by the door were wilting. Today they look fine. It hasn’t rained, so someone must have watered them, and no one comes up this lane except us and the owners.
  • We need a place to hide.
  • Well, you can’t hide here.
  • I don’t think Henry’s going to give you a choice.

Thanks for dropping by! I wish you a creative, happy and healthy 2020!

CASL compliance: This message was sent to you by Heather Wright on behalf of Wrightingwords.com. If you do not wish to receive electronic messages from me or Wrightingwords, please reply by email and write “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. Unsubscribing will remove you from inclusion on any emails sent to you by me in the future, with the caveat that if you choose to opt out, then you will also lose all email correspondence for all Wrightingwords related news and activities.

Writing Prompts for November and December 2019

Image by Terri Cnudde from Pixabay 

I hope your November is off to a good start! If you’re in the midst of NaNoWriMo, I wish you lots and lots of words and every success.

I hope you have wonderful holidays ahead with friends and family, and that, sometime in the following weeks, you are able to sneak in all the writing time you need to keep your imagination and your heart happy.

Here are some writing prompts to brighten your imagination as winter closes in.  It’s cloudy and snowing hard here right now, and the plow has just gone by and filled up the end of my driveway. It’s times like these that I’m so grateful I’m a writer because I can sit down and write about sunshine and seashores and escape the whole thing—after I’ve shovelled the snow. 😊

Use one, some, or all of the words in these groups to create a story or poem.

  • Sunshine, seashore, gulls, breeze, clouds, danger, red
  • Purple, panic, chase, fly, dragon, castle
  • Potion, magic, snow, pocket, alone, found, gold
  • Bridge, river, boat, lamp, night, stars, silver, wary
  • Pen, ink, journal, secret, thrill, plan, hurt

Here are some opening lines for you to try:

  • How empty is empty?
  • That’s a very big needle.
  • I want the bigger half.
  • Yesterday, I was sure I trusted her/him. Today is a different story.
  • What did you put in this cocoa?
  • The general waited until everyone was silent before he spoke.
  • Have you had a good look at Henry lately?
  • I thought Helen was your friend. What happened?
  • You’re the one who stole it.
  • On Sunday morning, Henry’s dog was stolen.

Here are some dialogue excerpts that might inspire a scene or two.

Why is Henry always late for homeroom?
You don’t know about his dad.

I thought you said we were going to avoid going through the forest.
I did say that.
Then why have we changed directions?
Look behind you.

I’m cold.
Keep moving and you’ll warm up.
You said that an hour ago.
Okay, keep moving we won’t get killed.
I’ll shut up.
Good.

What’s with Helen these days?
She’s worried about Henry.
What’s to worry about. He’s been really nice to everyone lately.
That’s why she’s worried.

Here’s a great blog by Tonya Thompson with wonderful writing prompts to keep you inspired until the New Year: 301 Short Story Ideas Guaranteed to Kick Your Writing into High Gear. The Writer Igniter from DIY MFA is also a fun place to visit when you are looking for story ideas. If you have a question about any aspect of writing, drop by Writer’s Knowledge Base: The Search Engine for Writers where you’ll find links to hundreds of inspirational and practical articles to answer all you questions

I wish you creative, healthy, happy and writerly weeks ahead!

Writing prompts for march 2019

Thinking Spring. Writing Prompts for March 2019

March came in like a lamb here, and despite a little foreboding about its exit in four weeks, I was very glad to say good-bye to February.

I’m trying to think spring, despite the white stuff on the ground, so I’m putting my online Writing Camp for Teens on sale just in time for March/Spring Break. Please drop by here and check out the five days of activities that I’ve assembled for creative teens.

I’m very excited to be working on a new non-fiction project for genre writers. I hope to have at least one of the planned books ready by the end of March, so I can share it with you in my next blog. I’m working on books for sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, romance, and memoir authors, and enjoying every minute of creating these resources for you. Do you have a favourite genre that you like to read? Please drop a note in the comments. I’m a big mystery fan myself, but I do read some romance and fantasy, too.

Here are your writing prompts for March. I hope you have a creative month ahead!

Use one, some, or all the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.

  • Call, storm, run, lost, black, lightning
  • Computer, message, unknown, threat, secret
  • Hidden, treasure, capture, bluff, scarlet
  • Distracted, danger, child, cry, flee, blunder

Here are some opening lines that might suggest a story or two.

  • I don’t like it when he’s so quiet.
  • That sound wasn’t thunder.
  • I was down to my last ten minutes of battery power.
  • The room on the other side of this wall was supposed to be empty.
  • Just my luck!
  • Sleet hammered the car windshield.
  • No, I was not going to answer his text.
  • Whoever said, “Cheaters never prosper,” never met Henry.
  • Helen hadn’t meant to lie.

See if any of these titles inspire a story or poem: Blue Moon, No Dreams Left, What S/He Was Waiting For, Meadowland, Purple Dusk, Climbing to the Stars, Scary Dreams, The Last Planet, The Garden, The Remains, Ice Storm, Raven Song.

Here are some short scenes of dialogue. Can you imagine the rest of the scene?

I don’t want to see you ever again.
Ever again is a long time
That’s what I’m counting on.

I’m sorry.
I wish I could believe you.

I have to go.
Have to or want to?
I think you’ve already decided.

Should the clouds look like that?
No. We need shelter. Now.
Where?

Wishing you a writerly March!

Writing Prompts for July 2018

WRITING PROMPTS JULY 2018

I believe that creativity begets creativity. When I’m working on one creative project, I get inspiration and ideas for others. Does the same thing happen to you? It’s certainly a lovely to be in that place right now. I plan to enjoy it and wish the same for you!

I’m also happy to announce the launch of my online Writing Camp for Teens. If you are a teen writer or have a teen writer in your family, please check out what I’ve been up to here.

I’m taking the plunge and attending a writers’ critique group this evening. I only know one member, so I’m a little intimidated, but I know it’s healthy to get out and meet other writers. I’ve always been reluctant to share my work, so this will be a stretch for me. If those of you already in critique groups have any encouraging advice (or cautionary tales) please pass them along. I’m sure I’m not the only one interested in some insider information.

I hope you enjoy the new writing prompts and that you and yours have a healthy and writerly month ahead.

Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.

  • Deck, breeze, book, cup, alone, fear
  • Lake, tree, shore, run, midnight
  • Table, menu, grief, pie, memory
  • Message, hurry, unknown, friend, doubt
  • Thunder, clouds, running shelter, lightning, breath

Use one of these opening sentences to start a story.

  • I deserved better.
  • Henry smelled of Old Spice and trouble.
  • The audience rose to its feet.
  • Saying goodbye was going to be harder than I thought
  • I was afraid that my famous last words were going to be, “I should never have believed Henry.”
  • Storm front coming.
  • I wasn’t sure Helen would recover from this one.

Here are some titles that might inspire a story or poem: Every Monday, Run, The Last Pony, The Answer, Quotient, Formula for Murder, Always or Never, Alone in the Sky, Promises and Lies, One Heart for Yesterday.

Here are some dialogue excerpts. See what scenes you can create from them.

  • I haven’t seen Henry for ages.
  • He was around yesterday. Maybe, he doesn’t want to see you.

 

  • Did you like the movie?
  • Uh huh.
  • That’s all you have to say?
  • Didn’t you notice who was sitting in front of us?

 

  • I thought we were done here.
  • You might be, but I’m not.

 

  • Did you hear what Helen said?
  • Yes.
  • Did it sound like a threat to you?
  • Yes.

 

  • I’ve had enough. Let’s go.
  • Who put you in charge?
  • Okay fine. You can stay, but I’m leaving now.

 

 

 

 

 

Writing Prompts for June 2018

Writing Prompts for June 2018

Did you know that your enjoyment of hobbies can also benefit your writing? Nicole Bianchi has compiled a list: “15 Famous Writers’ Fascinating and Unusual Hobbies” where she wrote, “Hobbies not only gave them new experiences to write about but also helped them develop skills that made them better writers.” You can see her blog post here.

My hobbies include taking jazz voice lessons and participating in jazz recitals and a summer jazz camp. I think that the challenge of finding the right rhythm for my lyrics, pushing and pulling against the accompaniment, helps me be aware of the rhythms of the words and sentences I type on the page. I also knit and crochet (well-documented stress busters: check “Experts Say Knitting and Crocheting Can Have a Surprising Impact on Your Health” by Laura Casely.) Both of my hobbies are good for my writing.

Think of how many entertainers who are/were also painters: Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, James Franco, Ronnie Wood. Finding artistic expression in one medium did not detract from their ability to find expression in another. Both require fine-tuning the ability to focus—that can’t be a bad thing. Think of how your hobbies are actually supporting your writing. And if you don’t have a hobby, maybe now’s the time to think about pursuing one.

To keep you writing for the next little while, here are your writing prompts for June.

  1.  Use one, some, or all of the words in one of the following groups to write a story or poem.
  • Wind, flag, fence, twist, green, curious, over
  • Bowl, dandelion, hose, step, yellow, fall
  • Drop, chair, crack, glass, blue, shaken, shy
  • Rain, puddle, reflection, friend, loss, grey

 

2.  Here are some opening sentences for you to try.

  • Are you sure I’ll never have to do this again?
  • Henry put the knife down.  OR   Henry, put the knife down.
  • I was glad that he was leaving.
  • How could we keep going without Helen?
  • The cabin was deserted when we arrived.
  • Nothing frightened Henry, except ____________.
  • The soldiers tramped through the village.
  • I hate thunderstorms.
  • A swirling cloud of starlings swarmed the abandoned building
  • Fire!
  • Don’t tell me to keep calm!

3.  Perhaps, you can imagine a story with one of these titles: The Clubhouse Thief, Things Go Wrong Again, The End of the Road, Cold Cash, Traveling with My Family, Flames at Midnight, Downhill from Here, The Exception to the Rule, One of Many, The Diary, The Haunted Painting.

4.  Write a scene or story around one of these dialogue excerpts.

  • I don’t believe it!
  • Are you calling me a liar?
  • I’m just surprised that he would say that.

 

  • We should turn back.
  • We can’t. We’ll be caught.

 

  • Do you have to keep talking?
  • Sorry, I’m nervous, I guess.
  • You should be, but just be quiet about it.

 

  • They’ll notice that we’re gone.
  • Not for a long time.
  • Are you sure?
  • I’ve made sure.

 

  • I need you to promise.
  • Why? Don’t you trust me?

5.  Think about your characters. What hobbies might they have? Do they have knowledge gained from their hobbies that might help them solve a crime or save a life or make a connection with a difficult character or open a conversation at a job interview (I can speak from experience about the last one. Being a golf fan helped get me a job as an administrative assistant, once.)

Have a wonderful, writerly month?

Writing Prompts for April 2018

It will be a while until these are in bloom. Sigh. Writing Prompts for April 2018

Welcome to April! I hope you’re enjoying the longer days and that extra warmth in the sunshine. If you’re looking for some great resources on the craft of writing, marketing, editing, publishing, and the writing life, I encourage you to drop by The Writer’s Knowledge Base™ where you’ll find over 40,000 curated articles on every writing topic imaginable. This is my go-to resource when I’m looking for material for workshops and inspiration for my coaching clients. I hope you find the answers to your writing questions there, too.

Here are your writing prompts for April.

  1. Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.
  • Venture, pass, name, gale, last, copper
  • Plan, red, guide, tree, lost, under, walk
  • Time, truck, blue, late, race, mountain
  • Book, drop, sidewalk, green, park, leaf
  • Dog, shelter, evil, yellow, food, fear
  1. Here are some opening sentences that might inspire a story or two.
  • “It’s no big deal.”
  • Old songs are the best.
  • The scribe wiped the ink from his fingers.
  • Everybody lies, except Henry, and sometimes I wish he did.
  • “When did your eyes start to glow in the dark?”
  • I waited as long as I could.
  • It ends tomorrow.
  • “Just leave him/her alone!”
  • I swear that the eyes in his portrait followed my every move.
  • I liked things neat and tidy. Helen was driving me crazy.
  1. Perhaps one of these titles will help you find a story idea.

Looking for Hope, Your Number is Up, One Heart: Two Loves, The Spy Who Liked Ice Cream, Only One Choice, Last Dance, No Options, Hero’s Return, Packing Up, Incandescent.

  1. Here are some short dialogue excerpts. Choose one and see if you can write a scene around it.
  • I didn’t stay long.
  • Why not?
  • I know when I’m not welcome.

 

  • Did Helen ask you to come?
  • If I waited for an invitation, I’d never go anywhere.

 

  • Where were you?
  • I thought the meeting was cancelled.
  • Who said it was cancelled?
  • Henry.

 

  • Where’s the dragon?
  • He’s sleeping.
  • Still?
  • He was nearly killed yesterday, remember?

 

  • I’d like more information before I decide.
  • You know all you need to know.
  • I disagree. It’s my life that’s at risk here.

 

  1. What’s your favourite book? List some reasons why this book is your favourite. Use the items on your list to make an editing checklist for the book you are writing.

6. Make a numbered list of twenty items that you can see right now. Pick three random numbers                 between 1 and 20 and use those three items in a story.

Hope you have a writerly April!

 

December 2017 and January 2018 Writing Prompts

The end of a year and the imminent start to a new one prompt two responses: reflection and looking ahead. Reflecting on 2017 has helped me put my writing successes and failures in perspective. In my head, I, too often, equate creative writing with fiction. When I look back at the writing I did in 2017, I realize that it was all creative, even though very little of it was fiction. Taking research and an interview with an engineer and turning it into a case study worth reading is creative writing. Inventing new test questions for a communications textbook is creative writing. Turning 7000 frantically typed words chronicling a day-long series of seminars and turning them into a 2500-word summary is creative writing. Editing/rewriting ad copy so it sells the product and the company is creative writing. All this writing has kept my brain in gear and taught me a lot over the past year—and I’ve been paid. A definite bonus.

So, looking ahead, what are my plans for 2018? I’m going to become a student again. I’ve invested in a course that focuses on middle-grade and YA fiction, and I’m going to work through it step-by-step. I have a journal set aside especially for the course (a must for an inveterate journal collector.) The plan is to work on it in the morning before I check email and Facebook. A much better use of my waking time. It will be nice to look at the clock at 9:30 and realize that I’ve actually accomplished something other than watching cat videos and going down YouTube rabbit holes–and don’t talk to me about those quizzes that determine my spirit animal or the colour of my aura or the Celtic meaning of my name. Yup, I love them all.

I’m looking forward to starting my writing course when all the family is back at work and into their usual routines again. This week is all about relaxing and reading my Christmas-gift books–and clearing my desk for a positive start to 2018. Through 2017, my laptop and necessary resources for various projects have occupied increasingly less space on my desk and the piles around them have grown higher. I have garbage bags at the ready–and I intend to fill them!

Because I combined my long overdue December prompts with those for January, today, there are double the prompts to launch your creative new year. I hope your reflections and plans for 2018 help bring you closer to the creative results you are dreaming of.

Prompts

Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to write a story or poem.

  • Lights, star, snow, trees, book, red
  • Message, hurt, open, candle, door, white
  • Wind, sky, grey, ice, worry, urgent, hurry
  • Box, bus, snowman, house, wreath, green
  • Table, candle, package, fear, cold, cabin, black
  • Water, sunshine, window, gulls, breeze, blue, hope
  • Grass, cliff, rocks, edge, running, love, yellow
  • Palm trees, beach, escape, broken, memory, pink
  • Child, swing, remember, grandfather, Old Spice, joy

Use one of these opening sentences to start a story.

  • I think Santa hates me.
  • That red stain was not cranberry sauce.
  • The river’s surge collapsed the bridge. We were wet, hungry, and trapped.
  • A cool hand touched mine in the dark.
  • I fell asleep in front of the fireplace. When I woke, the fire was out and I was in ….
  • The snow swept across the road in horizontal waves. I had to stop.
  • A tropical island wedding seemed ideal until someone murdered the bride.
  • The chief arrived with new orders.
  • It wasn’t just his/her smile that made him/her irresistible.
  • The puppy, shivering and crouched by the wrecked car, was the only creature dead or alive that the rescuers found that night.
  • This was not a good time for the power to fail.
  • The silence was starting to get to Henry.
  • Today I broke my all-time record for saying the wrong thing.
  • My home town didn’t exactly welcome me back. I wasn’t surprised.
  • The dark rangers crested the hill. They were closing in.
  • Next time that I pretend to be someone else, I’m going to think about it first.
  • Cheating was not an option.
  • The saying “less is more” does not apply to chocolate.
  • Never open the door to a rain-drenched ex with a head cold and a kitten.
  • This situation had nothing to do with who was male or who was female—it was about power.

Here are some titles that might inspire a story or two.

For Love of Him, Moonrise, The Music Box, Red Defenders, Keeping the Faith, The Book of Why-Not, Seven Mysteries, Last Day of Freedom, The Stars’ Promise, The Fire, Castle High, Thin Ice, Last Train to Wonderland, Science Fair: Worst Day Ever, The Unwelcome Mat, Drums, Turn Around, The Hawk’s Cry, Two for Danger, Snow and Ice, Mars Traveler, The Sea Calls, Music and Mayhem.

Below are some snippets of dialogue. See if you can imagine a scene around one or more of them.

You took the last one!

So?

 

You’re awfully quiet.

I’m thinking.

What about?

Why we haven’t seen Henry since Linc came back to town.

 

I miss her.

We all do.

She didn’t think about us before she left.

Maybe she did. We’ll never know.

 

Number 46!

Yes, sir.

Keep your mind on your work.

 

When are you going to be finished?

Why do you care?

 

I told you that in secret!

I didn’t tell anyone. Honest.

Then how did _______ find out.

 

Did you say something?

I thought you did.

They turned and looked behind them. The cat was smiling.

I wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, and writerly 2018.

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