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Writing Prompts for October 2020

I love October. It’s my birthday month, and my husband’s, and it’s Thanksgiving here, and our wedding anniversary, too. Aside from the opportunities to indulge in cakes and holiday pies, I also love the view from my window, where across the hydro corridor, I see a huge bank of shrubs in glorious colour right now—I love the deep, red sumac. In a little while, our columnar maples will be a brilliant yellow. They’re always slow to turn—like saving the best until last.

As we approach the six-month point in COVID life here, I hope you are finding ways to cope, safely connect with friends and family, and even be creative. I’m determined to take more walks now before the sidewalks become treacherous, and I’m more housebound than ever. I’m fortunate to have friends who keep in touch via Skype and email, and with whom I can talk about creative things, too. Writer friends are gold.

For writers, October also includes preparing for NaNoWriMo, where writers challenge themselves to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. If this is on your calendar this year, I found an awesome planning/outlining system at Plottr. I have used it myself and find it very intuitive. My learning curve was practically nil. Nope, I don’t get anything if you go to the page or buy the product. I think the price is very reasonable (just $25 with a 30-day, money-back guarantee), and planning just one screenplay made the investment more than worthwhile.

I hope some of the following writing prompts will inspire your writing this month.

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

  • Coffee, table, talk, angry, leave, rain
  • Coconut, village, zebra, dancer, fire, turquoise
  • Cardigan, library, handbag, paperweight, journal, cyclone, black
  • Desk, drawer, secret, paper, map, blue
  • Alley, dark, city, noise, friend, help, grey

Here are some opening sentences you could try.

  • Did he take his medication?
  • Yesterday, I would have said no.
  • Helen has it in for me.
  • Did you ever wonder why Henry always has so much money?
  • The geese were leaving the lake. I wished I could, too.
  • This is not the room I fell asleep in.
  • Everyone avoided the Marden house.
  • I happen to like black cats.
  • The sword fell to the ground.

Here are some titles that might suggest a story: Red Circle, Black Cat, Time Trickster, Movie Night, The Road Home, Tyree’s Winter, Borderlands, Decision, Race with Fortune, Unreal Estate, The Whole Truth, Lies My Dog/Cat Told Me.

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

We have to stop.
Why? What are you doing?
Catching a Pokémon.
Seriously? Now?

She just handed me a glass and walked away.
Well, what did you expect?
I thought she would at least say something.
Be careful what you wish for.

But, that’s not what Henry told me.
Has it occurred to you that he might lie?
To you , maybe, but never to me.

Where have you been?
Hiding.
From whom?
Not from whom—from what.

Halloween is just around the corner. What would your characters have dressed up as when they were kids? Do their choices give you a hint as to their hopes and dreams then? How do they compare to what they have become as adults?

This month, TV networks will be broadcasting a lot of scary movies leading up to Halloween. Do you have a favourite scary movie? Why do you like it so much? What scares you in real life? What scares your characters?

Wishing you a writerly October!


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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!


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 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 April 2020

Still waiting for these lovely blooms. Snow again yesterday.

Last week I was sitting outside on a lovely April morning and listening to the buzzer sound at the nearby school. It goes on marking the end of classes while teachers and children continue to stay at home to keep their friends and family safe. Teachers are now online valiantly conquering new technology, inventing and creating new ways to communicate to home learners and surviving it all while coping with caring for their own loved ones at the same time.

The world has changed. My husband works from home, my son teaches piano lessons online, and I bake bread and sanitize my groceries that I pick up after pre-ordering from the store—and no, I don’t have hoards of flour or toilet paper in my cupboards. And I work—last week writing about flue gas venting systems and this week working on a webinar that I’m presenting on April 25th with fellow author, Lori Wolf-Heffner. (What You Need to Know About Self-Publishing)

The world is a scary place, so I stay home. I’m in the high-risk group (cancer will do that to you), so even when going for a walk, I keep my distance—which in Canadian terms is about the length of an adult hockey stick. 🙂 I’m focusing on doing my part to stay healthy and to keep my husband, my son, and my 92-year-old mom (who lives with us) safe and healthy, too.

And you know what? That’s enough. On sunny days, like today, I’m outside, if it’s warm enough (we had snow yesterday), I leave the phone and social media indoors and read or knit or listen to music. That’s enough. Having more time–the writer’s dream–is not a reason for you to feel obliged to be massively creative or feel guilty if you’re not. You’re under stress from every news report, statistic, Facebook update, and adaptation you make to living in isolation. You are going to find that your focus and energy are challenged. So, if you opt to knit, read, or drink tea instead during your ‘creative time’—yay for you. You’re adapting to this scary, changed world as best you can while applying liberal doses of self-care. There’s no ONE WAY to get through this. Choose what works for you, and if your need a prompt to get your writing again, I hope that one of the following provides the inspiration you need.

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

  • Box, mouse, ribbon, cold, yellow, stain
  • Ink, glasses, spill, ruin, plan, blue, deliberate
  • Path, forest, sun, chill, noises, danger, green
  • Journal, find, secret, death, mystery, family
  • Birds, circling, sign, hesitate, lost, run, black

Use one of these sentences to begin a story.

  • What do you mean I can’t see him right now?
  • Sorry. You missed your chance.
  • I can’t believe that Henry lied–again.
  • The dilapidated diner was the only place open at 1 a.m.
  • Helen said that was a secret.
  • I don’t remember the incident the way Henry says it happened.
  • This is the last time I trust this rust bucket to get me anywhere.
  • I’m worried. When was the last time you heard from him.

Maybe one of these titles will spark a story: A Ten-Year-Old Tells Knows It All, Second Choice. The Balloon, Fire in the Air, Mystery at the Zoo, Road to Fear, Finding Love at Walmart, Should’ve Said No, Two Wishes, The Cabin, Don’t Go There, The Legend, Dragons and Me.

Here are some dialogue excerpt to help inspire a scene or a story.

I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous.
But it’s true!
That’s even worse!

I got at weird text from Henry.
Me, too.
What do you think we should do?
Give him what he needs.
Are you sure?

I’m very sorry, sir.
IT’s a bit late for sorry. He may be gone for good.
I’ll find him. I promise.
And when did you become a dragon tracker?
Right now, sir.

I hate an east wind.
Me, too. Always means a story.
Always means trouble.

Write how your character would feel and what they would do, if they had to be isolated from others.

If you’re stuck in your story, have another look at your character. Maybe you need to know more to move ahead. Check these two links to help you grow your character and your story.

This link leads to a great worksheets from NaNoWriMo

Here’s a character template that I developed.

Please stay safe and well–and happy writing!

Writing Prompts for February 2020

If you’re wondering why there are daisies in my photo today, it’s because, where I live, January had only 12 hours of sunshine. Something cheery was required. On the plus side, gloomy days do encourage the drinking of warm beverages and curling up with books to read and journals to write in–and naps. All good.

I’m taking part in a writing challenge with a friend, and if you’re finding it hard to keep to your resolution about writing every day, I encourage you to do the same. If you know someone who has made any kind of resolution (exercising, eating less sugar, finishing a knitting project, decluttering a room) team up with them to send a weekly accountability message. If you kept to your resolution, you send the simple word “done.” If you didn’t, you can send an “almost” or “it was one of THOSE weeks,” whatever works for you. It’s amazing how you stay focused on your goals when someone is waiting to hear about your successes every week.

What’s helping me meet my goals this time around is keeping them small. My goal it to write 25 words a day. Nope, that’s not a lot, but it means that I haven’t missed a day since I started two weeks ago. Sitting at the laptop and knowing that I only need to write 25 words to meet my goal takes off a ton of pressure. And because the pressure is off at the start (I mean it’s only 25 words), I manage to write a lot more. When I’m not afraid of failure or trying to force myself to meet a larger goal, the words flow more easily. Here’s one of my favourite posts on the topic of mini-habits. I certainly inspired me: https://www.kristiholl.com/not-enough-willpower-goals-make-mini-habits/

Here are some writing prompts that I hope will inspire and help you meet your writing goals this month.

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

  • Rain, wall, dog, chain, red, fear
  • Sun, rays, carpet, clue, thief, time
  • Step, mud, train, escape, midnight, silver
  • Fire, smoke, woods, haunt, shadow, black
  • Gate, creak, overgrown, hidden, glow, yellow

Maybe one of these titles will inspire a story: The Snow Globe, Wander the High Ground, Tarpin’s Mistake, A Better World, While I Remember, Red Force One, A Million Secrets, Castle of Fear, Bennie to the Rescue, Goodbyes are Hard, A Fool to Fall, Gwillam’s Star.

Try one of these opening sentences for your story:

  • It was too quiet.
  • Sperron’s luck had run out.
  • Dust from the explosion shrouded the twisted beams.
  • Helen yanked the earbuds from her ears. She couldn’t have heard that right.
  • Why wasn’t anyone answering that phone?
  • The tour guide went white and hustled our small group back outside. That’s when I noticed that Henry was missing.
  • Helen had never cheated before.
  • The van stopped on the street just ahead of us.
  • Turn that light out!
  • Shadows crept through the forest.

Here are some dialogue excerpts that might help you create a scene or story.

We need to get out of here now.
Why?
Can’t you hear that?
What?
Sirens.

Henry promised he would stop.
And you believed him?
Yes.
Then you’re a fool.

Third door on the right. That’s what he said.
This is it.
So, open it.
Okay.
What’s the matter?
Run! Now!

Someone’s following us.
Turn right here.
No.

What’s the matter?
I just don’t feel right.
Me neither.
What was in that tea?

Wishing you a writerly month!


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 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 June 2019

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a guest blog for Elizabeth Spann Craig whose blog I’ve been following for years. Elizabeth is a cozy mystery writer who posts regularly with writing tips and behind-the-scenes peeks at her publishing journey. She also compiles a weekly list of links, Twitterific, packed full of information of interest to writers and self-publishers. I always find something helpful or inspiring in the articles she chooses.

I decided to write my guest post about journaling, a writerly task that I have never even remotely mastered. In spite of that failing, journaling does have a helpful and inspiring place in my writing life. If your relationship with journaling is an uneasy one, please check out my guest post: Intermittent Journaling: How I Lost the Guilt and Acquired a Helpful Writing Strategy.

Here are your June writing prompts.

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

  • Statue, water, cry, bench, sunset, life
  • Chair, smartphone, empty, alert, drop, shiver
  • Ladder, tree, see, above curious, time, laugh
  • Umbrella, chase, tumble, door, sigh, after, drip
  • Ring, stone, chose, reward, remember, gold, stare

Try one of these sentences to start or end a story.

  • I’m afraid of flying.
  • Ask Helen. She remembers everything.
  • Henry kept one too many secrets.
  • That’s blackmail.
  • The door swung open. It should have been locked.
  • What do you mean there’s a Canada goose in the kitchen!
  • I thought you said they’d be too scared to turn up.
  • I was really looking forward to the part. Shows how wrong a person can be.
  • You took the last one!
  • There’s someone here to see you.

Try one of these titles for story or poem.

When All Else Fails, Chocolate Cake for Breakfast, Honor Among Thieves, Only One Left, Distraction, Embers, Mars Mayhem, Lucky Pennies. Passport to Murder/Romance/Fear, Angus Reports to Work, Dogs Are People, Too.

Here are some dialogue excerpts to inspire a story or scene.

I’m looking for Henry.
Well, he’s not here.
That’s not what I was told.

I think you two will get along really well.
I’m sure we won’t.
Why not? Or don’t I want to know the reason?

You said we’d be safe here.
We were.
Yes, but for not long enough.

Hand me your cup.
But, I’m not finished.
I won’t ask again.

The last person I want to see is Helen.
That’s unfortunate.
She’s on her way, isn’t she?
Yup.

HAVE A WRITERLY JUNE!

Writing Prompts for February 2019

My booth at the OLA Super Conference - Writing Prompts for February 2019

I had an adventure last week and took my wares to the Ontario Library Association Super Conference. It was my first trade show experience, and I learned a lot. Travelling was complicated by extremely low temperatures and late-running trains, and on my return trip, I got to drag a one-wheeled, very heavy wheelie to the train station—three long blocks and still very cold. The actual trade show turned out to be lots of fun. I connected with some great people, sold some books, and had the pleasure of getting to know Kate Merlin Hanson, a publisher from New Brunswick (Chocolate River Publishing) whom I’d known for years on Facebook. She was even nicer in person.

Though I won’t really know if the event was a success until I see some online book and writing camp sales or get an invitation or two to visit a school or library, I was glad that I took the risk and gave it a try. Nothing ventured …. This was the largest possible forum for my work where I could be there in person. Scary? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Also exhilarating, challenging, and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

Onward!

Here are some writing prompts that I hope you find inspiring this gloomy, cold February. We’ve had ice, rain, snow, high winds, and little sun, so far. I hope that you are faring better and that the rest of February offers lots of scope for your creativity and for adding to your word count.

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

  • Pill, toxic, yesterday, hope, wonder, yellow
  • Flowers, game, toward, care, card, surprise
  • Ice, storm, power, candle, fear, noise, black
  • Tree, shadow, animal, climb, see, curious
  • Wind, kite, free, call, home, run escape

Here are some opening lines that may inspire a story or two.

  • I want a do-over!
  • That picture wasn’t on the table yesterday.
  • The latch clicked and the secret door opened.
  • Something just fell out of your pocket.
  • Henry boarded the last train.
  • If she wanted it that badly, she could have it.
  • Why do mothers have to have such good memories?
  • I woke to the sound of sirens.
  • Some strangers should stay that way.
  • I was sure that I’d seen her near the fire.

See if one of these titles inspires a story: Last Magic Show, A Girl Named Wonder, The Deadly Dragon, Escape to the Past, Angel, The Last Train, Tea for Three, After the Pro, Another Sunday, No Free Ride, Absolution, Gifts.

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

  • It’s too heavy. I can’t pick it up.
  • I packed it yesterday. It was fine.
  • Try it. Someone has messed with the contents.
  • That can’t be good.
  • Why does Helen always give you such a hard time?
  • Just lucky, I guess.
  • That’s not the reason
  • It’s the one you’re getting.
  • Please, turn that music off.
  • Why? I thought you liked it.
  • I have a headache. And I’m tired.
  • And you’re lying.
  • When was Henry due back?
  • About an hour ago.
  • Typical.
  • Is he always late?
  • No, just inconsiderate.

Have a writerly month!

Writing Prompts for October 2018

At St. Andrews Scotland

This weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada, and I am definitely counting my blessings. For three weeks at the end of August and early September my family traveled to the UK, enjoying a wonderful holiday and the beginning of my son’s pursuit of his MA in Glasgow. It was tough leaving him behind, but we made great memories in that three weeks, and thank goodness for WhatsApp since we got home! 😊 Today’s writing prompts will be interspersed with photos from our trip.

I hope you have a creative month ahead, and if you are prepping for NaNoWriMo, check out the NaNo website for great tips. Scroll down the page for lots of articles that will help you get ready for the challenge. These tips are valuable any time of year.

Temptations at Harrods

Here are your writing prompts for October:

  1. Is there a place that you long to see? If you can’t get there in person, go wandering with Google Earth. Find the exact street and house, castle or farm where your ancestors were born. Use Google Earth to research locations for your books and your character’s life.
  2. Write about a member of your family who lived through a challenging time. Put yourself in their shoes. Research their neighbourhood, their battlefield, their workplace. Dig deep to find the real story behind their stories of the past.
  3. Close your eyes or turn your screen brightness to zero and write for five minutes. Not seeing the screen helps you turn off your critic/editor, too. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, just let the words flow without backtracking for corrections. See what doors to your imagination or emotions this exercise opens.

    Boats in Nairn harbour
  4. Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.
  • River, boat, passengers, storm, captain, friend, stranger
  • Stone, building, awe, ceiling, carving, message, past, understanding
  • Path, forest, night, danger, run, hide, stranger, safe, shelter
  • Glass, red, offering, temple, earthquake, trapped
  1. See if one of these opening sentences inspires a story.
  • I wish you hadn’t come here.
  • What’s bugging Helen?
  • Henry lied.
  • That creature never roamed this sector in daylight.
  • Helen picked up the box and gave it to Henry to open.
  • Why is that book so special?
  • I hated making decisions.
  • News came from the east. It wasn’t good.
  • I couldn’t let Henry find out.

  1. A loch on the Dava Moor

    See if you can create a scene around one of the groups of dialogue lines.

  • I couldn’t care less.
  • You’d care if it were your family.
  • I wouldn’t.

 

  • Helen promised we’d be finished by now.
  • And you believed her?
  • Where is she anyway?

 

  • We shouldn’t have come here.
  • It’s the only place where we have any chance of finding it.
  • But it’s dangerous.
  • Without it we have no chance at all.

 

  • Henry said we wouldn’t leave until we were finished our training.
  • Henry didn’t plan for the enemy to be so close so soon. We’re leaving.

 

  • Have you heard the latest about Helen?
  • No, and I don’t want to.
  • Not even if it concerns your brother, too?

I hope you have a writerly month ahead!

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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