I hope your November is off to a brighter start than mine. Sunshine has been at a premium, and we’ve had more wind, clouds and rain than we need on consecutive days. On the plus side, I still have some Halloween candy left—I love Rockets—so it’s not all gloom. 😊
A day-long writing conference last weekend inspired me to look at fiction again, so I signed up for NaNoWriMo to give myself a boost into this new project. I also downloaded Scrivener. The learning curve is challenging, but I’m determined to master it. I have another writing conference coming up—online this time. I’ve attended this conference in person many times, but this will be the first time that I’ll be experiencing it from my own desk. Looking forward to more learning!
Here are your writing prompts for the balance of the year. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and will be starting the new year with energy and more creative ideas than you know what to do with.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR GIFTS FOR WRITERS, please have a look at my Online Writing Camp for Teens, or consider buying some coaching time for your favourite writer–or for yourself!
Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to create a story or poem.
- Painting, glass, light, shadow, cold, secret
- Lamp, cave, map, lost, wet, empty
- Pursue, hills, horses, honour, cause alone
- Window, escape, fall, forest, storm, dawn
- Lake, thunder, shelter, friends, stranger
- Cliff, climb, slip, danger, noises, wind
Here are some opening sentences that might inspire a story or two.
- I was sure you liked him/her.
- Don’t ask me that again!
- Henry only knew two ways to make money—neither was legal.
- Last night Helen came back home.
- The gate creaked on its hinges.
- I remembered that cabin, but mostly the corners where I tried to hide.
- What do you do when your dog actually eats your homework?
- I hated the silence.
- Waves lapped on the shore like heartbeats.
- Henry was the last to leave.
See if you can come up with a story to go with one of these titles: The Swarm, Time’s Fool, Crack of Dawn, A Murder of Crows, Aunts at the Picnic, Truth Has a Price, Pirates’ Cove, The Secret Brother/Sister, The Blue Door
Here are some groups of dialogue lines. Use the lines in a group to create a scene or incorporate them into a story that you’re already working on.
Where did you get that?
At the store.
Did you pay for it?
Henry said he’d pick me up at 3:00.
No rush. It’s only 2:30.
Oh.
You’re so competitive!
No one likes to lose.
But not everyone needs to win as much as you do.
I don’t think we should go in there.
What’s the matter? Afraid?
If afraid keeps me a live, then, yes.
I can’t believe you finally walked out.
Well, I did.
What did she/he say?
She/he doesn’t know yet.
Here are some other writing ideas. Answer these questions for yourself or for your character.
- What is your favourite holiday story or tradition?
- What is your favourite holiday food?
- What was your best surprise?
- Which family member do you resemble most?
- Are you an introvert, extrovert, or a bit of both?
- Describe some childhood, holiday memories.
- What was the worst outfit your parents made you wear.
Hope you have a writerly and creative finish to 2018. Onward!