opening sentences

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 May 2020

New Writing Prompts for May 2020
Where I’d like to be today.

We’re starting our 8th week of isolation, social distancing, whatever you want to call it, and there are moments when the day-to-day coping is a real challenge. Generally I muddle along just fine, but at other times I’m anxious about all the sanitizing and the people going for walks behind our house that don’t keep their distance. I’m, worrying about the COVID-19 statistics that, for me, aren’t improving fast enough, feeling for those I know with new grandchildren they can’t hug or with family that they can’t visit in hospital or mourn with the comforting hugs of friends and family. It doesn’t take a lot for my thoughts to head into a downward spiral.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more conscious than now of the need to give myself grace. I stop myself and ask, “What do you really need right now.?” And if the answer is “leave the to-do list and take thirty minutes with a book and a cup of tea,” well that’s what I do. I totally get “carrying on” and “pushing through.” I’ve been doing that on and off for years, as do most people during their life’s challenges. But this is different, and I’m far more deliberate about pulling back and adding much-needed self care to all the carrying and pushing. I hope that you’re finding positive, comforting ways to take breaks from it all, too and refilling the well with energy, gratitude and hope. I’m certainly grateful. So far, friends and family are healthy, and I count the blessings of having a home and a safe place to be.

Creatively, I’m been a non-starter for a few months now. I write well enough for work, but have been searching for a new creative project to take me through the summer. I have a big editing contract that will last until September–a 500-page college composition text book. Now I love this kind of work, but I also need something to distract my brain from the hyper-critical mode it’s going to be in for the next four months. And frankly, it’s creative, joy writing that makes me feel like a writer.

Last week a local author hosted an online writing retreat. Seven or eight of us gathered on Zoom at 10 a.m. to say hello and talk about how we were coping. We had two 90-minute writing sessions away from the screen (one in the morning, the other in the afternoon), lunch together on screen with some more chat, and an on-screen wrap-up at the end where some writers shared their work. It was a great day. For the week leading up to it, I kept telling myself that I was going to come out of the day with a story idea. Nothing big, just an idea. That’s as high as I was prepared to set the bar.

Come the day, my mind was still a compete blank, but in the first 90-minute writing session, I got that story idea and started outlining. I was overjoyed. Who knew that all that I-think-I-can would work? I was so relieved to find out that my creative, joy-writing brain still functioned. I admit, I’d nearly given up. If you’re feeling the same, I hope my story gives you some hope that the writing will come.

I hope that the writing prompts below will also help you find the inspiration you need for your joywriting or provide some short exercises to help you start refilling the creative well.

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

  • talk, restaurant, secret, surprise, fear, red
  • storm, cold, sudden, wind, hide, shelter, black
  • shadow, movement, street light, footsteps, bus, yellow
  • candle, desk, pen, blood, silence, silver, drop
  • clock, broken, call, late, run, important, brown

See if one of these opening sentences suggests a story or scene:

  • I think it’s time you told the truth.
  • When will she be back?
  • Opening night was not a success.
  • A cloudless night meant danger.
  • In our case, good fences did not make good neighbours.
  • My plans for a lazy morning disappeared when the fire alarm rang in my building.
  • I have never been so glad to see a sunrise.
  • The car screeched around the corner and aimed straight for Henry.
  • I couldn’t believe it when he turned up at the house after 3 years of nothing.

Maybe one of these dialogue excerpts will inspire a story or scene:

  • What’s with Helen?
  • Haven’t a clue.
  • Is it just me, or is she acting stranger than usual?
  • Where’ you get that?
  • Found it.
  • That’s the story you’re sticking with?
  • Where’s that music coming from?
  • Sound like on the other side of that wall.
  • That apartment is supposed to be empty.
  • Helen’s mad at me.
  • Why?
  • Who knows?
  • You do. Now tell me.
  • Did the light’s just flicker?
  • Yup.
  • Aren’t our doing to do something?
  • Yeah. Light a candle. Next time they’ll go out for good.

I saw this little fellow on a rainy walk last week. He was perched on the hydro pylon by a walkway behind an elementary school. What’s his story?

I wish you a healthy, safe, and writerly May!

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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 May 2019

I’m so excited to announce my three new books are now available on Amazon.com. These books have been a labor of love, and I hope that the genre writers among you will find them useful. These workbooks will help you keep all your research, character ideas, setting notes, writing schedule, plot outlines, etc., all in one place as you work through your first draft. Click here to see sample tables of contents and links to Amazon. A shout-out to D’vorah Lansky at Share Your Brilliance for inspiring me to write these books.

Here are your writing prompts for May.

Use one, some, or all of the words in one of these groups to inspire a story or poem.
1. clouds, heat, escape, green, forest, shadow
2. spring, sleet, fear, mountain,path, decision, grey
3. cabin, deserted, shelter, noises, roof, footsteps, green
4. bowl, vision, crystal, red, cloak, whisper
5. trees, wind, silence, eerie,thud, surprise

Here are some opening sentences you could try, or you could use them anywhere in a story:
1. I thought Earth only had one moon.
2. You can’t go in there.
3. The first day of Henry’s vacation didn’t turn out remotely as planned.
4. We jumped when Helen burst into the room.
5. Toads. I hate toads.
6. The other road passed to close to the castle
7. We expected the scream.
8. Henry promised he’d deal with it tomorrow.
9. One puppy equals hard work. Three equals madness!
10. At rehearsal, I’d been fine, but in one hour I’d be in front of an audience.

Here are some titles that might inspire a story or poem: A Winter Dream, Helen/Henry: Teen Detective, My Life with Braces, Farm Girl/Boy, March Break Blues, The Blunder Years, View from the Roof, Consequences, Parachute, Past Meets Present.

Here are some dialogue excerpts that I hope give you ideas for a scene or story:

I heard what you said.
So?
Does Henry know what you’re planning?

I don’t like the look of those clouds.
We’ll find shelter soon.
I want to go home.
You know that’s not possible.

Helen’s tired.
She’ll have to keep up.
She’s our responsibility.
She’s your responsibility.

Henry’s been suspended.
I know.
Already?
Who do you think turned him in?

I hope you have a writerly May!


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 2018

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!

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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!

 

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