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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!


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 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


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!


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.

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