Prompt #18
You know the Wizard of Oz well enought to say where the Yellow Brick Road leads… but what about the Red Brick Road? Try to write a story where Dorothy (or your own character) is asked to follow the Red Brick road!
Who do they meet on the way? What are they trying to accomplish? Where do they end up?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt 18!
(Source: imgfave)
Prompt by -three-little-birds- (via yeahwriters):
Sometimes the weather is against us and we are stuck for hours in airports. In the middle of the night with hundreds of people simply waiting to board a flight, you turn to people watching and learn as much as you can from your fellow irritated flyers. Write a few character vingettes based on the people you might see.
Or, if you really are stuck in an airport, take down some notes on the people you see. What are their mannerisms like? What are they wearing? Are they disgruntled, or patient?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #17!
Prompt idea by cogito—ergosum via yeahwriters:
Write about any decision, good or bad, taken under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #16!
From Writrs:
Write a story where 3 siblings work together to make a meal for their mother. They could be adults or they could be young children. What are they making, where are they, and why?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #15!
From awesomewritingprompts:
Do As I Say and Make Me a Sandwich!
Write a story in which someone finds a cookbook with some pretty disturbing recipes. (from awesomewritingprompts #401)
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #14!
Prompt #13
From: camillelapetite:
Write a story about someone leaving the funeral of a person they weren’t very close with.
•Who was it that died?
•How were they acquainted?
•How does your character feel about their death?Photo via Steve Hanks
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #13!
(Source: lacarpa)
From whichurlcanitake:
Character-Focused Writing Prompt
This is something I did as an exercise in my Language of Literary Arts in college. It was a foundational course for English majors.
Write a letter from a pet to their owner. Make sure to treat the pet like they are a real animal, not a human.
Good luck-Billy
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #12!
Prompt#11
From CamilleLaPetite:
Write a story about a female assassin.
Pay close attention to imagining the types of weaponry or gagdets she would need to have on her, don’t make it the entire focus of the story but try to include a scene where she either gets dressed in the morning or undresses at night recounting or taking inventory these various objects.
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #11!
Prompt #10
From yeahwriters:
Write a story/scene/poem/etc. where a web acts as a major symbol.
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt 10!
Prompt #9
From camillelapetite:
Write a story leading up to a long journey on foot.
•Where are they from and where are they going?
•Why did they have to leave?
•Who were they before they left?(image via jayb3)
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #9!
From NaNoWriMos via Billy:
Be a People Watcher!
If you want to be a good writer there are two important things you need: First you need a good imagination, and Second you need to be observant about the things going on around you.
Here’s what I want you to do for this exercise! Go out someplace, maybe a bar, a restaurant, or a coffee shop. Any place where you can sit down for a good amount of time.
Look for someone that looks out of place or interesting to you. (For example, the other night I was with some friends at a bar and there was a girl sitting at a table at 1am working on her laptop.)
Now that you have your person, spend some time trying to figure out who they are… Chances are that you will be wrong, but that doesn’t matter! You aren’t chronicling their life, you are just being a writer. If you’re feeling brave, you can interview the person and ask what they are really doing, but I think the impact of the story is better if you just go off on a whim. Use your imagination!<When you find a person that inspires a good idea for you, write your short story about it: Who are they? Why is this person there doing whatever they are doing?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #8!
This also reminded me of a discussion we had last November about writing in public where we briefly touched on the importance of people watching and learning from real life things outside of your personal experiences. :)
Prompt #7
From yeahwriters:
Prompt idea by shrewdslytherin:
Write about someone walking down the street and finding an old friend who has become homeless. How did the person come to be homeless? What is the relationship between the two?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #7!
Prompt #6
From camillelapetite:
Write a short story from beginning to end about a young girl who turns into something supernatural:
•Who was she before? Who or what is she now?
•How did it happen- A virus? A bite? A curse? A Myth?
•Will she be caught? Can she Recover? Will she do any damage?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #6!
(Source: redgaloshesforfeet)
Prompt #5
From yeahwriters:
Write a story/scene/poem/etcc. about a non-straight couple, but do not make the conflict have anything to do with their sexuality. Their relationship should just be a fact of the story.
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #5!
Prompt #4
From camillelapetite:
Think about an imaginary world or dream world.
Take a minute to scribble some notes about your place to help you get started, and then write a short story that takes place there! Some things to consider might be:•What does it look/feel/smell like?
•Who/what lives there? Is it a good or a bad place?
•How do/did you get there?
•When/how are you able to leave?
How Prompts Work | More Prompts | Submit your story | Read Responses to Prompt #4!
