Just for Fun: Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are for when you need a new beginning right? Sure. But they are also for when you're knee deep in a story but need to reconnect with your characters. In fact, as I discovered with a little web surfing for writing prompts, they're much more versatile than I expected and can be customized to fit every stage of writing. Whether stuck in writer's block or just need a routine of daily warm-ups, dare I say it, there's a writing prompt for that.

Finding the right one can feel kind like being Goldilocks looking for the "just right." And when you know what you want, usually you find every thing opposite first! For instance, yesterday I wanted specific writing prompts to get me reaquainted with my current characters after an absence. Eventually I found a couple of ideas.

These are from Eliza's Writing Jug, http://www.writingjug.com/2010/03/creative-writing-prompts.html:

#39. You have a most unexpected visit. The good guy and the bad guy in your story come to visit. Neither is pleased with the role you have given them. Put yourself in their shoes and try to imagine what they would have to say. Try to convince them you made the best choice for them.

#41. Write an interview with your [favorite] character.

Are these too broad in scope or not really seem like writing prompts at all? Maybe but that's the thing about writing prompts; they are meant to fit what need, when you need it. Sometimes you don't even know what that is until you come across it.

A couple others instantly intrigue me:

#19. Ghosts in a bottle. (How could I resist that one?)

#35. Answer this question: What is life all about? (Just kidding. I can't tackle that one!)

Other interesting sites for writing prompts include these:

• This one has hundreds of VISUAL prompts in pictures and videos. Easy Street Prompts:
  
  http://www.easystreetprompts.com/search/label/writing%20prompts
• These include plot twists for the writer that has a soft spot for fairy tales:
  
  Creative Juices Books/Writing Prompts: http://www.creativejuicesbooks.com/writing-prompts.html
  
  Writing Prompt 8: Rewrite a Fairy Tale
  
  Fairy Tale Writing Prompts
  
  100 Fairy Tales - Prompts

 

• This one has single word and short phrase prompts. Too short? You might be surprised.
  
  365 Writing Prompts for Creative Writing Inspiration: http://hubpages.com/hub/writing-prompts-for-creative-writing-inspiration

Speaking of short prompts, I came across an outdated Writer's Digest Prompt contest with the three words: "lucky" "charmed" and "calamity."

Wouldn't you know it, those three words took me down a path that had nothing to do with my current stories. You know how it goes!

What kind of writing prompts do you enjoy? Does it depend on your needs? Any favorites?

Breakthroughs that Lead to Rewards or Vice Versa: Part I

With all the soul searching going on about setting New Year's resolutions, I wondered if I'd ever find something concrete to hang on to. (Read previous blog on resolutions for some drifting.) In two ways, I've had mini breakthroughs.

One is in my approach to building a habit of daily writing for my story. The approach of looking at the numbers (word count, page count, time limits) weren't doing a lot for me. Approaching it from the other side, the reward...now we're talking! Rewards deserve fireworks. I'm on a celebration delay. :)

That's a big part of resolutions; the incentive of a reward. But what kind of reward? It has to be personal and something you really want to do. If a movie at the end of the week is a real treat, then that's a good reward. But is really something that inspires the task of writing? Is the reward something you'd really withhold from yourself or do it anyway? That's not such a bad idea, actually, to make the reward something you regularly do. The important part though is making the bargain that the reward comes last.

Writing a blog is my reward. True, call it rather a narcissistic (sp?) reward, but it fits as a personal thing I really like to do. The only problem is when I talk about writing before I actually write on the story. Or, instead of the story. I often take the reward first.

It seems to make sense, for me anyway, to tie the two, writing a blog and writing on the story together and flip them. The end result is simply this: that anything I write about in this blog is a direct result from my daily writing session.

No random topics for a while. My bargain with myself may change, but for now it seems to give me a good shot at establishing a routine and, if not a daily story writing habit, one I feel a little less guilty about. It may sound limiting for blog topics (especially if I didn't write!), but in many ways, it's the opposite. Two days of actual writing gives me lots of material. Do I need to talk about it? Well, yeah. :)

Part II comes from what I worked on in the story today and yesterday. Ever have a breakthrough in your story at a point you didn't even know you were stuck?

What is your writing reward? Come on, be a little narcissistic with your rewards. What did you write on today or yesterday? You did it so feel free to talk about it.

The Difference a Day Makes

New Year's Day, 2010: Day One of not just a new year, but a new decade. You knew that, right? I just had to say it and write it down. :)

Acknowledging it in print makes me appreciate the difference a day can make. Yesterday, I didn't want to reflect too long on one decade passing away. I'm not good with good byes. But today is a hello. That's different, don't you think? Somehow, today, even that saying "today is the first day of the rest of your life" doesn't seem so corny. It means a bit more today than it did only yesterday.

So, I get why today is special and I get why today is The Day for resolutions.

In thinking about the difference a day can make, I thought, there must be something more I can resolve as a writer. Something that pins down my end of year and somewhat open-ended goal of "keep moving forward" to something more specific. I felt, on this day when the mood shifts from looking back to looking forward, that it would be a good thing to take one more step.

So, I did make a resolution earlier today, but I took it back. *sheepish look* You know, like someone does when they have second thoughts and make a mad dash to recover an unsent letter. I almost got a way with it, too. Some one, and you know who you are, saw my resolution.

If you didn't see it, are you curious what it was? Hint: For a writer, it's something quite logical. Okay, I'm going to tell you, whether you are curious or not. *grin*

It was a resolution for daily writing.

Yep, that was it. Nothing too big. Why would I take it back? Part of it was the fact I'd spent considerable time declaring it then realized I hadn't, and probably wasn't, going to work on the story today. Oh, the irony! *LOL*

You might say there was a loophole. Didn't this blog count? Uhm, no. It could, but that's not what I meant and I know it.

I'm still going to try to write daily on the story, but I guess I'm not yet ready to commit. Is it possible to be in the plotting stage of a resolution? *grin*

First, I need some tips or tricks. Preferably tricks. Those things that lure me to write and keep me coming back. A couple that come to mind:

1. Begin in the middle of a scene. This means I have to end in the middle of a scene.
   
2. Write at the same time. (I never do. I will have to see what works.)

Next, the numbers. As much as I hate to think about minimums, there are only three ways to keep track; word count, page count and a time limit. Options (deliberately set low) :

1. Minimum 100 words.


2. Minimum of two pages.


3. Minimum of one hour or until #1 or #2 are achieved, whichever comes first. The hour can include plotting or research.

Why not try all three? The only trick I can think of is this: it has three things and I only have to do one of the three! And if I do #2 then I automatically have done #1. If I do #3 then I've done all three. Make sense?

I'm iffy on #3. I think the words in the story are what count. I can see myself spending every hour for a week on the plotting and "prep" work, but I also think they should count some way. How to set a time limit? Some say 15 minutes but I wouldn't get anything done that way. I guess it's a low limit just to get you started, like a low word or page count, but it seems like if the others are present then I'd have a longer time minimum.

And limit or ban the extras; blogging or emails until this is done? But...*whine*...my favorite blog discussions are in the morning. They are my warm up. Actually though, soon I will be in classes weekday mornings, so that answers that. Yep, I can ban it when I don't have a choice.

What about rewards? I think the extras like blogging and emails is a reward. Of course, the sense of accomplishment. What else? What other incentives to sustain me before the final, biggest reward of the words added up to a completed manuscript? Maybe even a point system. That would be kind of fun. Like 100 points for #1, 200 points for #2. Or would that be 300 points? Bonus points for above and beyond? Some kind of tangible reward every 1000 points?

How about some ideas? Any writing tricks or tips for developing a daily writing habit? Care to help me plot the resolution? Ever take back a resolution?