Writing Prompts: What Are They?

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with me? Leave me your opinion.

A writing prompt is a technique, word(s)
association, to wake-up your creative
process.

Some people keep writing prompts by
their beds to start the day off. They need
the stimulation before they’re seated in
their writing places. It gives them an extra
boost.

How Writing Prompts Work

Writing prompts can be a favorite quote,
remarks heard, something in a journal or
a phrase.

Someone awakened from a night’s rest, for
example, and scanned his/her journal.

A motivating phrase, word, is selected, and
then he/she goes through his/her routine.

The phrase, word, is swirled around the mind,
to form writing ideas, plots or poems.

Actual Writing Prompts

“I wish they would only take me as I am.”
Vincent Van Gogh

“History repeats itself, and that’s one of
the things that’s wrong with history.”
Clarence Darrow

“Ideas are the root of creation.”
Ernest Dimnet

“You must, first, believe in yourself.”
Marcella Glenn

Discussion Of A Writing Prompt: “Ideas
are the root of creation.”

Read it out-loud, several times. What does
it mean to you? What comes to mind after
reading it?

Write anything, everything, that springs
to mind. Will you write a story? Poem? Do
research for a non-fiction piece?

Goal

Write 500 words about the quote, or take
the quote to any length you’re comfortable
with. Twist your idea down a new road. Be
creative.

Use More Than One Quote

Take more than one quote, prompt, to work with.
Look at every quote upside down and inside out.

Critique Later.

Once your piece is done, put it away. Work on
something else, or start a new project.

A break is needed to came-back to a project
refreshed. You’re better able to spot errors.

Let me know your results.

Writing prompts add the necessary spark to your
creative process.

Taking Notes: How?

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Taking notes is as individual, different,
as each person. My note taking practices
wouldn’t be the same as yours.

It’s important, still, to write-out enough
of an idea to later understand what it was,
your line of thinking at the time or what
avenue you wanted to stroll down with the
idea.

Memory will not serve well as you’re raking
through it.

Make sure jotted down ideas are clear,
understandable, to you.

You’re at the mall, for example, and pass-by
a fat guy delivering boxes.

He stops, plucks out his cell phone to chat.

“She’s here with pink pants on.” His voice
carried to where you were window
shopping.

Writers are always listening/looking for
writing ideas.

Could that be an idea? Maybe?

Let’s look at how to take notes on the
possible idea.

1. Delivery person spoke about a female
wearing pink pants.

2. Fat delivery person rude, loud.

3. Fat delivery person, at mall, talked
on cell phone instead of working.

4. Delivery person at mall was stalking
a lady in pink pants.

The key is to write information that will
bring your thoughts back to the time an
idea dawned.

Write the date and time if it will help.
What specifically made you take notice of him.
Describe your idea in a paragraph, more or less
words? Brief out-line?

You could prefer to text, record or leave a
message for yourself about a writing idea.

Decide on what method works for you. The goal
is to have fun with it.

Successful Writer: What’s Required?

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A successful writer is required to have
passion, determination and believe.

Passion

The feeling of ‘I have to write’ should be
your itch, at the top of your “to do” list.

I know your life is busy, probably multi-task
daily. Still, find, at least, two hours per
day to write. During the day or night, pick
a time right for you.

Bring everything you’ll need to your writing
place. Coffee, gum, fruit or anything else
to kick-start your creative flow.

Turn down/off the television, radio or
remove any disturbances.

Wear comfortable clothing, slippers.

Don’t allow anyone, anything, to keep you
from writing, reaching your dream.

It’s required for the successful writer
to practice. Practice hones, sharpens,
your writing skills. Your style, voice,
develops.

You’ll make mistakes through the learning
process. With time, you’ll recognize errors,
and correct them.

Correcting errors is done during the
critiquing process. Finish writing, and put
your work aside.

Give yourself a break from it. How long of
a break you take depends on how large the
project is. The larger the project, the
longer the break. You’ll come back refreshed,
better able to see mistakes.

Determination

This is where your decision to write is clear,
final. You took the step.

You’re no longer thinking, maybe. You’re at,
I will be a writer, am a writer.

“They’re hirin’ at Wal-Mart.” One doubter/
friend said.

There’s nothing wrong with applying for jobs.

Still, find time to write. Don’t forget your
writing goal, dream.

Keep a pen and pad with you at all times. A
writing idea can pop-out without warning.
Scribble down enough of the idea to explore
later.

When an idea dawns, write it down. The successful
writer knows if you don’t write it down, you’ll
forget it.

Believe

It’s required for the successful writer to believe in
him/herself.

“Forget writing.” A friend said. “Too much trouble,
and no reward.”

You, the writer, have to smile at comments like that.
It doesn’t matter that no one believes you have what
it takes. You must have the courage to believe in
yourself, talent.

In conclusion, it’s required for the successful writer
to write in the face of doubters, muster courage
as rejection slips hit and believe you can.