September 2024

Writing Prompts

• Conversing with a Stranger: choose a photograph of someone you do not know. Write a piece in the voice of that person or speak to the person in your writing. Ask the person three unanswerable questions. Then answer them.

• Borrowing titles: Choose a title crafted by another writer. Write from that title or against it.

• The Now: Write a piece that lists or describes ten or more things/events/phenomena that are or could be happening at this moment.

• Firsts: Begin with “The first time I . . . .” Write about one of these experiences or simply list as many as you can.

• The Geometry of Expressive Writing: Draw a basic geometric shape such as a circle, square, line, or point. Write a piece that describes the times/places/situations that shape has been part of your own life, or perhaps, the life of humankind.

• Abstract Angels: Draw a card from the cup of “Angel Cards.” Write a piece personifying that trait or quality. You may want to address the character or write in their voice.

• On Not Writing: List, in merciless quantity and detail, every reason you cannot, should not, and will not write. Then list every reason you can, should, and will.

A game of choice and chance:

1. Step one: Divide the top half of a piece of paper into three columns, number each 1 to 10

   In column one: list 10 common nouns, preferably ordinary objects

   Column two: list ten action verbs

   Column three: ten abstract nouns

2. Step two: Using the first three numbers of your social security number,

   Circle one word in each column that corresponds to that number.

3. Step three: write a piece that claims/demonstrates how these three words are inextricably linked.

4. Include all of your senses, what your parents gave you, did to you, the weather, illnesses, obsessions, current events, hang-ups, hang nails, barking dogs, migraines, waterfalls, nightmares… Keep going beyond exhaustion.