Jump to content

Writing World

A group blog by Site Volunteers in Site Blogs

  • entries
    3,249
  • comments
    12,816
  • views
    238,853

Contributors to this blog

About this blog

Featuring everything new and experienced authors need to develop creative and technical skills. Check out writing development articles, our Word of the Day, writing prompts, anthology opportunities and more!

Entries in this blog

Prompts

Life's a Zoo

When I was a kid, I loved going to the zoo and seeing the animals.  I still do, even though I haven't gone in ages.  Most people love the monkeys or the lions and tigers, but my favorite was always the capybara exhibit.  I think it's because it was astounding to me that rodents could get that big.  Plus, they're cute   Anyway, my local zoo just got a new capybara named Mozzarella.  And since life can be a bit chaotic, I thought today's prompts could use a zoo theme.  There's also the matter of t
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

2
Prompts

I pack my Suitcase

When Val posted the pic of the overflowing suitcase a couple of weeks ago, I remembered a game we played in the car when we were kids. Some of you might know it. In Germany, it’s called I pack my suitcase. How about we play the game this week? I’ll start by packing my suitcase and grab my favorite hat. You pack your stuff in the comments, choose things as outrageous as you want. PT Prompt #344   Someone picks up their suitcase; it opens, and everything inside spills onto
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

9
Prompts

You Say it's Your Birthday

Well, it's somebody's birthday today   🐧so I figured I would post some totally random stuff that probably only makes sense to me.  And probably @chris191070 and his time-traveling capybara.  My birthday present from everyone can be writing a prompt response.  @wildone     PT Prompt #342 Use the following word list in a story:  ceiling fan, penguin, closet, snapdragon, fork, rutabaga, otter  PT Prompt #343 Tell the story of a birthday gone either horribly wrong, or
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

9
Prompts

Video Killed the Radio Star?

They played this song on the radio while I was driving to work. It made me think. Is anyone but me still listening to the radio, or do you prefer to stream your favorite playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks? I like the radio in the morning. I catch up on the news, good or bad, and the local weather report, and I get to hear new or very old songs. This week's prompts have been inspired by the aforementioned song. PT Prompt #340 You or your main character are/is waiting by a r
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

13
Prompts

Where to?

Last week, I threw together a random list of words, and @chris191070 came up with a story that will make you react like this:  Time-traveling capybaras... be sure to check it out!  Now, on to this week's prompt.  I decided to use another picture as a prompt.  We're heading into summer, which means time to travel for a lot of people.  This picture kind of spoke to me.  Is the person who packed this mess of a suitcase going on a vacation?  Work trip?  Kicked out of their residence
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

3
Prompts

Better Late than Never Prompts

I've started a new job, so with my attention focused on that, I may or may not have realized it's prompt Friday   So, let's embrace that theme with a new prompt.    PT Prompt #338 Word list:  Use the following words in a story - late, work, capybara, airplane, pizza box, umbrella      Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stori
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

1
Prompts

A Picture is Worth a Thousand - Prompts!

I thought it would be fun to do something a bit different, so today's prompt is based off the picture below.  Write a caption, story, novella, paragraph, poem - whatever the picture inspires.   PT Prompt #337     Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be po
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

2
Prompts

A-Prompting We Will Go

We're baaaaaccckkkkk!!!  After a brief hiatus while the poetry anthology posted, Aditus and I have returned and are ready to prompt!  There's no particular theme to today's prompts.  It's just weird random stuff floating around in my brain.  If @wildone comments on that, I'll sic @Krista on him.   We also accept guest prompts, so if anyone has ideas they'd like us to share, please PM either myself or @Aditus PT Prompt #335 It's home renovation time!  Choose a room to renovat
Prompts

Childhood Heroes

Do you have one? Or two? Mine is too cringeworthy to tell...   PT Prompt #333   You or your main character are/is invited to a motto party. The motto: Childhood heroes. Who is their childhood hero? Is it difficult to create the costume? What’s the reason for the party? Write their story in as many words as you need, but do not just answer the questions; just saying.... PT Prompt #334   It’s a wedding party, not necessarily the protagonist’s. A relative en
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

3
Prompts

We're All Mad Here

Yesterday was the start of March Madness in the USA.  For those unfamiliar with MM, it's a college basketball tournament that lasts foreeeevvvveeerrrrr.  At least to non-sports people like me  So, in honor of MM, I thought I'd feature some sports prompts.    PT Prompt #331 You win a large amount of money on a sports bet.  How do you spend it?    PT Prompt #332 You've just moved across the country and join a local sports team.  One of the members comes up to yo
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

4
Prompts

Spring ahead

Soon we will switch to summertime/daylight saving time and have to get up one hour earlier. There are those people who love it; they jump out of bed with a bright smile. And then there’s me, my dragon, the cats, and the dog, who start the day more or less sleepwalking. What about you?   This time, we will write about the problems the switch causes. PT Prompt #329   Every clock adjusts itself to the right time. Every clock? No, the one your protagonist always uses s
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

19
Prompts

Poetry Fun

April is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo), which is why we feature the poetry anthology then.  The goal of NaPoWriMo is to write 30 poems in 30 days.  I've completed this task several times, generally using daily poetry prompts.  I thought I'd feature a couple of my favorite prompts to see what others come up with.  Maybe it will be something to use in the anthology.      PT Prompt #327: Write a series of short stanzas that personify adjectives or abstract noun
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

0
Prompts

Game on

Once upon a time, my friends and I played this game where you had to draw something, and the other group tried to guess the subject, film, saying, etc. So, I thought we could draw with our words this time.   PT Prompt #325:   Draw a well-known movie title without actually naming it, linking it, or using any other electronic tricks. Just your words. No AI. Who guesses right and earns virtual brownie points? PT Prompt #326:   Next one: Draw a song. Humming
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

3
Prompts

Let's Take a Vacation

A lot of the US is experiencing record cold temps.  In my area, we came close to equaling a fifty-year-old record for longest cold snap.  I don't remember the last time we were above freezing, and temps in the 20sF felt like a heat wave this week.   Sadly, it's going to get worse before it gets better.  This weekend is on track to be the coldest temps yet, along with good ol' lake effect snow.  Is it spring yet?  Our local groundhog said it would be an early spring, but I don't believe him.   
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

2
Prompts

Title Prompts

I was recently looking for a new series to binge-watch during the nasty winter storm we just had and found a few that were promising based on the description.  Then I read the title "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart".  Hmmm... intriguing.  I scrolled past, then said I couldn't pass up something with such an interesting title.  So over the next couple of days I discovered what the lost flowers were and who Alice Hart was.  It was a riveting story, and I highly recommend it if anyone is looking for
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

11
Prompts

Shh...I’m not here

Officially, I’m off until March, just dashing in to prompt you. PT Prompt#319: Ari cleans up their wardrobe. After a while, they sit in the middle of the ‘to keep and ‘to donate’ piles, clutching a woolen, bright blue knit hat with tears running down their face. Tell the hat’s story PT Prompt#320:   First line: “This tastes like shit!” Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for spec
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

4
Prompts

The Gift of Prompts

I got a gift this Christmas of writing dice, so decided to roll them and use the results here.  My friends know me so well!  😁 I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.      PT Prompt #318 Character traits:  stubborn, empathetic  Conflict:  man vs technology  Setting:  Foreign country Theme: Power POV:  first person Time:  Ancient history  Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help read
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

1
Prompts

Prompt Team Genre Event - *Now Live!*

Who's ready for some genre fun? For this year's Prompt Team Event, @Aditus and I challenged authors to step outside their comfort zone and write in a randomly-selected genre/subgenre.  @Myr and team have done a lot of work curating a list of genres/subgenres, so there was an extensive list to choose from! Eight authors took up the challenge and sent me stories to include in the event.  We have prompt stories ranging from Historical/Ancient Orient to Fantasy/Arcanepunk.  Without further ado, plea
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

18
Prompts

Everyday Mishaps

Yesterday, I went to work forgetting the thermos with my Advent Calendar tea; no biggie, but it was an uncomfortable bus ride. Nothing to do with my hands, cold, and I noticed lots of people wrapped up in scarves, hats, and whatnot, even though it wasn’t that cold, which resulted in sweating humans. Eew. Now, I want you to write about everyday mishaps. PT Prompt #316:   Alex forgot the salad they promised to bring to the potluck party at work. While it’s standing perfectly s
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

0
Prompts

I Can't Think of Anything Prompts

I've been wracking my brain, but sadly cannot come up with any kind of theme for the prompts this week.  So here are some random word lists.  Have fun and don't forget to enter the Prompt Team genre event!   PT Prompt #314: Use the following words in a story:  fan, box, cat, snow, closet   PT Prompt#315: Use the following words in a story: cheez balls, tree, raccoon, tuxedo, Empire State Building Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapt
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

0
Prompts

Another Road Taken

Do you sometimes wish you had another job, apartment, car, family, or lived in another country? The list is probably endless and different for everyone.     PT Prompt #312   Someone wakes up in the morning, and it seems the fairy godmother has granted them their greatest wish. What is it and what are the consequences? More importantly, are they happy? PT Prompt #313   Someone visits a magical movie theatre where they can watch how their life would be
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

1
Prompts

2025 Prompt Team Event

Calling all prompters!  It's time for the second annual Prompt Team Event!  Anyone who knows me and @Aditus will agree that we like to keep people guessing, so we're changing things up a bit this year.  Prompts are designed to help us grow as writers.  To push boundaries and explore ways of writing or genres we may not otherwise consider.  So this year, we are doing a genre/subgenre challenge!    To participate: PM either myself or Aditus.  We will assign you a random g
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

35
Prompts

Think Positive

It's super easy to get sucked into negativity, whether it's the news, social media, family, work, the weather...  I'm guilty of falling into this trap, but over the past few years I've been trying to learn how to find positives to counterbalance the negative.  Some days are definitely harder than others, that's for sure.  A dear friend of mine has been my inspiration in this journey.  They always know what to say to make me feel better, and their positive outlook on life is contagious.  We need
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

4
Prompts

Let’s get technical

We all read, and/or have written a story in first person, third person (limited, omniscient), but what about second person?   There are some great examples where writers have used this POV. I thought we would expand our horizon, get out of our comfort zone, stretch our wings, and try something new. PT #307:   Write a vignette, or something longer, where you address your reader. PT#308:   Write a short piece, poem, whatever you like, and address yours
Aditus

Aditus in Prompts

8
Prompts

Prompt Rewind

Today's prompt blog is going to be a little bit different.  Five years ago, @wildone featured some guest prompts after our prompt guru Comicfan sadly passed away.  One of these prompts was recently resurrected, with several authors taking up the challenge.  This is one of my favorite technical prompts, as it gets authors to consider their words carefully and approach first person POV in a different way.  So please check out the prompt and responses and give it a go yourself.  Be sure to post you
Valkyrie

Valkyrie in Prompts

0
×
×
  • Create New...