I've discovered I really enjoy writing prompts. I realize that's not an overly profound statement for a writer to make, but it's true. The writing prompts I tend to enjoy are the short ones--just a few words to no more than a short sentence. These allow my imagination, and therefore my words, to branch out in countless directions.
The writing prompts I've been using are good, but they're very generic. What I mean is that they tend towards the literary-type writing. I make speculative stories out of them, but I'd love to have prompts geared specifically towards my favorite genres: horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Sure, with a Google search you can find some, but I thought it might be a fun exercise for me to come up with my own.
I decided that I'd post a new one every week--probably on Monday. Feel free to do whatever you like with the prompt. If you use it just for a quick warm-up, great. If you're in the #fridayflash group and need an idea, super. If the prompt takes your fiction to a longer piece, excellent. I'd love to hear success stories with these prompts, but don't feel obligated to tell me. I'm just having a good time putting them together.
Sometimes I'll put in the title that it's a horror writing prompt, or a fantasy writing prompt, or a science fiction writing prompt, but don't feel that you need to be bound by that genre when you start putting the words down on paper (or more likely on your computer screen). For example, if I call this--Your favorite video game is actually a training manual for death--a horror prompt, you don't need to make it a piece of horror fiction. You could turn it into a sci-fi piece by having the video game be about saving the human race from space aliens, for example. Or you might make it a contemporary piece about a group using the video game as a recruiting tool. Or you can spin it into a humorous story. The possibilities are endless. I'm sure you've already found a slant that I haven't thought of to make it your own.
So, with that in mind, I'll repeat what this week's writing prompt is: Your favorite video game is actually a training manual for death. Have fun with it! I'll see you here next Monday with another writing prompt!
I've never had much luck with writing prompts. I wrote a few stories based off them, but they lacked the life of my other, more "organic" stories. Oh well, I have enough stories of my own that need writing!
ReplyDelete(But, I have to say, I *love* the prompt you included at the end of your post!)
Thanks for the comment, K.M.
ReplyDeleteI've never been inspired to use a writing prompt for a novel-length story, but they work quite well for me for flash fiction, which I love writing. Just like everything, writing prompts aren't for everyone. If everything was one-size-fits-all, writing would be a very boring thing.
And I'm glad you like the prompt I came up with.
I love writing prompts, and that's why I set up my short story club, but sometimes a story just appears fully formed all by itself. I tend not to experience the middle ground though... fully formed or needing prompt for my stories!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that the best ones are just a single line or even a phrase. Good luck with this!
Oooh, a present!
ReplyDeleteI've only used a writing prompt once. Don't know why I've not done it more.
But I like the idea that I can turn to you for inspiration when needed.
And, yes, shorter prompts are better.
I love writing prompts too Eric, but I find that I tend to be too picky about them. I'll search and search until I find one I "like", which is probably not really productive for any writer, but it's just the way I work. A great resource I've discovered is the hashtag #storystarters on Twitter. You can take one or leave one, and I've used several great ones to start a flash piece.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely stop by to view your prompts, (given I have time and can remember). Yes, I'm a bit scatterbrained. :)
Thank you all for the comments! Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the shorter prompts are best. I hope my weekly prompts don't disappoint.
ReplyDelete