If you haven’t already incorporated daily writing prompts into your writing routine, I highly recommend it. I have been writing prompts since I was in seventh grade (Thank you, Mrs. Kowalski!) and have found that these short, almost always random daily assignments have made me a better and more prolific writer.
How? For starters, it forces me to begin my day writing something. That’s vague and unhelpful, you might be thinking. But let’s be honest, as writers, the hardest thing to do at the start of our writing day is to begin. The blank page is daunting, and starting or finishing a project is often paralyzing. A writing prompt allows you to a.) forget about everything you have to get done and b.) get something on the page.
Think of a prompt like stretching before a workout or practicing a score before you begin playing an instrument. It stretches your writing muscles, loosens up your writing mind, and allows you to work without inhibition.
Prompts are the best way to begin for those who long to write but haven’t written in a long time or are scared to start. They can help you build a daily writing practice and do what you love. As you flex your writing muscles, you will find that it will get easier to write, and your writing will improve and evolve.
My favorite thing about prompts is that I almost always end up with some material, whether a few words, a sentence, or a paragraph that I can use later for another project.
Have I convinced you yet? If I have, here is more info on prompts, how you can begin your daily practice, and how it can benefit you and your writing community.
What is a Writing Prompt?
Simply put, it’s a topic on which you write.
Here are some examples:
- You are on a platform.
- Write about a bed.
- “It’s not as bad as it looks…”
- His name was __________.
How do writing prompts work?
This is the easy part. I’ll break it down in three easy steps.
Step 1: Set aside 5-30 minutes.
Step 2: Choose a prompt.
Step 3: Write.
That’s it. Don’t hate me. I’m being serious.
Now, you don’t have to give yourself a time limit, but it may help to do so at the beginning of your practice to get a feel for it and force yourself to write for the full time. If you don’t like setting time limits, you can set a page or word limit. Eventually, you may do what I do: write until you feel you’ve exhausted the prompt. Some days, I write ten pages; others, I write two paragraphs.
You also don’thave to worry about things like format, style, grammar, etc. This could mean you end up with a poem, stream of consciousness prose, an essay, a rant, a bit of memoir, gibberish… Whatever!
Just write what comes to you, however it comes to you, without concern for the final product. The point is to write!
Where to find prompts
- My social media (Facebook and Instagram) is dedicated to sharing a daily prompt.
- The Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves. Many of the prompts on my social media come from or are inspired by this book, which has 365 prompts for a whole year of prompt writing, along with some excellent quotes and advice.
- Create your own prompts: I like to jot down random prompts whenever I feel inspired. For example, I may see a caterpillar, so “Write about a caterpillar” becomes my next prompt.
- I jot down ideas in a notebook to be used later. I recommend doing the same or using your idea notebook to jot them down.
- Use prompts for a larger project: Are you writing a novel, novella, short story, or essay? You can use prompts to brainstorm or flesh out bits and pieces of a longer project. How? By using Anne Lamott’s idea of the “one-inch picture frame.” Just take one small idea, character, or scene and write on it.
- Example: You’re writing about your pet turtle, Tom. Your prompts could be:
- Write about when you got Turtle Tom.
- Write about how it felt to hold Turtle Tom.
- Write about what and how TT used to eat.
- Write about the day you realized TT was a girl.
- Example: You’re writing about your pet turtle, Tom. Your prompts could be:
How to make prompt writing a part of your routine/how to begin
Writing prompts are the best way to start your daily writing practice. They are stress free, no-pressure writing tasks that get your writing muscles moving and words on the page.
Set aside 10-20 minutes before your more “serious” writing sessions and do a prompt. Don’t worry about how much or how well this prompt writing goes. Just do it.
As a full-time writer, I always begin my day with a prompt. It’s fun, relaxed, and often results in new ideas.
What other Writers have to say about prompts
If you’re still unconvinced by little old me, this is what two established writers have to say.
Judy Reeves has a whole book of writing prompts. She has this to say in her book about prompt writing as a workout: “A writing workout is trying out phrases and auditioning words, letting the imagination have free rein while the editor in your head takes a coffee break. One of the best things about writing practice is that it is practice. It’s not supposed to be perfect. You’re free to make mistakes, fool around, take risks.”
Anne Lamott’s famous book on writing “Bird by Bird” encourages writers to write using a “one-inch picture frame.” This idea can be used for long works to focus in on characters, concepts, and scenes and uses the same concept as prompt writing, as explained earlier. If you haven’t already read Lamott’s book, I highly recommend it. It has a wealth of knowledge and actionable advice that you can use to improve your writing and complete your writing projects.
Gabriela Pereira of the Podcast DIY MFA has an episode and blog post promoting prompt writing and explaining how it can “pump up your writing.” If you haven’t already started listening to her podcast, you should! It is full of information and resources for writers.
Writing prompts and writing groups
Writing prompts are popular amongst writing groups. It’s an excuse for writers to get together and share work around a theme.
I’m in two writing groups: one at the library and one at a pub. We choose a prompt each week, write whatever we can, and then get together the next week to share our work. This builds a network, acclimatizes you to sharing your writing, and allows you to get feedback and support from fellow writers. It also encourages writers, who are often reclusive, to get out of their caves and interact with the real world.
I highly recommend joining a prompt-based writing group or starting one in your local community.
Here’s your first prompt.
Write about a light.
Now, go and write!