Do you need a few writing prompts to kick start your creativity this year?
If so, look no further!
1. Warm Up: Five Words
Include the following words in a scene: beginning, mirror, teacup, glasses, summer.
2. Five senses
Sit somewhere you can observe the scene around you. This could be your street, a local cafe, a park, school, anywhere really. Describe the scene around you. Make sure you include all five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. You might want to add emotions and anything you notice about your own body.
Create a story (fiction or non-fiction), song or poem that incorporates some of these details. Alternatively, if you have a current work-in-progress, incorporate specific details into your existing setting and story line.
3. From Real Life: A Challenge and a Joy
The last year has been filled with challenges, and yet there have still been moments of joy in the midst of it all.
Joy is different to happiness. We don’t have to be happy about our circumstances, but we can still find moments of joy and things to be thankful for.
What is one challenge you have faced? How did it impact? What helped you through it?
And what moments of joy or gratitude have you experienced?
4. Random objects
Gather together five random objects. To do this, either select one object from five different rooms (outdoor areas count), ask five people to each lend you an object, or use the five objects included here.
Create a story or piece of artwork that incorporates all five objects.
5. Arguing Characters
Create two characters who disagree on a particular topic or issue (be as controversial as you like). These could be two characters you are meeting for the first time, or they could be part of a current work-in-progress and be relatively familiar to you.
Write the conversation or argument your two characters have.
Are they able to find any common ground in the midst of their argument? Aside from the dialogue, how does each behave and feel during and after the argument? How did you feel writing it?
6. New perspectives
With your phone or a camera, head out into your yard, street or other place that is familiar to you. Take a photo of your usual vista.
Now take a collection of additional photos, all from different viewpoints. Include a variety of camera shots (e.g. close up and long shot) and camera angles (e.g. high angle and low angle).
Review the photos. What do you notice now that has escaped your attention previously?
Create a piece of artwork that incorporates some of these newly-noticed details.
7. Images
Choose an image and use it to inspire a new story, or incorporate a new aspect of a setting into an existing story.
