Creative Writing Prompts: Techniques & Tips

Creative writing prompts are exercises that help a writer to come up with ideas for their writing. Prompts can be used when one is feeling stumped for an idea, or just to get the creative juices flowing.

Trying to write but can’t think of what to write about? Creative writing prompts may help!

Creative writing prompts can be anything from a photo to a simple word that inspires your creativity.

An example of this could be someone reading a book about travel and coming up with new plot points, characters, or even locations for their next novel.

Writers can use creative writing prompts to help them get past writer’s block and move on with their work.

Teachers often have students write based on creative writing prompts because it helps the children identify their interests while learning how to write creatively. They can also use these prompts as class assignments or inspiration for lesson plans.

Creative writing prompts give students many different ways of expressing themselves through words. Still, they also provide teachers with ways to challenge their students’ minds and get them excited about reading, writing, and creating new works.

What Are Creative Writing Prompts?

Creative writing prompts are exercises that get you thinking about writing in general and help you develop new ideas for your creative writing.

They are not necessarily meant for publication, though some can be used directly as the opening line of a short story or poem.

For example, a prompt might be “Write about being stuck in a tunnel.”

This gives the writer an idea of what to write about; they may decide how claustrophobic they feel or may decide to write about how they find something interesting along the way (like a mysterious door).

Either way, this exercise is meant to get your brain moving again so that you can start thinking creatively.

Why We Love Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts have been a big part of my writing journey.  They are helpful for keeping you in the writing mindset, helping you overcome writer’s block, and steering you toward a story you might not have thought you would ever write.

I love creative writing prompts because they permit me to play with other words and worlds, and I’m always amazed by what I discover.  Here are some of the reasons I love creative writing prompts:

Creative Writing Prompts Help You See Differently

If you’re anything like me, when you first begin to think about a story, it is all about the characters for me.  I’m not thinking about the plot or setting or even the theme.  I’m thinking, “what do these people want, and how will they get it?”

Creative writing prompts help me see my characters and their stories from different angles and perspectives.

Creative Writing Prompts Help Me Think About Story Structure

Often I’m just starting with a story idea, and I don’t have an ending in mind, or if I do have an ending in mind, it is the most straightforward sort (like “they live happily ever after”).   Creative writing prompts help me think about structure.

After You Find The Perfect Story Idea

A lot of people ask me how I find story ideas. How do I know what to write about?

I find ideas for my books and articles by perusing the news, reading articles in magazines and newspapers, and watching television shows.

The first thing I do is look at the news on various topics. For example, if I’m interested in writing about personal finance, I’ll go to Yahoo! News or Google News and type in a keyword related to personal finance.

(Here are some keywords you might try: money, finance, investing, 401k). You can also use a tool like BlogPulse to see which widespread stories are on the web.

I may also search through magazines and newspapers. Look through several issues of your favorite magazine or newspaper. Which stories are getting the most attention? Why? What makes them attractive?

Finally, keep an eye on your local news program. The reporter will usually introduce their story by saying, “In today’s top story…” That’s where that day’s most important story comes from. 

It could be anything, from a politician being arrested to someone winning the lottery, but the reporter will usually say something that gives you a clue about the story. The rest of the story.

How To Build A Writing Routine

I’ve been writing for a living since I was 18, and in the last decade or so, and I’ve talked to many writers. But every time I ask them about their daily writing habits, I get different answers. Some writers can crank out 1,000 words in an hour. 

Others have to write for hours—10, 12, maybe even 20—to reach the exact word count.

Tutorials on writing routines tend to be pretty vague and incomplete: “Get up at 4:30 am” is a big one, as is “Write every day.” 

The truth is that there’s no magic formula that works for every writer. 

What works for me may not work for you—and what works today may not work tomorrow. 

But if you’re struggling with a writing schedule and looking for some advice on getting started with your routine, here are some things to consider:

Set realistic goals: The first step toward building a writing routine is setting realistic goals for yourself. For example, if getting up at 4:30 am is what works best for you (or what you think will work best), then aim to do it 7 days a week. Or if 5 pm is better for your schedule, then try to make sure you hit that time frame.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzi17WRMpN8

Writing Prompt Ideas

When you’re starting as a writer, it can be hard to develop new topics for your articles. This is where a writing prompt can help. A writing prompt is a short passage that inspires writers to create something new.

A writing prompt can be used in any creative writing situation, including developing characters and dialogue, working on plot structure, or simply getting started with a blank page.

Writing prompts are also an excellent way to inspire yourself when you’re having trouble getting started on a project you’ve already been working on. You’ll be able to get back into the rhythm of your work and break through the block you’ve been experiencing.

There are several ways that writing prompts can help your writing practice:

   

They can break you out of your writing rut.

Writing prompts can challenge your creative or mental boundaries by encouraging you to write something that wouldn’t normally come naturally to you.

If you’re stuck in a rut with one genre, for example, try a fiction or non-fiction writing prompt to get your creativity flowing again. They can help you develop new ideas.

If you’re struggling with an idea for a story or article, try some writing prompts for inspiration.

What is a Writing Prompt? 

According to Wikipedia, a writing prompt is “a stimulus for creativity in fiction or nonfiction writing.” In other words, something small gets your brain working on a topic and helps you produce something.

Short Writing Prompts

Whether you’re a novelist or a business writer, writing is essential to your skillset. One way to improve your writing chops is to practice writing from prompts.

Treat each prompt as a creative exercise that can spark your imagination and help you break out of writer’s block.

Simply write whatever comes to mind without editing or revising. Some prompts will lead you to start with a specific idea and then brainstorm new angles on it; others will require you to write for a long time before inspiration strikes.

You’ve probably heard it said that writing should be a regular part of your daily life, but how many of us are actually doing it? If you’re like me, you probably find yourself with little time to do anything other than work, eat, and sleep.

And let’s face it — we all know that if you don’t carve out writing time each day before you know it, months will go by, and you’ll still struggle to put words down on the page.

Description:One way to remedy this is by using short writing prompts.

These are a great way to get your creative juices flowing and give yourself some structure in the process. Writing prompts are a fun way to break out of a rut and come up with new ideas for stories or poems that you can then flesh out later when you have more time.

Cool Writing Prompts

Here’s a collection of cool writing prompts. Most of them are usable for just about any fiction or non-fiction piece that you want to write. All you need to do is change some information and details, and you’re ready to go.

Question: what does your day look like?

Answer: Yesterday, I woke up at 5:30 am. I sat on my bed for a few minutes, feeling pretty tired and not too thrilled about getting up, but then I decided that I’d better get up because if I didn’t, then I would be late for school, and what would happen if I got detention? So I went ahead and got up.

As soon as I sat up in bed, my cat jumped onto my lap, which was surprising because she doesn’t usually do that so early in the morning, but today she did. 

When I put her off my lap, she started mewing at me and rubbing against my legs, which was also surprising because she doesn’t usually act like that except when she wants to go outside or when she wants something to eat.

Then after a couple of minutes of that, she ran out into the hallway and started clawing at the door to the bathroom.

Here is a list of some excellent prompts to help you start writing. While I encourage everyone to develop their ideas and topics, sometimes you just need a little nudge in the right direction.

Funny Writing Prompts

There are two types of funny writing prompts: those that make you laugh and those that make you cry. 

This list contains both.  Funny writing prompts to encourage your sense of humor by getting your imagination going. 

Before starting a funny piece, think about what makes it funny. Are people laughing at the fact that it’s true? Or are they laughing at the situation itself?

 Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to write a joke or even a short story. Just come up with an idea for something and run with it. Funny writing prompts are just starting points, after all.

Funny Writing Prompts for Adults

Write about what you would do if you were invisible for one day and get away with anything without getting caught.

Write about having the ability to travel anywhere in the world via teleportation (like in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” or “Temple of Doom”). Where would you go first?

Write about what you do when no one is looking. Do they know how much fun you really have when they aren’t watching?

Write about being a superhero with no powers but being able to fly around the world (and back) in an afternoon just by using public transportation.

Writing Prompts For Kids

It is indeed a perfect way to teach kids how to write and expand their imagination. Here are some of the best writing prompts for kids that you can use:

Writing Prompts For Kids

What’s your hero’s journey? – A character arc is one of the essential components of any story, but it’s a lot of fun to ask your child to think about their favorite hero or heroine and what their character arc looks like from beginning to end.

This is a great warm-up exercise; you’ll be inspired if you’re talking about all your favorite characters.

I’m going on an adventure! – Whether your child has been begging you for an overnight trip somewhere or not, this one will get them excited about the idea.

Talk about packing for the trip and what’s in the suitcase, where you’re going, and what you’ll do when you get there. Again, this can be a great way to inspire thinking about other stories — if you’re going on an adventure, what kind of adventure would it be?

Choose a villain – A heartfelt villain is one of the most relatable characters around — everyone has felt like they were being pushed around at some point in their life.

Creative Writing Prompts To Try Out

Creative writing prompts are a fun way to get your creative juices flowing. They can be used to help you with story writing, poetry, and song lyric composition. Here are some ideas to get you started and some books of prompts you can use if you find this helpful.

A great way to jump-start your imagination is to give it a little nudge from some outside sources. The internet is full of different tools to help your mind think creatively.

One of the best ways to do this is through writing prompts that will get your hands moving on the keyboard or in the notebook. Here’s what I’ve found that works for me:

Articles about a topic that interests me – I read articles about things I’m interested in and try to develop something related.

• Listening to music – Music can get me into my world and let my imagination run wild.
• Looking at art – This is something I do when I’m stuck and just need kindling for an idea.
• Watching movies – Movies can spark ideas as well, especially if they’re old movies where technology was an issue or a problem that needed solving.
• Letting my mind wander – Sometimes all.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46gdWq_2qyU

Don’t Limit Yourself To Prose

Many people think that the most important factor in their writing is their words. However, it’s the structure of your writing that makes it good or bad.

If you want to write well, you need to change your habits and start using proper sentence structure. This kind of sentence structure will let you write faster and make it easier for your reader to understand what you’re saying.

For example, if you want to get started with your writing for the day, there are two things that you should do. First, make sure you have a glass of water by your side before you begin. Drink this down before you sit down at your computer.

The second thing to do is make sure that you have a piece of paper and a pen ready by your side as well. You might find one or both convenient to put right on top of the computer keyboard.

When you’re done drinking the water, pick up the pen and begin writing out a rough draft of what it is that you plan on writing today. Don’t worry about grammar, sentence structure, or spelling yet; just get it all out onto paper first.

Once you’ve got everything written down on paper, then take a look at what you’ve written and correct any mistakes in grammar or spelling.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHa0qAZKKzY

Don’t Edit As You Write

I see it happen all the time. Someone is writing a blog post, an article, or even just an email, and they start to edit as they go. They reread what they wrote, change a word here and there, or delete a phrase and replace it with something else.

I used to do it all the time. I would write a sentence and then change it. Then I would read what I had written and decide that it wasn’t good enough, so I would delete everything I had written and start again. 

Then I would read what I had written again and decide that it was still not good enough to go back to the beginning and start again.

It got to the point where whenever I sat down to write anything of any substance, like an article for my blog or an email to send to someone important, my mind would freeze up in terror because I knew that whatever I was about to write wouldn’t be good enough because after reading it through once, all the words would need changing which meant starting from scratch again!

Eventually, after months of this strange paralysis, whenever I tried to write anything at all, I wondered if maybe there was another way of doing things?

Do Interpret The Writing Prompt Broadly

Interpret the writing prompt broadly. You can write about any topic related to the prompt that you wish, including topics not directly related to the prompt.

For example, you might write about a time when you felt like life was unfair or faced with a challenge, or perhaps you could write about your life philosophy.

   

Treat each writing prompt as an opportunity for self-expression, and don’t let yourself be limited by the scope of the assignment. Think outside the box and give it a personal slant. Come up with an original idea and treat it with care so that your work is meaningful and relevant.

You should feel free to use your voice in your writing. Just make sure that it’s a voice that sounds like yours, not one that tries too hard to be something that it’s not, because then it won’t sound genuine or authentic.

It’s also important to learn how to communicate effectively through writing appropriate for business situations.

Hiring managers often look at samples of candidates’ writing skills as part of their decision-making process, so be sure to proofread your work carefully and ask someone who is fluent in English to review it if necessary before submitting it as part of an application package.

Do Try Switching Up Your Writing Methods

I am a big fan of using the “Five-Minute Journal” to boost my creativity, focus, and positivity. I’ve been using it for the past few months, unlike any other morning routine I’ve ever tried.

There are so many apps and tools out there to help us be better versions of ourselves, yet we don’t use them! Why?! We spend so much time on our phones that sometimes I feel like we have become our phones.

Trying something new with my journaling has helped me switch up my writing methods and has improved my overall feeling of happiness.

The Five-Minute Journal is a small, spiral-bound book that helps you get started on your day off right by encouraging you to take five minutes at the beginning of each day to think about what you are grateful for, reflect on your day, and set goals.

There are prompts in the journal to get you started if you’re feeling stuck. Each page is divided into five sections: one minute to write down three things you’re grateful for; one minute to write down at least three things that went well yesterday; one minute to write down your goals for today (this can be both professional and personal goals); one minute to write down one positive thing about yourself.