In Australia, we’re in the middle of the summer holidays, with most of January stretching out before us. To me, it seems the perfect time to tap into our creativity, and set up some great writing habits for the year to come.
So whether you’re a young writer wondering how to fill those long, hot days or an adult longing to sneak a few creative moments for yourself, here’s a few writing prompts to get you started.
Whether you’ve got five minutes or five hours, choose a prompt – and just begin.
Consider the following:
- What is this building and where is it?
- Why is it abandoned?
- What was it used for before now?
- Who might find themselves here, and why?
Now, write or create something inspired by the image.
2. Five Words
Write a poem, story or piece of artwork that includes the following five words:
3. I Remember
Write down ‘I remember’ at the top of the page. Now, create a list of whatever memories come to mind. They may be major milestones in your life, or they may be brief, seemingly insignificant, moments.
Select one of these memories to write a poem or a piece of narrative non-fiction. Alternatively you may wish to use the memory as a basis for a fictional story, or even a piece of artwork.
4. Take a Walk
In Meg McKinlay’s picture book, Ten Tiny Things, the two main characters are forced to walk everywhere after their ‘metal machine’ breaks down. In doing so, they begin seeing tiny things they never noticed while rushing by in the car.
Take a walk. Collect objects, take photos, or make a note of ten things you notice along the way. These might be things you can collect and take home with you, or it may include observations, such as the way an insect, bird or plant moves or sounds.
Now write a story that includes some or all of these ‘ten tiny things’.
5. Points of View
1. Sit somewhere – anywhere – in a room of your choice, or even outside. Describe what you see.
2. Move to the other side of the room. What do you see differently?
3. Now sit somewhere lower (e.g. on the floor or under a table) OR up higher (e.g. on top of a table or up a tree). What do you see?
Write a scene in which two characters view a situation from very different perspectives. How does that affect what they see? What conflict might this cause?
6. First Lines
Select one line from a poem or a song, and make it the first line of a story or other piece of writing. Alternatively represent elements of the poem or song in a piece of artwork.
7. Modes of Transport.
Brainstorm modes of transport. These can be existing or imagined. Here’s a few to get you started:
Select one, preferably an unusual one, and image the character who might use it own it. How did they come to have it? How often do they use it? Where do they go with it?
Over to You
Which writing prompts did you try?
I’d love to hear how you went, so please let me know in the comments section, or by emailing me via the contact page.
Remember: Just begin.