More Creative Writing Exercises and Prompts

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More Creative Writing Exercises and Prompts

By Deb Gallardo

A previous post listed two new writers’ resources. Today we continue with more idea generators and resources.

The seasons are always a great source of story inspiration. Here we have prompts specific to three seasons.

Spring includes 15 prompts:

1 – A springtime photo and quote, along with a couple of questions, give you a jump-start on this prompt

2 – Tapping into your 5 senses, write about the smells, sights, sounds, feel and taste of spring, plus any personal experiences of spring

3 – Dredge your memory for a favorite springtime memory (here’s a way to access one of mine), from the distant past or more recently

4 – Creating a poem, even if you prefer to write prose, is a good way to prime your creative pump, so write personally on the subject of springtime

5 – Another springtime photo, quotation and questions, like #1

6 – This focuses on your reaction to the first walk you take in spring and the three things you like most about spring

7-8, 11, 13 & 15 – More spring photos, quotes, and two questions for each

9 – Expressing gratitude for spring will not only help you to appreciate all that this season has to offer, but will have a healthful benefit as well. (You have read the latest research about gratitude, haven’t you?

10 – Three questions about your reaction to seeing the trees budding after a long winter

12 – Speculate on what would happen if there were no spring, if that season never came, and how it would affect us and our planet?

14 – From a list of 26 words relating to spring, choose one and write about it for 10 minutes without stopping

Summer includes 15 prompts

1 – Summer photo (no quote this time) and a series of questions to get you thinking

2 – Tapping into your 5 senses, write about the smells, sights, sounds, feel and taste of summer, plus any personal experiences of summer

3 – Relive your favorite summer memory and write for 10 minutes without stopping

4 – Think of summer’s characteristics and compose a poem that captures the essence of one aspect of summer, critters, heat, fun in the sun, whatever.

5 – Photo of windmill with a series of specific questions that draw out your imagination.

6 – Whether you vedge inside in front of an A/C, or if you love the heat, speculate about how people coped before air conditioning was invented.

7 – Questions about climbing trees to inspire you.

8 – Photo of a line of tall, stately trees that have endured for a century or more. What history do you see when you look at those trees?

9 – What would be your reaction if we went from spring to fall to winter to spring?

10 – Summer flower photo with a question about what other “art” from nature do you see in summer?

11 – The seasons have been compared to different stages of our life. Speculate on what part of our human life is represented by summer?

12 – Summer is different in other parts of the world than where you live. Compare and contrast what you know of those other locales with your summers

13 – With a summer photo (that isn’t much at all, frankly, and several summertime sayings, brainstorm other sayings, and then choose any to write about, including your reactions to how you feel when you hear these sayings

14 – From a list of 45 terms related to summer, choose one and write about it for 10 minutes. My view is that you can pick more than one. The story prompt police are not going to come after you if you pick more than one

15 – People in temperate climates (usually 4 distinct seasons) have summer for 2-3 months per year. Imagine what it would be like to live in an area that had summer-like weather all year. Other questions probe your reactions here

Autumn includes 13 prompts

1 – Fall photo inspiration focuses on the colors of the season

2 – Tapping into your 5 senses, write about the smells, sights, sounds, feel and taste of fall, plus any personal experiences of fall

3 – This one is a bit more creative than the other seasons. You’ll want to read this prompt on the site

4 – As with spring and summer, this one is an opportunity to write about your fall memories. (here’s how you can access one of mine)

5 – Create a poem that captures the essence of the season, whether it’s back to school, autumn leaves, Trick or Treating or pumpkins, frost and cider

6 – Photo of fall foliage and questions relating to natural changes that alter the landscape and our reactions to these phenomena

7 – What three things are your favorite experiences during the fall? Write about them in detail

8 – Draw/color a fall-related silly something like pumpkins growing on trees, to spur your imagination to come up with other odd juxtapositions.

9 – Suppose there were no autumn, but the seasons went from spring to summer to winter. What would be your reaction and what difference would it make in your life and the world around you?

10 – Where does fall fit into the human lifespan as a metaphor? (Similar to other seasons’ prompts)

11 – Photo of a wagon load of pumpkins. Exercise – write an emotional story about this photo – humorous, dramatic, scary, etc.

12 – Choose one from an 87-word list of seasonal terms and write non-stop for 10 minutes.

13 – Graphic of a hand silhouette turned into a turkey is inspiration for a time to reflect on thankfulness.

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