Writing Prompts

A writing prompt can be found anywhere. It can be found in a dictionary, TV ad, newspaper, magazine, picture or on the Internet.

Writing prompts are often used by kids (and adults too!) who keep a journal or write creatively. Of course, many writers enjoy using a good writing prompt when they begin a new writing project. Prompts are the fuel many writers need to get the creative juices flowing.

Writing prompts are unique, fun or inspiring words, thoughts or pictures that help the writer formulate ideas. The prompts could be in the form of a single word, a phrase, a sentence or a paragraph. They could also be an image or a picture that invoke new and engaging thoughts to write about in a story or in a journal.

The benefit of writing prompts is that they assist writers in the creative process of generating a focus, theme or topic for their writing endeavors.

Consider this: Just one word has the power to spark new ideas to explore in writing. Thereafter, the writer can formulate a few sentences from a word and eventually create paragraphs, an entire story and possibly a novel!

A wonderful example of a single-word writing prompt is “star”.  From this fabulous word many ideas can be thought of and written about by writers of any age.  One writer may choose to explore what it means to wish upon a star and have that wish come true instantly.  Another writer may be inspired to write about star dust streaking across the cosmos at stellar light speed. Yet another write may get the notion to write about movie stars or music stars and why they want to be one one day. Truly, the writing ideas that may be generated from a single word are endless.

 Purposes of Writing Prompts

The first purpose of writing prompts is that they give the writer an idea to expound upon. Some writers, when given a blank page, are at a loss as to what to write. Their minds may go blank and they may even experience writer’s block. With a writing prompt in the form of a word or a phrase, the writer’s creative mind engages and her creative wheels begin to spin, so to speak.

Another fabulous purpose for writing prompts is that a writer may create some really great material. Imagine an idea that started with a word or a phrase but in the end becomes a masterpiece. This is entirely possible! With good writing prompts, a writer’s mind flows with ideas, and many people find it amazing how much inspiration writing prompts produce.

A third purpose to writing prompts is that they support the habit of exploring new ideas in one’s writing. This exploration of new thoughts and ideas becomes a sort of exercise. It flexes one’s writing muscles and develops their writing skills.

There are also many writing groups, creative writing classes and English teachers out there that use writing prompts. Teachers use them as a means to inspire and motivate writers by exposing them to ideas that they may never think of if left to their own devices. Many websites (including this one) exist that give ideas for writing prompts.  We suggest you explore them.  You’ll be glad you did.

Happy writing…