“Just write every day of
your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens.”
Ray
Bradbury
Like
anything, we get better by doing. Writing everyday helps build good writing habits
that help us reach our goals, and nourishes our craft. Journaling is a great
way to write every day, even if it’s just a sentence or two. If we force
ourselves to do little bits, then tackling the big bits doesn’t seem as
daunting.
You can write something
down first thing in the morning or before you go to bed or just keep a notebook
handy for when inspiration strikes. It doesn’t matter, but even a single
sentence may one day become the seed of inspiration that turns into your
greatest work of art.
But I sit down of a night-time
with a pen and a notebook and think what
on earth do I have to say? Today wasn’t especially great or interesting,
and I didn’t have any light bulb idea moments so what am I going to write
about?
1. Begin
the day with a sentence about anything. At the end of the day, write the
second.
2. Listen
to your current favourite song. Write a scene or a paragraph while listening to
it.
3. Begin
with a character’s name – something unusual. Write a couple of attributes for that
character.
4. Choose
three striking features for a villain’s appearance.
5. Write
down a short list of settings that you love (to write in, to see, to be in,
etc.)
6. Write
a list of words you love.
7. Write
down titles of books. Not ones that already exist, but titles that would grab
your interest if you saw them on the shelf. Don’t worry about their stories,
just write the title.
8. Write
a fifty-word story.
9. Go
sit or stand outside for a moment. Describe what you see, but add a detail that
doesn’t exist.
10. Picture
an original character you’ve previously created and write a couple of sentences
about them. Put them in a setting they would be unlikely to find themselves in.
11. Write
two lines of a poem.
12. Search
the meaning of your name. Write it down. If you can’t find a meaning, invent
one.
13. What
is your favourite genre? Write a gripping first sentence to a story in said
genre.
14. Write
a top ten favourites list of characters (books or television).
15. Write
a conversation between yourself and your favourite character.
16. Write
about what your idea of Utopia would be like, and a list of the inevitable
negatives.
17. Choose
and list five complimentary attributes for a character.
18. Looking
at your list of attributes, give your character a super power they would
despise having, based on their attributes.
19. Choose
a mythical creature you’re fond of, create a new origin story of how they came
to be, or how they came to be extinct.
20. Write
the premise for a children’s story.
21. Write
a single sentence describing a world of your own invention.
22. In
a year from now, the world has changed drastically due to one major event.
Describe the event and the repercussions.
23. Think
of a fairy-tale you were fond of as a kid. If you rewrote it what would be the
biggest change you would make?
24. Use
a character name generator online. Write down the first name it gives you, and
describe the person.
25. Royal,
rebel or reader? Pick one, write.
26. Pick
a classic tale: Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Reimagine the story and write down a few major changes you would make.
27. Find
the nearest book. Turn to page 42 and write down the first, full sentence.
Continue it on your own.
28. Write
about an ancient artefact with a curse, but the curse is different for
everyone. Why? What causes it?
29. Quick-fire
some story ideas. Write down at least five (even if they’re bad).
30. Invent
an imaginary place that values one thing above all else. Money? Fame? Freedom?
Love?
What
has been your favourite writing prompt you’ve ever come across (or thought of
yourself)?
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