Is your brain feeling a little blah...stale...uninspired? 

 

Here's a big list of writing prompts to unlock some new ideas.

 

I made up the following prompts for my last Hawaii Retreat, which ended a few days ago. These prompts led to some weird, wonderful, tender, moving, and hilarious pieces of writing. I wanted to share these prompts with you, so you can be virtually transported to Hawaii for zero dollars! Enjoy. 

 

What is a writing prompt? A short question, phrase, or scenario that prompts you into writing something new. 

Why bother using a writing prompt? Just like you can stretch and warm-up your physical muscles, you can stretch and warm-up your creative muscles. Playing around with a writing prompt helps to wake up your brain, get your creativity flowing, and unlock new ideas. 

 

How should you use a writing prompt? However you want. No rigid rules. You can throw on some music, pick a prompt, write for five minutes, pause, and see what you've got. You might be pleasantly surprised by what pours out of your brain.

 

Writing Prompts

 

Non-fiction

 

* Write a true story about your worst job (or strangest job).

 

* Write a true story about a time when you felt like an "outsider."

 

* Write a true story about a very difficult decision you had to make.

 

* Write a true story about forgiveness—a time when you forgave yourself, forgave someone else, or both.

 

* Write a true story about loss/grief and what you learned from the experience.

 

* Write a true story about a health crisis and what you learned.

 

* Write a true story about a decision that altered the course of your life.

 

Fiction

 

* Scenario: You’re an event planner. A new client comes into your office, hoping to hire you to plan a very unusual event. Who are they? What do they want? Write this scene.

 

* Scenario: You are the top detective in the city. Today, someone walks into your office with a very intriguing mystery that they want you to solve. Write this scene.

 

* Scenario: You’re the mayor of a small town. The town is struggling financially. Too many people are moving away. Businesses are closing. The town is withering. You invite the community to gather for a meeting to brainstorm ways to revitalize the town. Write this scene. 

 

Descriptions

 

* Describe how disappointment feels in your body.

 

* Describe how hope feels in your body.

 

* Describe your very first boyfriend/girlfriend. 

 

* Describe your bedroom.

 

* Describe a window, wall, or door that's close by. 

 

Very short prompts

 

* Write a six word statement (inspired by SixWordMemoirs.com) about your favorite pair of shoes.

 

* Write a six word statement (inspired by SixWordMemoirs.com) about your best friend.

 

* Write a six word statement (inspired by SixWordMemoirs.com) to describe your life philosophy, your motto, your approach to life.

 

* Write a Dekaaz (similar to a Haiku, a very short poem with ten syllables divided into three lines: two, three, five) about the breakfast you had today. (Dekaaz was invented by the wonderful Rachel Bagby. Visit RachelBagby.com/Dekaaz/ for more info).

 

* Write a Dekaaz about your current partner (or ex-partner).

 

* Close your eyes. Open your eyes. Write a Dekaaz about the very first thing you see.

 

Questions

 

* If you had twenty-four hours to live, what would you do with your time? Where would you go? Who would you see? What would you say? 

 

* What's something you’d love to learn—or improve? 

 

* When you’re feeling stuck/uncertain, how do you make a decision? Do you make a pro/con chart? Do you talk to a mentor? Turn inward and trust your instincts? Something else?

 

* Sohwakhaeng is a Korean word that means "small but certain happiness." Think: a cup of tea, petting a soft puppy, listening to your favorite song. What's something that creates a feeling of sohwakhaeng in your day?

 

* 100 more questions. 

 

Happy writing.

Have a beautiful week.

Be kind to yourself and others.

You're doing a greeeeeeat job.

 

-Alex

 

PS. Want to use these writing prompts with your K-12 students, college students, writing group, book club, dinner party guests, clients, whoever, whatever? Go for it. Enjoy. Have fun.

 

PPS. I made a whole bunch of new music playlists! Hawaii Retreat playlist. Morning Yoga playlist. Honolulu Girl's Trip playlist. Also, this song is so funny and amazing and I love it. Short Kings!

 

PPPS. This is so weird and made me laugh so hard. Watch until the very, very end. It's...a...journey.

 

PPPPS. Remember that time my friend Melissa and I made a bizarre podcast where we gush about our favorite music, TV, and pop culture obsessions…debate hypothetical questions (“Would you date someone with the exact same name as your mom or dad?”)…try (and fail) to improvise rap lyrics…and re-enact steamy scenes from our favorite movies? Yeah, that happened. Now available on iTunes and Spotify.