creative writing practice for adults

Writing Activities

105 Creative Writing Exercises To Get You Writing Again

You know that feeling when you just don’t feel like writing? Sometimes you can’t even get a word down on paper. It’s the most frustrating thing ever to a writer, especially when you’re working towards a deadline. The good news is that we have a list of 105 creative writing exercises to help you get motivated and start writing again!

What are creative writing exercises?

Creative writing exercises are short writing activities (normally around 10 minutes) designed to get you writing. The goal of these exercises is to give you the motivation to put words onto a blank paper. These words don’t need to be logical or meaningful, neither do they need to be grammatically correct or spelt correctly. The whole idea is to just get you writing something, anything. The end result of these quick creative writing exercises is normally a series of notes, bullet points or ramblings that you can, later on, use as inspiration for a bigger piece of writing such as a story or a poem.

Good creative writing exercises are short, quick and easy to complete. You shouldn’t need to think too much about your style of writing or how imaginative your notes are. Just write anything that comes to mind, and you’ll be on the road to improving your creative writing skills and beating writer’s block .

Use the generator below to get a random creative writing exercise idea:

List of 105+ Creative Writing Exercises

Here are over 105 creative writing exercises to give your brain a workout and help those creative juices flow again:

Set a timer for 60 seconds. Now write down as many words or phrases that come to mind at that moment.
Pick any colour you like. Now start your sentence with this colour. For example, Orange, the colour of my favourite top.
Open a book or dictionary on a random page. Pick a random word. You can close your eyes and slowly move your finger across the page. Now, write a paragraph with this random word in it. You can even use an online dictionary to get random words:

Create your own alphabet picture book or list. It can be A to Z of animals, food, monsters or anything else you like!
Using only the sense of smell, describe where you are right now.
Take a snack break. While eating your snack write down the exact taste of that food. The goal of this creative writing exercise is to make your readers savour this food as well.
Pick a random object in your room and write a short paragraph from its point of view. For example, how does your pencil feel? What if your lamp had feelings?
Describe your dream house. Where would you live one day? Is it huge or tiny?
Pick two different TV shows, movies or books that you like. Now swap the main character. What if Supergirl was in Twilight? What if SpongeBob SquarePants was in The Flash? Write a short scene using this character swap as inspiration.
What’s your favourite video game? Write at least 10 tips for playing this game.
Pick your favourite hobby or sport. Now pretend an alien has just landed on Earth and you need to teach it this hobby or sport. Write at least ten tips on how you would teach this alien.
Use a random image generator and write a paragraph about the first picture you see.

Write a letter to your favourite celebrity or character. What inspires you most about them? Can you think of a memorable moment where this person’s life affected yours? We have this helpful guide on writing a letter to your best friend for extra inspiration.
Write down at least 10 benefits of writing. This can help motivate you and beat writer’s block.
Complete this sentence in 10 different ways: Patrick waited for the school bus and…
Pick up a random book from your bookshelf and go to page 9. Find the ninth sentence on that page. Use this sentence as a story starter.
Create a character profile based on all the traits that you hate. It might help to list down all the traits first and then work on describing the character.
What is the scariest or most dangerous situation you have ever been in? Why was this situation scary? How did you cope at that moment?
Pretend that you’re a chat show host and you’re interviewing your favourite celebrity. Write down the script for this conversation.
Using extreme detail, write down what you have been doing for the past one hour today. Think about your thoughts, feelings and actions during this time.
Make a list of potential character names for your next story. You can use a fantasy name generator to help you.
Describe a futuristic setting. What do you think the world would look like in 100 years time?
Think about a recent argument you had with someone. Would you change anything about it? How would you resolve an argument in the future?
Describe a fantasy world. What kind of creatures live in this world? What is the climate like? What everyday challenges would a typical citizen of this world face? You can use this fantasy world name generator for inspiration.
At the flip of a switch, you turn into a dragon. What kind of dragon would you be? Describe your appearance, special abilities, likes and dislikes. You can use a dragon name generator to give yourself a cool dragon name.
Pick your favourite book or a famous story. Now change the point of view. For example, you could rewrite the fairytale , Cinderella. This time around, Prince Charming could be the main character. What do you think Prince Charming was doing, while Cinderella was cleaning the floors and getting ready for the ball?
Pick a random writing prompt and use it to write a short story. Check out this collection of over 300 writing prompts for kids to inspire you.
Write a shopping list for a famous character in history. Imagine if you were Albert Einstein’s assistant, what kind of things would he shop for on a weekly basis?
Create a fake advertisement poster for a random object that is near you right now. Your goal is to convince the reader to buy this object from you.
What is the worst (or most annoying) sound that you can imagine? Describe this sound in great detail, so your reader can understand the pain you feel when hearing this sound.
What is your favourite song at the moment? Pick one line from this song and describe a moment in your life that relates to this line.
You’re hosting an imaginary dinner party at your house. Create a list of people you would invite, and some party invites. Think about the theme of the dinner party, the food you will serve and entertainment for the evening.
You are waiting to see your dentist in the waiting room. Write down every thought you are having at this moment in time.
Make a list of your greatest fears. Try to think of at least three fears. Now write a short story about a character who is forced to confront one of these fears.
Create a ‘Wanted’ poster for a famous villain of your choice. Think about the crimes they have committed, and the reward you will give for having them caught.
Imagine you are a journalist for the ‘Imagine Forest Times’ newspaper. Your task is to get an exclusive interview with the most famous villain of all time. Pick a villain of your choice and interview them for your newspaper article. What questions would you ask them, and what would their responses be?
In a school playground, you see the school bully hurting a new kid. Write three short stories, one from each perspective in this scenario (The bully, the witness and the kid getting bullied).
You just won $10 million dollars. What would you spend this money on?
Pick a random animal, and research at least five interesting facts about this animal. Write a short story centred around one of these interesting facts.
Pick a global issue that you are passionate about. This could be climate change, black lives matters, women’s rights etc. Now create a campaign poster for this global issue.
Write an acrostic poem about an object near you right now (or even your own name). You could use a poetry idea generator to inspire you.
Imagine you are the head chef of a 5-star restaurant. Recently the business has slowed down. Your task is to come up with a brand-new menu to excite customers. Watch this video prompt on YouTube to inspire you.
What is your favourite food of all time? Imagine if this piece of food was alive, what would it say to you?
If life was one big musical, what would you be singing about right now? Write the lyrics of your song.
Create and describe the most ultimate villain of all time. What would their traits be? What would their past look like? Will they have any positive traits?
Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: Every time I look out of the window, I…
You have just made it into the local newspaper, but what for? Write down at least five potential newspaper headlines . Here’s an example, Local Boy Survives a Deadly Illness.
If you were a witch or a wizard, what would your specialist area be and why? You might want to use a Harry Potter name generator or a witch name generator for inspiration.
What is your favourite thing to do on a Saturday night? Write a short story centred around this activity.
Your main character has just received the following items: A highlighter, a red cap, a teddy bear and a fork. What would your character do with these items? Can you write a story using these items?
Create a timeline of your own life, from birth to this current moment. Think about the key events in your life, such as birthdays, graduations, weddings and so on. After you have done this, you can pick one key event from your life to write a story about.
Think of a famous book or movie you like. Rewrite a scene from this book or movie, where the main character is an outsider. They watch the key events play out, but have no role in the story. What would their actions be? How would they react?
Three very different characters have just won the lottery. Write a script for each character, as they reveal the big news to their best friend.
Write a day in the life story of three different characters. How does each character start their day? What do they do throughout the day? And how does their day end?
Write about the worst experience in your life so far. Think about a time when you were most upset or angry and describe it.
Imagine you’ve found a time machine in your house. What year would you travel to and why?
Describe your own superhero. Think about their appearance, special abilities and their superhero name. Will they have a secret identity? Who is their number one enemy?
What is your favourite country in the world? Research five fun facts about this country and use one to write a short story.
Set yourself at least three writing goals. This could be a good way to motivate yourself to write every day. For example, one goal might be to write at least 150 words a day.
Create a character description based on the one fact, three fiction rule. Think about one fact or truth about yourself. And then add in three fictional or fantasy elements. For example, your character could be the same age as you in real life, this is your one fact. And the three fictional elements could be they have the ability to fly, talk in over 100 different languages and have green skin.
Describe the perfect person. What traits would they have? Think about their appearance, their interests and their dislikes.
Keep a daily journal or diary. This is a great way to keep writing every day. There are lots of things you can write about in your journal, such as you can write about the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of your day. Think about anything that inspired you or anything that upset you, or just write anything that comes to mind at the moment.
Write a book review or a movie review. If you’re lost for inspiration, just watch a random movie or read any book that you can find. Then write a critical review on it. Think about the best parts of the book/movie and the worst parts. How would you improve the book or movie?
Write down a conversation between yourself. You can imagine talking to your younger self or future self (i.e. in 10 years’ time). What would you tell them? Are there any lessons you learned or warnings you need to give? Maybe you could talk about what your life is like now and compare it to their life?
Try writing some quick flash fiction stories . Flash fiction is normally around 500 words long, so try to stay within this limit.
Write a six-word story about something that happened to you today or yesterday. A six-word story is basically an entire story told in just six words. Take for example: “Another football game ruined by me.” or “A dog’s painting sold for millions.” – Six-word stories are similar to writing newspaper headlines. The goal is to summarise your story in just six words.
The most common monsters or creatures used in stories include vampires, werewolves , dragons, the bigfoot, sirens and the loch-ness monster. In a battle of intelligence, who do you think will win and why?
Think about an important event in your life that has happened so far, such as a birthday or the birth of a new sibling. Now using the 5 W’s and 1 H technique describe this event in great detail. The 5 W’s include: What, Who, Where, Why, When and the 1 H is: How. Ask yourself questions about the event, such as what exactly happened on that day? Who was there? Why was this event important? When and where did it happen? And finally, how did it make you feel?
Pretend to be someone else. Think about someone important in your life. Now put yourself into their shoes, and write a day in the life story about being them. What do you think they do on a daily basis? What situations would they encounter? How would they feel?
Complete this sentence in at least 10 different ways: I remember…
Write about your dream holiday. Where would you go? Who would you go with? And what kind of activities would you do?
Which one item in your house do you use the most? Is it the television, computer, mobile phone, the sofa or the microwave? Now write a story of how this item was invented. You might want to do some research online and use these ideas to build up your story.
In exactly 100 words, describe your bedroom. Try not to go over or under this word limit.
Make a top ten list of your favourite animals. Based on this list create your own animal fact file, where you provide fun facts about each animal in your list.
What is your favourite scene from a book or a movie? Write down this scene. Now rewrite the scene in a different genre, such as horror, comedy, drama etc.
Change the main character of a story you recently read into a villain. For example, you could take a popular fairytale such as Jack and the Beanstalk, but this time re-write the story to make Jack the villain of the tale.
Complete the following sentence in at least 10 different ways: Do you ever wonder…
What does your name mean? Research the meaning of your own name, or a name that interests you. Then use this as inspiration for your next story. For example, the name ‘Marty’ means “Servant Of Mars, God Of War”. This could make a good concept for a sci-fi story.
Make a list of three different types of heroes (or main characters) for potential future stories.
If someone gave you $10 dollars, what would you spend it on and why?
Describe the world’s most boring character in at least 100 words.
What is the biggest problem in the world today, and how can you help fix this issue?
Create your own travel brochure for your hometown. Think about why tourists might want to visit your hometown. What is your town’s history? What kind of activities can you do? You could even research some interesting facts.
Make a list of all your favourite moments or memories in your life. Now pick one to write a short story about.
Describe the scariest and ugliest monster you can imagine. You could even draw a picture of this monster with your description.
Write seven haikus, one for each colour of the rainbow. That’s red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Imagine you are at the supermarket. Write down at least three funny scenarios that could happen to you at the supermarket. Use one for your next short story.
Imagine your main character is at home staring at a photograph. Write the saddest scene possible. Your goal is to make your reader cry when reading this scene.
What is happiness? In at least 150 words describe the feeling of happiness. You could use examples from your own life of when you felt happy.
Think of a recent nightmare you had and write down everything you can remember. Use this nightmare as inspiration for your next story.
Keep a dream journal. Every time you wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning you can quickly jot down things that you remember from your dreams. These notes can then be used as inspiration for a short story.
Your main character is having a really bad day. Describe this bad day and the series of events they experience. What’s the worst thing that could happen to your character?
You find a box on your doorstep. You open this box and see the most amazing thing ever. Describe this amazing thing to your readers.
Make a list of at least five possible settings or locations for future stories. Remember to describe each setting in detail.
Think of something new you recently learned. Write this down. Now write a short story where your main character also learns the same thing.
Describe the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your whole life. Your goal is to amaze your readers with its beauty.
Make a list of things that make you happy or cheer you up. Try to think of at least five ideas. Now imagine living in a world where all these things were banned or against the law. Use this as inspiration for your next story.
Would you rather be rich and alone or poor and very popular? Write a story based on the lives of these two characters.
Imagine your main character is a Librarian. Write down at least three dark secrets they might have. Remember, the best secrets are always unexpected.
There’s a history behind everything. Describe the history of your house. How and when was your house built? Think about the land it was built on and the people that may have lived here long before you.
Imagine that you are the king or queen of a beautiful kingdom. Describe your kingdom in great detail. What kind of rules would you have? Would you be a kind ruler or an evil ruler of the kingdom?
Make a wish list of at least three objects you wish you owned right now. Now use these three items in your next story. At least one of them must be the main prop in the story.
Using nothing but the sense of taste, describe a nice Sunday afternoon at your house. Remember you can’t use your other senses (i.e see, hear, smell or touch) in this description.
What’s the worst pain you felt in your life? Describe this pain in great detail, so your readers can also feel it.
If you were lost on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, what three must-have things would you pack and why?
Particpate in online writing challenges or contests. Here at Imagine Forest, we offer daily writing challenges with a new prompt added every day to inspire you. Check out our challenges section in the menu.

Do you have any more fun creative writing exercises to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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The best writing exercises bring out our latent creativity. Especially if you ever feel stuck or blocked, making creative writing exercises part of your daily writing practice can be a great way to both hone your skills and explore new frontiers in your writing. Whether you’re a poet, essayist, storyteller, or genre-bending author, these free writing exercises will jumpstart your creative juices and improve your writing abilities.

24 of the Best Free Writing Exercises to Try Out Today

The best creative writing exercises will push you out of your comfort zone and get you to experiment with words. Language is your sandbox, so let’s build some sand castles with these exercises and writing prompts.

Write With Limitations

The English language is huge, complicated, and — quite frankly — chaotic. Writing with self-imposed limitations can help you create novel and inventive pieces.

What does “limitations” mean in this context? Basically, force yourself not to use certain words, descriptions, or figures of speech. Some writing exercises using limitations include the following:

Write without using adverbs or adjectives.
Write without using the passive voice – no “being verbs” whatsoever. (Also called “E-Prime” writing.)
Write a story without using a common letter – just like Ernest Vincent Wright did .
Write a poem where each line has six words.
Write without using any pronouns.

Among exercises to improve writing skills, writing with limitations has the clearest benefits. This practice challenges your brain to think about language productively. Additionally, these limitations force you to use unconventional language – which, in turn, makes you write with lucidity, avidity, and invention.

Check Out Our Online Writing Courses!

From the Source: Journaling for Self-Knowledge and Creativity

with Amy Bonnaffons

April 24th, 2024

Journal to discover yourself, find a wellspring of creativity, and produce publication-ready pieces.

How to Craft a Poem

with Zining Mok

A poem can tell a story, communicate our innermost thoughts, and reveal what moves us most deeply. Craft poems that do all of this and more in this guided poetry workshop.

The Joy of Poetry: A Beginner-Friendly Workshop

with Joy Roulier Sawyer

Have you wanted to get into poetry, but don't know where to start? Learn the craft from the Joy of poetry herself in this welcoming workshop.

The First Fifty Pages of the Novel

with Sandra Novack

May 1st, 2024

The first 50 pages sets up plot, characters, and voice, and it lays the groundwork for your book's overall structure and success. Receive critical, supportive feedback on your book's start from novelist Sandra Novack.

Writing Our Grief: How to Channel Loss into Creative Expression

with Rudri Patel

Writing about grief is a powerful healing tool. Turn pain into power in this personal essay course, with instructor Rudri Patel.

Freewriting & Stream of Consciousness

What do you do when the words just don’t come out? How can you write better if you can’t seem to write at all? One of the best poetry exercises, as well as writing exercises in general, is to start your day by freewriting.

Freewriting, also known as “stream of consciousness writing,” involves writing your thoughts down the moment they come. There’s no filtering what you write, and no controlling what you think: topicality, style, and continuity are wholly unnecessary in the freewriting process. While the idea of freewriting seems easy, it’s much harder than you think – examining your thoughts without controlling them takes a while to master, and the impulse to control what you write isn’t easy to tame. Try these exercises to master the skill:

Do a timed freewrite. Start with five minutes.
Freewrite until you fill up the entirety of something – an envelope, a receipt, a postcard, etc.
Freewrite after meditating.
Freewrite off of the first word of today’s newspaper.

Among daily writing exercises, freewriting is one of the best writing exercises. Poets can use freewritten material as inspiration for their poetry. Prose writers can also find inspiration for future stories from the depths of their consciousnesses. Start your writing day with freewriting, and watch your creativity blossom.

Copy What You Read

Plagiarism is still off the table; however, you can learn a lot by paying attention to how other people write. This is what we call “reading like a writer.”

Reading like a writer means paying attention to the craft elements that make an excellent piece of literature work. Good writing requires different writing styles, figurative language, story structures, and/or poetry forms, as well as key word choice.

When you notice these craft elements, you can go ahead and emulate them in your own work. As a fiction writer , you might be drawn to the way Haruki Murakami weaves folklore into his stories, and decide to write a story like that yourself. Or, as a poet, you might be inspired by Terrance Hayes’ Golden Shovel form — enough so that you write a Golden Shovel yourself.

Read a favorite poem, and write your own poem in the same poetic form.
Blackout poetry: take another poem, cross out words you don’t want to use, circle words you do, and write a poem based on the circled words.
Copy a single sentence from a favorite novel, and write a short-short story with it.

Among free writing exercises, this is a great way to learn from the best. The best kinds of exercises to improve writing skills involve building upon the current canon of works — as Isaac Newton said, you achieve something great by “standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Write From Different Perspectives

The conventional advice given to writers is to “write what you know.” We couldn’t disagree with that statement more. The best creative works force both the writer and the reader to consider new perspectives and learn something new; writing from a new point-of-view makes for a great exercise in expanding your creative limits.

Try these ideas as daily writing exercises:

Write a story with the same plot, but with two or more perspectives. For example, you could write a lover’s quarrel from two different view points.
Write from the point-of-view of a famous historical figure.
Write a story or poem from the perspective of an object: a statue, a doll, a roomba, etc.
Write from the perspective of a person you dislike.

While playing with perspective makes for a great fiction writing exercise , poets and essayists can do this too. Patricia Smith’s poem “Skinhead,” for example, is a persona piece written from the perspective of a white nationalist, but the poem clearly condemns the speaker’s beliefs.

Thus, perspective writing also works as a poetry exercise and an essay writing practice exercise . If you’re stuck in your own head, try writing in someone else’s!

Write Metaphor Lists

All creative writers need figurative language. While metaphors, similes, and synecdoches are more prominent in poetry , prose writers need the power of metaphor to truly engross their reader. Among both exercises to improve writing skills and fun writing exercises for adults, writing metaphor lists is one of the best writing exercises out there.

A metaphor list is simple. On a notebook, create two columns. In one column, write down only concrete nouns. Things like a pillow, a tree, a cat, a cloud, and anything that can be perceived with one of the five senses.

In the other list, write down only abstract ideas. Things like love, hate, war, peace, justice, closure, and reconciliation — anything that is conceptual and cannot be directly perceived.

Now, choose a random noun and a random concept, and create a metaphor or simile with them. Delve into the metaphor and explain the comparison. For example, you might say “Love is like a pillow — it can comfort, or it can smother.”

Once you’ve mastered the metaphor list, you can try the following ideas to challenge yourself:

Create a coherent poem out of your metaphor list.
Turn your metaphor list into a short story.
Try making lists with a different figurative language device, such as personification, pathetic fallacy, or metonymy.

Any free creative writing exercise that focuses on figurative language can aid your writing immensely, as it helps writers add insight and emotionality to their work. This is an especially great creative writing exercise for beginners as they learn the elements of style and language.

Daily Journaling

Of course, the best way to improve your creative writing skills is simply to write every day. Keeping a daily journal is a great way to exercise your writing mind. By sitting down with your personal observations and writing without an agenda or audience, a daily writing practice remains one of the best writing exercises , regardless of your genre or level of expertise.

Consider these ideas for your daily journal:

Track your mood and emotions throughout the day. Write those emotions in metaphor — avoid commonplace adjectives and nouns.
Write about your day from the second- or third-person.
Journal your day in verse. Use stanzas, line breaks, and figurative language.
Write about your day backwards.
Write about your day using Freytag’s pyramid . Build up to a meaningful climax, even if nothing significant seemed to happen today.

Learn more about keeping a journal here:

How to Start Journaling: Practical Advice on How to Journal Daily

Writing Exercises: Have Fun with Them!

Many of these writing exercises might feel challenging at first—and that’s a good thing! You will unlock new ideas and writing strengths by struggling through these creative challenges. The main point is to have fun with them and use them to explore within your writing, without indulging too many monologues from your inner critic.

Are you looking for more exercises to improve your writing skills? Our instructors can offer prompts, illuminating lectures, one-to-one feedback, and more to help you improve your craft. Check out our upcoming creative writing courses , and let’s put these skills to practice.

Sean Glatch

Thank you for this. I’ve been stuck for months—more than that, actually, and you’d think that a pandemic stay-at-home would be the perfect time to do some writing. But no. I’m as stuck as ever. In fact, the only time I seem able to write consistently and well is when I’m taking one of your classes! I’m still saving my pennies, but these exercises will hopefully get me writing in the meantime. Thanks again!

Hi Kathy, I’m glad to hear some of these tips might spark your creativity 🙂 I feel the same way, I was hoping the stay-at-home order might spark some creativity, but we shouldn’t push ourselves too hard – especially in the midst of a crisis.

The best part about writing: all you have to do is try, and you’ve already succeeded. Good luck on your writing endeavors!

Bravo….!What a great piece! Honestly I learnt a lot here!

I picked interest in poetry just a week ago after reading a beautiful piece which captivated my mind into the world of writing. I’d love to write great poems but I don’t know anything about poetry, I need a coach, a motivator and an inspiration to be able to do this. This piece really helped me but I will appreciate some more tips and help from you or anyone else willing to help, I am really fervid about this.

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for your comment! I’m so excited for you to start your journey with poetry. We have more advice for poetry writing at the articles under this link: https://writers.com/category/poetry

Additionally, you might be interested in two of our upcoming poetry courses: Poetry Workshop and How to Craft a Poem .

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected] . Many thanks, and happy writing!

[…] 24 Best Writing Exercises to Become a Better Writer | writers.com […]

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As a writer, I often struggle to break free from the chains of writer’s block, but this blog has gifted me with a map of inspiration to navigate through those creative storms. It’s like being handed a box of enchanted writing exercises

140 Creative Writing Prompts For Adults

Learning how to become a better writer includes knowing how to come up with a solid idea. With so many elements to consider when starting your novel, the plot itself may begin to slip away from you. Use these creative writing prompts for adults to get you started on the right path to a successful story and suffer from writer’s block for the last time. .

This list of writing prompts for adults can be taken and used in any way you want. Details can be changed and characters can be added or removed.

They are meant to be a fun way to get your creativity flowing and your next story developing. For even more writing ideas, check out the writing prompt generator . Here, you will find 500+ prompts of all kinds that will give you some ideas. Take control of that blank page and create something awesome.

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Dramatic Writing Prompts for Adults

Nothing beats some good old-fashioned drama once in a while. You can turn these writing prompts into a dramatic love story , an exciting short story, or morph them into a different genre. How you use them is up to you.

For a novel that is specifically romance, we have created an exclusive list of exciting and genre-bending romance writing prompts .

A young boy discovers that he is the only adopted child among his four siblings. Feeling confused and betrayed, he runs away to find his birth parents. After two months on the road, he runs out of money and still hasn’t found them. Does he go home? Or does he continue his quest?
Two couples are fueding and haven’t spoken in years. It is discovered that their two children have become best friends at school, and they want a playdate. Will this increase tension between them or lead to reconciliation?
Identical twins are attending the same college. They switch places and take each other’s classes depending on strengths and weaknesses. They’ve gotten away with it for two years until their observant professor of a father is transferred to the school they attend.
Two childhood best friends stopped talking after a huge fight in high school. Five years later, they find themselves sitting next to each other on the same 16-hour international flight.
Write about a passionate romance that crosses religions.
He’s only been in office for a year. He is already being tempted by a corrupt group of criminals who want him to sabotage a series of public safety projects in exchange for funding his entire reelection campaign.
Your main character is being offered a promotion from the high school principal to the district director. Sadly, she knows her replacement will cut funding to all of the art programs. How does she manage the situation?
A high profile general learns that the opposing army will surrender if he hands himself over. Will he prioritize his own safety, or sacrifice himself for his country?
Write about a successful businesswoman who has built herself from the ground up. The business is suddenly threatened by the son of a rich local contractor who started a similar business out of boredom.
A successful lawyer knows that his client is guilty of the murder for which he has been charged. He is a good liar and could easily win the case. The case is getting constant media coverage and would guarantee him making partner at his firm.
Your main character has lived a sheltered, isolated life. When their delusional and overbearing father dies. They are thrown into the real world and unsure of how to cope.
The doorbell rings and your character answers it – finding nothing but an envelope with nothing on it. They open it and follow the instructions to attend a secret underground event. Afterward, they become a part of a huge resistance that the rest of the world knows nothing about.
After a family member’s funeral, you arrive home to a stranger on your doorstep claiming the person is not really dead. The funeral was open-casket.
It is your character’s wedding day. While the vows are being said, someone from the crowd yells “I object!”
A huge storm has stopped traffic. Your character is stuck in the car with someone for an unknown amount of time. The person chooses this moment to confess their undying love. The feeling is not mutual.
Your character finds an old, disposable camera on the ground. Feeling, they get the photos developed. What they see tells an unsettling story.
Two old friends are reminiscing on a prominent and life-changing event. They have very different memories from that day.
Your main character is a world-traveling nature photographer. She stumbles upon a small tribe of indigenous people who have found the cure for all cancer in a small local plant.
A young man has been homeschooled all his life and is ready to start college. An attack on his small home town has him being drafted into the army. He is away from home for the first time ever and terrified. However, he becomes a key strategist due to his unique perspective and undiscovered scientific talents.
A middle-aged man is tired of his career in a corporate office. He takes all his vacation and sick days at once for an excursion in the Appalachian Mountains. Everything is fine until a blizzard hits.
A shy and reserved web designer thinks she has found the man of her dreams online. She is actually being catfished by a competing company who wants to get information from her.
A man and women work for two neighboring, rival fast food companies. They always take their lunch breaks together on the bench right in the middle of the two.
An ongoing murder investigation takes an unexpected turn when it is discovered that a prolific group of corrupted police officers were behind the whole thing.
A television star is renowned and respected for his “method” acting. He only interviews or appears on TV in character. But, this is because he doesn’t have a personality outside of his three most famous characters.
A professional gymnast is under fire for her supposed use of performance-enhancing steroids. She leaked the story herself to draw attention away from the fact that she is the leader of a high-profile drug ring.
An older couple on the brink of retirement keeps their life savings in the pages of the books in their home. They are just about to start looking for a retirement home to live in when a fire destroys their house and their cash.

Tips for Writing Drama

Drama is usually character driven , so make use of both your round and flat characters .
Introduce the conflict right away and keep it prominent. A drama will thrive off conflict.
Don’t let the resolution come easily.
Don’t be afraid to kill characters and write difficult situations.
Always show, don’t tell.

Supernatural Writing Prompts for Adults

Supernatural stories are popular. The world is in love with vampires. Write something interesting and unique enough, you might be writing their next favorite book. Use these supernatural story starters for your basic premise.

On her 16th birthday, your main character miraculously survives a deadly car crash without a scratch. Later that week, she watches as a small scratch heals and disappears right before her eyes. Where did this new power come from and what will she do with it?
There is an elite society of high education that wants to test a new drug. They give it to highly gifted students, and it allows them to stay awake for 48 hours and record everything they see, heard, and feel in that time. Unfortunately, some unexpected side effects set in two weeks later.
A middle-aged man is the only one in his famous and high-profile family without a superpower. The local police rely on his super-powered family to help them catch and fight crime. However, the powers are failing them during a specific investigation. Your protagonists “normal” perspective might just save the day.
Your main character suffers a terrible concussion. After recovering, they cannot control the vivid nightmares about the accident. However, they can also take images from their mind and project them into the real world. Doctors think they are crazy and keep them heavily sedated.
Write about a world where technology has given animals the ability to speak.

Tips for Writing Supernatural Stories

Setting the story in the real world will make your supernatural species more believable.
Create the origins of your species and supernatural characters.
Create the physical limitations for your species and beings.
Avoid the cliches of the genre.
Understand your reasons for using supernatural creatures. You shouldn’t be writing them in simply due to their popularity.

Thriller Writing Prompts for Adults

Thrillers can come in many forms and can be incorporated with many genres. Regardless of the details though, they are always meant to excite. Suspense and tension are crucial – it’s always more fun when you don’t know. Writing a good thriller requires a strong set of writing skills. These prompts will give you a good base. If you think you need to improve, try some writing exercises.

If your thriller can get hearts racing, you’ve done a good job.

The body of your main character’s best friend is dumped on their doorstep. They make it their mission to find out who is responsible, even if it means crossing some lines and breaking some laws.
A murderer is on the loose in your character’s hometown. For 10 weeks they have killed one person on the same day at the same time. Your main character is the next victim. They are abducted exactly three days before the planned kill time.
Strange things start happening around town. Your main character decides to find out for themselves what is going on. They do learn the truth, but now they aren’t allowed to leave.
Your character suffers from a condition that causes seemingly random blackouts for varying amounts of time. The only thing they ever remember before these episodes is a yellow car with a dent on the side. One day, that car is parked outside their house. This time, there is no blackout.
Your main character and their friends take an unsolicited mini-vacation to an off-limits island off the coast of their seaside town. Shortly after arrival, they discover the islands inhabitants and the reason why it was off limits.
Your protagonist is in intensive therapy due to extremely vivid nightmares detailing someone’s gruesome death. Many have said it’s just their twisted imagination, but this new therapist seems to think it’s much more than that.
You are legally allowed to kill someone one time in your life. You must fill out a series of paperwork, and your intended victim will be given notice of your plan.
A brilliant serial killer has been getting away with murder for decades. His only weakness is his acute inability to tell a lie. He is finally caught and tried for all murders. Write about how he still manages to walk free, with no charges laid.
Your character is a host at a restaurant. A couple comes in and says they have a reservation. You look it up in the system and find that the reservation was booked 40 years ago.

Tips for Writing a Thriller

Have a story that suits a thriller. This usually involves the protagonist falling victim to someone else and being caught in impossible situations.
Different points of view can add a lot of value to a thriller. It gives several perspectives and allows the reader into the heads of many characters.
Put action as close to the beginning as possible.
Don’t be afraid to make your characters miserable.

Thriller Book Writing Template

Squibler has a book writing template that was created specifically for writing a thriller:

It will walk you through each section of a typical thriller. It includes the basics of a thriller structure, without stifling your creativity. The guidelines are easy to understand, but loose enough that you can insert the details of your story with ease.

Horror Writing Prompts for Adults

The horror genre has always had a cult-like following. Several fictional killers have become household names. Some horror fans will spend their whole lives chasing the adrenaline that comes with a good scare.

If you’re learning how to become a better writer in order to scare your readers, these writing prompts will get you started. A book writing template may be helpful in creating a true horror as setting the stage properly is crucial.

It’s Halloween night and a group of rowdy teenagers break into an infamously haunted house in their town. They soon discover it is not the ghosts they have to fear, but the madman who lives upstairs is poisoning them with hallucinogenic gas.
There is a disease outbreak at a school. It appears at first to be chicken pox but it is actually a virus that is causing violent outbreaks in the children who begin to terrorize the town.
Your main character attends a meditation retreat. It turns out to be a recruiting process for an extremist cult that convinces members to commit dangerous acts of terror. Your protagonist is the only one in the room who is immune.
So overcome by his nightmares, your main character attacks anyone who comes near him. He cannot distinguish between loved ones and the monsters in his head.
A young man has to dive 300 feet into the ocean to rescue his girlfriend caught in a broken submarine. He must cross through a genetically modified shark breeding ground.
An old time capsule is about to be opened and the whole town is present for the celebration. When opened, the only thing found inside is a detached human hand with a threatening note in the grasp. The note is written in your character’s handwriting but dated 50 years before they were even born.

Master horror writer Stephen King reveals some of his thought process: “So where do the ideas—the salable ideas—come from? They come from my nightmares. Not the night-time variety, as a rule, but the ones that hide just beyond the doorway that separates the conscious from the unconscious.”

Horror doesn’t always have to be fantastical and dreamy in nature. Sometimes horror exists in the real world, within people.

Tips for Writing Horror

Don’t be afraid to give that gruesome, bloody description.
Aim to create extreme emotions.
Make sure the readers care about your characters. This will make their horrible situations more impactful.
Consider what scares you the most. Keep this in mind when writing.
Set the stakes high.
Some comic relief or brief periods of peace are okay – necessary even. It can help build suspense.

Crime and Mystery Writing Prompts for Adults

Stories of crime and mystery have been told for ages. There are some classic crime dramas that will never get old. Many non-fiction books have been written on this topic as well.

Creating a proper mystery takes time and much planning. When done correctly though, it makes for a most memorable story.

Your main character discovers another women’s clothes tucked in the back of her boyfriends closet. She plans an elaborate fishing trip to get him far away for a weekend so she can teach him a lesson.
A new serial killer is on the loose, killing one person every other day within 500 feet of a museum. There must be a connection and a reason, but how will they catch him when he keeps destroying the cameras and escaping?
A young officer is three years sober and committed to getting back on track. That is until he is called to the scene of a high-profile drug bust and is in charge of collecting evidence. Can he control himself around so many drugs?
Abandoned cars start randomly appearing throughout the city. No license plates and nothing inside. That is until one is found to contain several dismembered human limbs.
Your character has been receiving nasty, lifelike drawings in the mail. They ignore them at first, thinking it is some kids being silly. Until the drawings start coming to life. Since they have the drawings, they know what is going to happen next, and in what order.
Your main character and her husband awake one night in the early hours of the morning, both recalling a horrific dream from the night before. They soon learn the dream to be true as they discover a fresh, painful brand in between each of their shoulder blades.
Your character never wakes up feeling rested, no matter how long they sleep for. Medication doesn’t help. They decide to film themselves one night. The next morning they watch as they get out of bed around midnight, smirk at the camera, and wave before disappearing out the door for hours.
Your protagonist is a member of a small religious group. When a precious artifact goes missing, the head elder’s daughter is blamed for it. Your character knows she couldn’t be responsible because the two of them were romantically involved at the time of the theft. Such activities are strictly forbidden and the daughter would rather go down for the theft than admit to breaking that law.
There is a serial killer going after the children of rich and notable families in the area. Your main character is the child of one such family and is terrified every waking moment. Tired of living in fear, they decide to figure out who the killer is and stop them
Your character gets a DNA test, just for fun. After getting the results and doing some more research, they discover that members of their ancestry from all over the world were once all gathered in the same place. The reason is unknown.
Your character receives a strange voicemail from an unknown number. The voicemail ends up changing the course of their entire life.
Your character is in an accident and loses the memory of the last year of their life. There are so many things that don’t make sense. They must retrace their steps to find answers.
The entire town has started sleepwalking, together, every night.
Your character has a short but friendly encounter with a stranger in an elevator. The next day, they are all over TV as the victim of a brutal murder.
Your character is redecorating and takes down a painting. They notice something strange engraved on the back of the frame.
Your character goes to their usual coffee shop and orders “the usual.” The Barista smiles, nods, and slides something entirely different across the counter. She has never made a mistake before.
Your character opens a random book at the library when the cover page falls out. It says “if you are reading this, you have been chosen.”
When looking through some old family photos – going back generations – your character notices a cat in almost every photo. The very same colorful spotted cat with a single docked ear that is sitting on their lap.
When paying for their groceries, your main character mentions to the clerk that there is a mess in aisle 11. The clerk is confused and explains that there is no aisle 11.

Tips for Writing Crime and Mystery

This is a genre where a book writing template can come in handy. The plots are often so complex, it can be overwhelming to keep it all straight.
Draw inspiration from real-life crimes. This will make your story believable.
Also, draw your inspiration from real-life people and give them realistic motives behind their crimes. Crime and mystery are rarely set in a fantasy world, so being realistic is important.
Know how the mystery is solved before you start writing.
Include a few cliffhangers – usually at the end of a chapter.

Science Fiction Writing Prompts for Adults

Science fiction is similar to fantasy in that you can make up a lot of stuff, which is a fun way to write.

This is a versatile genre that can be molded into anything you want.

Sometimes, it is rooted in truth with elements of real scientific and technological advances. Other times, there are many assumptions made about the future of science, and lots of make-believe takes place.

A spaceship that can surpass the speed of light is allowing a few humans on board to escape our solar system and it’s dying sun. How does the world decide who gets to survive?
A shy, introverted tech guy develops a virus that can control human desires, impulses, and choices.
A pet store becomes overrun with kittens and sells them off at a low price. However, these cats are actually an alien hybrid that can body jump. It begins causing the owners of these cats to commit suicide within 24 hours of adoption.
A live TV broadcast from the White House experiences some technical difficulties. They end up broadcasting a top-secret meeting about a pending alien invasion.
Science has developed a brain scanning software that can read thoughts. Before they can decide what to do with it, someone has hacked the system and stolen it.
Your character wakes up on a spaceship with no memory.
The world has developed a genetic system that engineers everyone for a specific job in the community. Your character hates what they were created to do. This never happens.
The world has finally reached a state of all-encompassing peace thanks to a technical system that keeps things regulated. Your character is in charge of keeping the system running. When they discover exactly how the system is kept running, they consider abandoning their post and never turning back.
Your character accidentally traps themselves in an alternate universe that hasn’t discovered electricity or technology yet.

Tips for Writing Science Fiction

Make your story complex, but don’t rush it. Let your audience process information before adding more.
Keep the language simple and easy to understand even if the world isn’t. The majority of your readers will not be scientists or tech experts.
Be consistent in terms of the universe. Physical laws, social classes, etc. Know your own world.

Dystopian Writing Prompts for Adults

Dystopian stories are growing in popularity. The genres itself is growing and evolving all the time as people figure out what works and what entertains.

Dystopian is a fun genre to read and experience, but writing it can be just as enjoyable. Having fun while learning how to become a better writer is of utmost importance.

Be careful you’re not writing Dystopia just because it sells well. Make sure you have a real story to tell and that it’s one you believe in.

A newly married couple become pregnant with twins. Due to growing overpopulation, they are told they must make a choice when the babies are born. Only one will live. Rather than submit to this, they plan their escape across the border.
An amateur teen scientist accidentally discovers an impending alien attack set to destroy earth within a month. He becomes the unwilling leader of the evacuation and defense coalition.
A hacker discovers that the new iPhone can be remotely detonated. Many corrupt political leaders are assassinated in this way on the same day. The world breaks into chaos.
World War III has come and gone. Governments are a thing of the past and money is useless. Survival is the objective. Your main character also has a medical condition to keep under control.
A horrible outbreak of disease devastated the wildlife population 100 years ago. A scientist has recently created a virus that will strengthen the immune systems of the remaining animals. It works too well, and the animals are starting to overtake the human population.
After mental illness devastates a generation, scientists create an airborne substance that balances the levels of all people on the earth. Your character is one of the few who is immune.
Rampant wildfires are taking over the surface of the earth. Your character is part of a group who is trying to find a rumored ocean deep settlement. The settlement doesn’t really exist.
Nature extremists have taken over the government. Any and all activities that are harmful to the land or plants are forbidden and outlawed.
Natural farming is a thing of the past. All food is manufactured artificially and distributed. There is no flavor and it’s the same thing every day. Your character takes a stress-relieving trip to the mountains. Here they find the remnants of some real plants, with a few berries on them.

Tips for Writing Dystopian Fiction

Know what the message of the story is. What is the main character trying to achieve?
A dystopian society is usually one that has taken the current problems of the world and projected them into the future.
Dystopian realities are never good ones – make sure you have enough doom, gloom, and darkness for your readers to understand the state of the world.

Historical Writing Prompts for Adults

Historical fiction can be whimsical and charming. It can be dark and spooky. It can be funny and ridiculous. Stories of history span many genres.

Historical fiction can be a combination of educational and entertaining. It tests a writer’s research skills as well as knowledge. The better depiction you can create of your desired time period, the more effective your story will be.

Learning to research is crucial to know how to become a better writer.

From a first-person perspective, write about the showdown between a criminal and a lion in the Roman Colesseum.
Abraham Lincoln is famous for his top hat. Where did the top hat come from? Who was the president without it? Write a story about the infamous top hat and its life.
The Berlin wall has crashed to the ground and its love at first sight for one lucky couple – whose parents aren’t so impressed.
Your character is a talented composer whose direct competition is Beethoven.
Write about a dinner party where three famous historical figures are in attendance.
Your best friend has invented the very first time-travel machine.
Write about a well-known war, but give it a different outcome.
Write a happy ending for Dracula.
Your character’s husband of ten years has just confessed that he has traveled through time from the fourteenth century. He decided to stay because he fell in love with her.
Write about the thoughts of someone who is secretly watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel.
Your character is the only one who knows who really killed JFK. It wasn’t Oswald.
Your character is working under William Shakespeare as his apprentice.
Write about a pair of detectives who solve their cases by traveling back and forth in time.
Write about the experience of someone who has just learned of the Titanic’s sinking. They had a loved one on board.
Choose a major historical event. Write from the perspective of a witness.
Your character wants to travel across the land. No forms of transportation have been invented yet.
Write about someone who worked at one of the first printing presses during the printing revolution of the 15th century.

Tips for Writing Historical Fiction

Do your research! Inaccuracies or incorrect facts about the time you are writing in will break trust with your readers and decrease your credibility.
Choose a specific time period and location. “Early twentieth century” is too broad.
In addition to setting and facts, characters need to match the time period. This includes dress, behavior, and language.
Small details will matter.
Balance the historical facts with the drama and fictional elements.

Humorous Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

Another genre that is especially fun to write as well as read, is a comedy. Nothing beats throwing your head back in full laughter.

The goal here is to make people laugh as much as possible while still balancing a good story and believable characters.

Substitute teachers are tired of not being taken seriously. They come together and form a secret society, with plans to revolt.
An Elvis impersonator is so good that many start to believe Elvis has actually come back to life. Soon, he has been recruited to lead a superstitious Elvis-loving cult.
Three friends are out on the town for a night. Write about the most ridiculous series of events you can think of.
Life has gotten tough and your character is considering moving back in with their parents. Before they are able to make a decision, their parents show up at their door asking if they can move in.
Your character wakes up one day and everything they say rhymes. They can’t control it.
The climate is changing and your main character’s city gets snow for the first time in their entire life. She and her friends are recruited for clean up.
Your main character has never had a real job before. They are starting a job at the biggest, busiest store in town on the busiest day of the year.
Your character is set up on a blind date with their sworn enemy.
Every morning you have a package delivered that contains an item you end up needing that day.
Struggling with writer’s block, an author decides to sit at a local train station for information. They get some good material.
Your characters are holding a high-stakes rock-paper-scissors tournament.
Your main character gets backstage at a concert. What happens back there is much more interesting than the show.
Your protagonist decides to buy an old school bus and travel across the country. Being single without any close friends, they post an ad asking if anyone wants to join. The end up having their pick of travel partners.
Write a story about a low-profile, insignificant but long-unsolved crime is finally cracked.
Your character is a serial killer who kills anyone who hitchhikes along the mountain they live on. One day, they pick up a hitchhiker who kills whoever picks him up.
The world’s greatest detective finally meets his match: A criminal so stupid and so careless that the detective can’t ever predict what he is going to do next.

Tips for Writing Comedy

Test the humor on others. You might find something hilarious, but if no one else is going to laugh, it will be useless to include.
Observe comedy. Your ability to write it will hinge on your experience with it. Watch, read, listen, and speak comedy.
Have fun with it. Comedy is fun. If you’re not laughing at yourself along the way, you’ll never get through to the end.

Fantasy Writing Prompts for Adults

Fantasy is one of the most popular genres of the time. It’s growing every day because of its creative and immersive nature. People love to preoccupy themselves with something magical.

Being transported into another world for a little while – that’s what fantasy can do

In a world of advanced technological and magical advancements, one group keeps their practice of ancient spells a secret. One day, they are discovered and it leads to a fight. What is more powerful – old magic, or new technology?
A large, protected national forest is secretly home to werewolves. One summer there is an especially bad flea epidemic, and the werewolves are greatly affected. The fleas from the werewolves infect the town water supply and start turning everyone into werewolves. The only ones not affected are children under 13.
The world is overrun with vampires and humans are dying out. Different races and factions of vampires are beginning to go to war over the limited supply of human blood.
Your character finds a strange looking egg in the forest. Thinking it will make a great decoration, they take it home. What hatches from that egg surpasses their wildest imagination.
A city has spent centuries living in peace with the water-dwellers who reside in their lakes. Suddenly, the water dwellers declare war and no one knows why.
Your character has always been able to alter their appearance. They hide unattractive features. Suddenly, their powers stop working and their true appearance is revealed.
Your main character has a fascination with untouched societies – such as hidden tribes in the Amazon. She sets out to study them as a living. One day she accidentally allows herself to be seen by one of the members. What this person does is beyond what your character ever thought to be real.
The earth itself is dying and all life on the planet is dying with it.
Some people in the world have magic, others don’t. No one knows why. Your main character has magic, but his best friend doesn’t. The friend is exceptionally jealous and is growing more and more desperate to make the magic his.

Tips for Writing Fantasy

Focus on being unique
Don’t neglect worldbuilding . Inconsistencies will be obvious to readers. This is where a book writing software like Squibler can come in handy. It helps you stay organized and efficient.
Create unique names.
Don’t be afraid to make the journey long and the outcome unexpected.

Fantasy Novel Writing Template

Fantasy is one of the most complicated genres due to the necessity of building a brand new world. Squibler’s fantasy writing template will help you through this daunting process:

This template offers guidelines and suggestions for building your world as well as structuring and creating your storyline. It’s helpful but loose enough to allow your creativity to keep flowing.

Dialogue Inspired Writing Prompts

Sometimes, all it takes is a small exchange or a witty one-liner to get your brain working. Take these words and start something new. Or, insert them into an existing project and see what happens.

“As she stepped onto the train, I fought every urge to jump on after her.”
“He was expensive. Please be more considerate of my money the next time I hire an assassin to kill you.”
“You say that like it was a struggle.”
“I’m your conscience. That is literally my one job.”
“Well, I wish you didn’t love me. I guess no one is getting what they want today.”
“I guess it didn’t take.”
“I was bored so I blew up my house.”
“I taught you how to pick locks, and THAT is how you’re choosing to use the skill?”
“They thought I would forget everything. I remember even more than when they started.”
“Yes. But I don’t care.”
“I killed my mother. Are you really questioning what I can do to you right now?”

Write Your Next Masterpiece With These Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

Whether you have a book writing templat e all filled out or you are starting from scratch, these writing prompts will get your imagination going and make your writing time more productive.

Beat the writer’s block, get your groove back, or just be inspired. Figure out how to love writing again. Whatever you’re looking for, hopefully, these ideas have helped form the story you need to tell.

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50 Fantastic Creative Writing Exercises

Good question.

Creative writing exercises are designed to teach a technique. They are highly specific, more specific than creative writing prompts, and much more specific than story generators.

Creative writing exercises for adults are not designed to lead the writer into crafting a full story, but are only designed to help them improve as a writer in a narrow, specific category of writing skills.

I’ve broken the exercises below into categories so you can choose what category of skill you’d like to practice. Can you guess which category in this list has the most prompts?

If you guessed characters, then you’re right. I think characters are the heart blood of every story, and that a majority of any writing prompts or writing exercises should focus on them.

But I also think any of these will help you create a narrative, and a plot, and help you generate all kinds of dialogue, whether for short stories or for novels. These writing exercises are pretty much guaranteed to improve your writing and eliminate writer’s block.

Also, if you’re a fledgling writer who needs help writing their novel, check out my comprehensive guide to novel writing.

Enjoy the five categories of writing exercises below, and happy writing!

1. Think of the most deafening sound you can imagine. Describe it in great detail, and have your character hear it for the first time at the start of a story.

2. Have a man cooking for a woman on a third date, and have her describe the aromas in such loving and extended detail that she realizes that she’s in love with him.

3. Pick a line from one of your favorite songs, and identify the main emotion. Now write a character who is feeling that emotion and hears the song. Try to describe the type of music in such a beautiful way that you will make the reader yearn to hear the song as well.

4. Have a character dine at a blind restaurant, a restaurant in pitch blackness where all the servers are blind, and describe for a full paragraph how the tablecloth, their clothing, and the hand of their dining partner feels different in the darkness.

5. Select a dish representative of a national cuisine, and have a character describe it in such detail that the reader salivates and the personality of the character is revealed.

7. Describe two characters having a wordless conversation, communicating only through gestures. Try to see how long you can keep the conversation going without any words spoken, but end it with one of them saying a single word, and the other one repeating the same word.

8. In a public place from the last vacation you took, have two characters arguing, but make it clear by the end of the argument that they’re not arguing about what they’re really upset about.

9. Write a scene composed mostly of dialogue with a child talking to a stranger. Your mission is to show the child as heartbreakingly cute. At the same time, avoid sentimentality.

10. Have two character have a conversation with only a single word, creating emphasis and context so that the word communicates different things each time it is spoken. The prime example of this is in the television show “The Wire,” where Jimmy and Bunk investigate a crime scene repeating only a single expletive.

11. Pick an object that is ugly, and create a character who finds it very beautiful. Have the character describe the object in a way that convinces the reader of its beauty. Now write a second version where you convince the reader (through describing the object alone) that the character is mentally unstable.

12. Write down five emotions on slips of paper and slip them into a hat. Now go outside and find a tree. Draw one emotion from the hat, and try to describe that tree from the perspective of a character feeling that emotion. (Don’t mention the emotion in your writing — try to describe the tree so the reader could guess the emotion).

13. Describe a character’s bedroom in such a way that it tells us about a person’s greatest fears and hopes.

14. Root through your desk drawer until you find a strange object, an object that would probably not be in other people’s drawers. Have a character who is devastated to find this object, and tell the story of why this object devastates them.

15. Go to an art-based Pinterest page and find your favorite piece of art. Now imagine a living room inspired by that flavor of artwork, and show the room after a husband and wife have had the worst fight of their marriage.

16. Pick a simple object like a vase, a broom, or a light bulb, and write a scene that makes the reader cry when they see the object.

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17. Make a list of the top five fears in your life. Write a character who is forced to confront one of those fears.

18. Write an entire page describing the exact emotions when you learned of a happy or calamitous event in your life. Now try to condense that page into a single searing sentence.

19. Think about a time in your life when you felt shame. Now write a character in a similar situation, trying to make it even more shameful.

20. Write a paragraph with a character struggle with two conflicting emotions simultaneously. For example, a character who learns of his father’s death and feels both satisfaction and pain.

21. Write a paragraph where a character starts in one emotional register, and through a process of thought, completely evolves into a different emotion.

Characters:

22. Create a minor character based upon someone you dislike. Now have your main character encounter them and feel sympathy and empathy for them despite their faults.

23. Have a kooky character tell a story inside a pre-established form: an instruction manual, traffic update, email exchange, weather report, text message.

24. Write about a character who does something they swore they would never do.

25. Have a character who has memorized something (the names of positions in the Kama Sutra, the entire book of Revelations) recite it while doing something completely at odds with what they’re reciting. For instance, bench pressing while reciting the emperors in a Chinese dynasty.

26. Write a paragraph where a character does a simple action, like turning on a light switch, and make the reader marvel at how strange and odd it truly is.

27. Have a couple fight while playing a board game. Have the fight be about something related to the board game: fighting about money, have them play monopoly. Fighting about politics, let them play chess.

28. Write about two characters angry at each other, but have both of them pretend the problems don’t exist. Instead, have them fight passive-aggressively, through small, snide comments.

29. Describe a character walking across an expanse field or lot and describe how he walks. The reader should perfectly understand his personality simply by the way you describe his walk.

30. Write a first-person POV of a character under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and try to make the prose as woozy and tipsy as the character.

31. Describe the first time that a character realizes he is not as smart as he thought.

32. Describe an hour in the life of a character who has recently lost their ability to do what they love most (a pianist who has severe arthritis; a runner who became a quadriplegic).

33. Write an argument where a husband or wife complains of a physical ailment, but their spouse refuses to believe it’s real.

34. Write a scene where a stranger stops your main character, saying that they know them, and insisting your main character is someone they are not. Describe exactly how this case of mistaken identity makes your character feel.

35. Describe a small personality trait about a person you love, and make the reader love them, too.

36. Write a personality-revealing scene with a character inside a public restroom. Do they press a thumb against the mirror to leave a subtle mark? Do they write a plea for help on the inside of the stall door? Do they brag about the size of what they’ve just dumped off?

37. Give your character an extremely unusual response to a national tragedy like a terrorist attack or natural disaster. Maybe have them be aware their response is unusual, and try to cloak it from others, or have them be completely unaware and display it without any self-consciousness.

38. Have one of your main characters come up with an idea for a comic book, and tell a close friend about the idea. What about this idea would surprise the friend, upsetting what he thought he knew about your main character? Also, what would the main character learn about himself from the comic book idea?

39. Think of an illness someone you love has suffered from. How does your character respond when someone close to them has this illness?

40. Have your main character invent an extremely offensive idea for a book, and show their personality faults through discussing it with others.

41. Have your character write down a list considering how to respond to their stalker.

42. Write a scene where a man hits on a woman, and although the woman acts repulsed and begs her friends to get him away from her, it becomes apparent that she likes the attention.

43. Write about a 20-something confronting his parents over their disapproval of his lifestyle.

44. Have your character write a funny to-do list about the steps to get a boyfriend or girlfriend.

45. Have a risk-adverse character stuck in a hostage situation with a risk-happy character.

46. For the next week, watch strangers carefully and take notes in your phone about any peculiar gestures or body language. Combine the three most interesting ones to describe a character as she goes grocery shopping.

47. Buy a package of the pills that expand into foam animals, and put a random one in a glass of warm water. Whatever it turns out to be, have that animal surprise your main character in a scene.

48. Have your character faced with a decision witness a rare, awe-inspiring event, and describe how it helps them make their decision.

49. Imagine if your character met for the first time his or her long-lost identical twin. What personality traits would they share and which ones would have changed because of their unique experiences?

50. If a character got burned by a hot pan, what type of strange reaction would they have that would reveal what they value most?

Once you’ve taken a stab at some of these exercises, I’d recommend you use them in your actual writing.

And for instruction on that, you need a guide to writing your novel .

That link will change your life and your novel. Click it now.

32 comments

John Fox, you have some excellent resources, and I thank you. I read your comments, then scrolled down to glance at the list of 50 exercises. The FIRST one, “loud noise’ is already in my head. My Hero is going to be side swiped in my Cozy. I was side swiped on a state highway here in Virginia a couple of weeks ago and, although the damage was minor, the sound of that big SUV “glancing” off my little car was SCARY!!! I once heard a fast-moving car REAR-END is stand-still car; that sound was something I’ll never forget. So, your exercise is very timely. THANK YOU!!!

This is a great list! Thanks!

You know what would be motivating? If we could turn these in to someone and get like a grade lol

I’ve been thinking a lot about “how to master writing,” and this is the first time that I found an article that makes it clear the difference between prompts and exercises. I fully agree with you. These are bound to make you a better writer if you focus on doing a variation of them daily.

An excellent list – thank you very much. I run a small writing group and we’ll be trying some.

Yes, thank you. I too run a small writing group and you got me out of a slump for tomorrow’s group!

yes,thank you . It’s good for improve your writing skills.

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What a lovely list! I am working on the final draft of my very first novel, and am constantly working at improving the final product. Your exercises are just what I need to kickstart my writing day. Thank you so very much.

Thank you very much When I turned50 I received my diploma from Children’s Institute in West Redding Ct I got my inspiration from being near water however now that I am in Oregon I have had a writing block thanks to your list my creative juices are flowing

I suppose I better have good punctuation, seeing this is about Writing. Thank you for this great list. I am the Chair of our small Writing group in Otorohanga and we start again last week of Feb. I have sent out a homework email, to write a A4 page of something exciting that has happened over the holiday break and they must read it out to the group with passion and excitement in their voices. That will get them out of their comfort zone!

A formidable yet inspiring list. Thank you very much for this. This is really very helpful. I am from India, and very new to writing and have started my first project, which I want to make it into a Novel. This has been very helpful and is very challenging too. Prompts look sissy when compared to this, frankly speaking. Thank you very much again.

Where can I get the answers for these?

There aren’t “answers.” You create responses to these exercises.

Thank you so much for the detailed suggestions focusing on HOW to put the WHAT into practice; really helpful & inspiring.

Just started rough drafting a story I’ve always wanted to write. Do you have any advice for someone writing their first real story? I’m having trouble starting it; I just want it to be perfect.

I consider this very helpful. Just started my journey as a creative writer, and will be coming back to this page to aid my daily writing goal.

I have always loved writing exercises and these are perfect practice for my competition. I have tried lots of different things that other websites have told me to try, but this by far is the most descriptive and helpful site that i have seen so far.

This is really a creative blog. An expert writer is an amateur who didn’t stop. I trust myself that a decent writer doesn’t actually should be advised anything but to keep at it. Keep it up!

I’ve always enjoyed writing from a little girl. Since I’ve been taking it a bit more seriously as does everybody else it seems; I’ve lost the fun and sponteneity. Until now…..this is a marvelous blog to get back the basic joy and freedom in writing. Or should that be of?:) These exercises are perfect to get the creative juices flowing again…..thank you:)

These are interesting exercises for writing.

These are fantastic! I started reading a really awesome book on creative writing but it just didn’t get any good or easy to follow exercises. So I found your site and having been having a lot of fun with these. Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

creative and inspiring, thank you

I always wanted to have an exercise where a friend and I each wrote a random sentence and sent it to each other to write a short story from that beginning sentence, then exchange the stories for reading and/or critique. Maybe both writers start with the same sentence and see how different the stories turn out.

Thanks for these exercises. Some are really challenging. To truly tackle them I’m having to spend as long beforehand thinking “how the HECK am I going to do this?” as I do with ink on paper. Would be a great resource if other authors submitted their replies and thoughts about how they went about each exercise.

Start the conversation: submit one of yours.

I think I can use these to inspire my students.

Hi there. Thank you for posting this list- it’s great! Can I ask you to consider removing number 42 or perhaps changing it somewhat? I teach sex ed and every year am shocked by how many young people don’t understand issues around consent. Stories about woman who ‘say no but really mean yes’ are deeply unhelpful. Really appreciate your post but felt I had to ask. Thanks.

What’s wrong with the number 42?

It promulgates the belief that when a woman says no, she doesn’t mean it, potentially resulting in sexual assault.

I just make this list a part of my teaching in Creative Writing Classes. Very good list of ideas!

Thank you so much for posting this! I have used it to create a creative playwriting activity for my high school creative writing class–so much good stuff here for me to pick through and select for my kiddos that will allow them to shine and improve their knowledge of writing as a craft!

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It’s a guide to writing the pivotal moments of your novel.

Whether writing your book or revising it, this will be the most helpful book you’ll ever buy.

This Fun Creative Writing Exercise Will Change Your Life

by Joe Bunting | 212 comments

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I'm sure this never happens to you, but there are times when I don't feel very creative. A few years ago we'd just had a new baby (our second), bought a house (our first), and were busy managing a thousand new details. I felt like I had nothing to give to my writing. And life hasn't slowed down any since then. All the busywork and bill paying leaves me feeling like all the creative juices are dried up.

But no matter how un-creative I'm feeling, there's one creative writing exercise that never fails to fire up my writing.

This Fun Creative Writing Exercise Will Change Your Life

Why We Need Creative Writing Exercises Like This

Over the last ten years, I've worked with thousands of writers, and in that time, I've there is one thing that stops more people from writing than anything else.

“This is so bad,” we think after one particularly difficult sentence. “Why would anyone read this? Why would I want to read this? I thought I was better than this. I thought I was talented. So why am I producing such crap?”

Sometimes, writers don't even allow themselves to go through this kind of painful monologue. Instead, they put off writing altogether, procrastinating until the very last minute, then whipping something together that may not be very good but at least it's done!

So while you can still use daily journal writing or creative writing prompts to jump start your writing process, the creative writing exercise I'm going to talk about in this post is designed specifically to combat that kind of perfectionism .

Where Does Perfectionism Come From?

Perfectionism begins with pride. “I'm so talented how could I not write the next great book? Bestseller? More like best book of the century.” (Full disclosure: this used to be me.)

Or, for the slightly less narcissistic, “I may not be the best, but I have the best idea . And what's more, I care the most.”

Unfortunately, this kind of pride doesn't survive “contact with the enemy”: the blank page.

I've watched so many writers be humiliated and completely demoralized by the process of writing.

“I never want to do this again,” they confess to me, usually when they're about two-thirds of the way through writing their first book. “Writing is horrible. Miserable. I'm horrible! Why did I ever think it was a good idea to write this? to write at all?!”

Neither of these two postures—pride and despair—are helpful if you want to create great work.

What's missing? What's the secret ingredient writing in a way that both displays your natural that is both an absolute joy to write and your best possible work?

The secret ingredient is PLAY.

That's right, the same thing that toddlers are so good at is the key to writing your best work.

This Writing Exercise Brings the Joy Back to Writing—Here's How

How do you play with writing?

Two words: modernist poetry . *

Pioneered by poets like Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot, modernist poetry often makes very little sense. In fact, it can sometimes even seem like gibberish, like a Rauschenberg lithograph .

And that's what makes it such a great exercise. Because it allows you to play with words in a way that the perfectionistic side of your brain won't be able to stop.

5 Steps to This Writing Exercise

I've broken it up into five steps so simple a two-year-old could follow them:

First, get out a blank page. Feel free to open a new document on your computer, get out a pen or a blank piece of paper, or even whip out your old-school typewriter (the preferred method!)
Next, write the first word that comes to your mind. When I did this exercise this morning, the first word I thought of was “Boom.” Why not?! So I wrote it down.
Then, the hard part: write another word. Why is this hard? Because for this exercise to work, the second word must be random and disconnected from the first. This will completely piss off that perfectionistic little writer in your head. Do it anyway!
After you write the second word, write a third, fourth, and so on. After a few words, you can start a new line. It doesn't matter where you break the line. Just do it when it feels right. And as you write, don't forget the most important step of all…
PLAY . When you do this exercise, write with the sounds of words in mind, not their meaning. Try out movie/historical/song/literary references, mashing them up with gibberish rhymes (e.g. “ Twain's hammersaw is bringing me low slow like a long bow “). Make up new words. Pay attention to the sounds of words. Try to come up with the most random noun you can. Then, put it next to a list of five verbs. DON'T use punctation (unless that sounds fun to you, of course).

* I'm of course using the term modernist poetry very loosely here. Good modernist poetry is about much more than random gibberish strung together.

Embarrassing Examples of My Own Attempts at This Exercise

To give you a sense of how your poems might look, and to hopefully give you much room to improve upon, here are two of my worst attempts at this exercise (for humor's sake, it's best to read these aloud in the sincerest voice you can muster):

Boom story Simple reason hides the only response to holiness tears and I'll love you I'll love you Asparagus dream tell me I'm happy Bromate the worn door Catalyst of evergreen I'll sing it all dusk Thiery weeps Allspice leaves Kroner folder brning Someday I'll participate in wishful thinking

Amazingly bad, right? Here's the next one (I actually like this one):

bloom you folly seeking pinwheeling song stealers float your lilly feelings youround a hold and follow the starring problem holder

Ready to write yours?

Why This Creative Writing Exercise Is Genius

When you finish—after ten lines or a hundred— read your poem out loud. You'll probably be surprised at how good it is!

That's why this exercise is so perfect. Because when you try to write badly, you free up your creativity and end up making surprising connections.

Sure, some of your lines will be horrible, embarrassing, and never to be read again. But others will be much better than you expected.

Finally, with your new playful spirit, you'll be able to go back to your work in progress with a new level of creativity.

How about you? Do you ever play with words? Share in the comments !

Ready to try out this creative writing exercise? Use steps above to write a modernist poem. Make sure to PLAY!

When you're finished with your poem, post it in practice box below and offer feedback to three other writers. (Come on, it can't be worse than mine!)

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

212 Comments

Sounds like a great idea and definitely worth a try. I’ll be going to a writing retreat in June, so I’m printing this out to take with me. My goal will be to use this exercise to get the creative juices flowing. Thanks for the playful nudge!

Wow, Joe. Though new house and new baby are exciting additions, but are STRESSFUL (she says from experience).

Creepy sushi dancing Wisps of smoke prancing

Die, bastard, die! Comforter comforting me now

Wash adrift the sand Turning pages of my life

Sandals wanting time Laughter make it mine

Wanting more Wanting less Wanting…

This is good brain relief. I like your choices Marcy.

Thanks, Susan. You should try it. It was FUN!

Hahah, I love that you started with creepy sushi! What a random thought: wonderful! Yours is certainly more together than my little pieces I wrote, but I didn’t want to have to think too much longer. It’s the weekend lol

Glad you enjoyed it, Matt. I really did like creating this.

Interesting exercise. My perfectionist brain and definitely my English teacher brain are unsettled by the idea of it, but here goes:

Feathers stream Rockets spread unseen Lockets touching foes unbreaking Feathers spray and need Feed the blue buttons

Wow. That is terrible. Fun exercise though.

Hey, I think it’s great! I really liked the “rockets spread unseen.” Kinda creepy and majestic. 🙂

Thanks. I wouldn’t have thought of it that way, but glad you did 🙂 Thanks!

There could totally be a song for that one. Maybe a new Bruce Springsteen original?

I can hear it now!

Ha! This is great. Feed the blue buttons, but not the green ones, those pigs.

Haha! Thanks, Joe. Strange what comes out when you’re not thinking ahead.

Never tried this before, but it sounds like fun.

boast most helpful dope lean bean is really mean come down come around and be the day play as we may all the day nachos ate grouchos at the grill til morning light with fright in the night she wails while he’s in jail

This is FUN! Thanks

I LOVE that line–“nachos ate grouchos at the grill til morning light”

Players weep on trees Into the gilded forest eggs cry Maybe in the future planes will crawl If only I know when I die

Agonizing grapes pull a ward from the hen Please have the finish, each screams One tangle of empty forges after another Flip and fall to hell

Eight and every page of guards Death and door come to yield Of my apostles one hath died Never rise again

Open girth weighs the justice Golden feathers flim and glide Beguile the dragons in my ankles, And you will be the saint of pyres.

Forest justice ever black Into my heart slack and die Make sure the door is locked my friend The statue thief’s here.

Chinese bells tassels scarlet swaying winds on horseback in Mongolia Leather gauntlet falcons grip with strong talons Cheese drip curds steaming face bent good and hot On a cold winter night on the mountains Snow-covered steppes step back front door and look out to the horizon horses drive towards the mud and centre of our camp Girls wrestle in embroidered helmets on Lacquered heads black as silk satin and moth wings

I was listening to a documentary on medieval China while I wrote this. It’s scary to do this, but very interesting.

A wisp of memory Fading fast Tinges of red and orange Surrounding the evening Memory escaping Irrelevant now Nothing necessary Sustaining Pain Useless to my wellbeing Forget Move on Look at the flowers They don’t weep Yesterday Does not exist There is only My happy heart Free

Beautiful Open Bright Sad Free (i.e. I loved it!)

(Love your summary! Thanks)

mm, beautiful is right! i love how you have the single-word lines. powerful. wonderful to see a longing end in freedom!

Thanks Matt…

I loved the flow of it! Very nicely written!

Thank you Lisette!

Lifeboat don’t sink Speak louder dishwasher Don’t ignore the soap Once upon a time I lived in a treehouse By the sea In a boat Eating popcorn With my best friend’s sister After we met By the seashore Watching chickenwings dance Like chiropractors Eating mustaches I think I’m weirded out By this poem The end.

I love that chicken wingsdance!

This poem paints word pictures. (Smiling)

I’m glad it made you smile. 🙂

Joy, I loved it! I like having your name above your entries… It’s like titling every thing ‘Joy’! I especially like the line ‘speak louder dishwashwer’. What a neat personification you do there!

Thank you, Matt! I’m so glad it brightened your day. 🙂

Wind blown hair Sudden smells Dirt caked fingernails Keep the blood flowing Listen well all of you Faded days of youth Slowly crawling down my hands

Drops slither down the lines of them

The sidewalk will end The days do grow short The sun will someday set You better start running Nothing will keep your heart beating The terror of the inky blackness Slipping towards you Like a unseen hand Pulling towards the sky Silent breathing Eyes looking Holding on to something Anything that seems like hope Dropped from a hundred feet Slammed on top of the fear and anger

Of those looking for it Never to be found Whispers in your voice The voices try to speak

Lovely idea, tried doing this but end up with like freewriting exercise, not poetry. I wonder if I’m doing it right though, would someone mind to let me know?

As you can see, mine is more like a threads of words that sort of rhyme imperfectly together, I’m not sure if I’m doing this exercise right.

Should we rush the next word without 2nd thought like in brainstorming/freewriting, or should we take the time to ponder which next word that can describe the previous word & 2nd word must rhyme?

Is it ok if we have spelling errors, i.e. we make up some words along the way?

Thanks, this is my piece: boom clap boom boom pow fowl fowler spoiler lier spelling error rubbish gibberish nonsense random blank space getting better improve dance fun run hike trial fire hire never say never Justin Bieber tin dean jean man motivational speaker fooler fuller occupational redeem receipt resit deceive deceit damn realm delve elf power grip rip drip dip sip nim numb rum wine alcohol dollar dine sky high fly fry rye nice buy fine nine mine fine right cents sense make fake bake aiks ache cite poetry poem focus circus amazing Britney Spears songs

Hi Alisa 🙂 You’re definitely not doing it wrong! Art is, almost by definition, to be defined by the artist (that’s you 🙂 I’m guessing you were going for the rhyming and that the author’s mention of ‘sound’ guided you toward that specific type of sound/poetry. Well poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, certainly doesn’t have to have any lines working with each other…. but one beautiful thing is that it CAN!

The best part about this is that the rule is there are no rules. Needless to say you did it perfectly. I laughed out loud at this, “

Seems right to me. I think theepoint exercise gets the brain off the right wrong good bad wagon and allows for the revolving of the word flow wheels, creates writing momentum.

Thanks so much guys for the positive enforcement, was pretty fearful actually that I’m doing this wrong, especially after I’ve read many other writers’ comment on this page which seem like poetry to me.

spaghetti soon twitches forknife held below knight night gnight long vacuous overwhelming consistency contstantly spaghetti but that is that how too yearn is rending still

vacuum space unrelated frequency dulled roar riptide rush bloated watermelon belly crying infants smiling sadness empty full long the two fight

hug me hurt me hide me rid me of the actions of the past the ones so now long forgotten belkin summit of faith radioplate maneuver fan running walking stillness complete grain texture paper thin neighbors credit cards fight plastic battles are the swimming seagulls

sleep yellow over long side ways dream a dream facesfacesfacesfaces who questions keep chanting smoke signals carrier pidgeons wood pidgeon harry potter sunrise sunsets full to empty nevermore ravenclaw harry potter slytherin dauntless teen fiction rests above elbows not betwixt

brains are concrete solidly cementing gray matter into dark matter elmer’s legends trip the nation glue that murdered many factionless fathers forget daughterless mothers highlighted on paper numbers alone

notetaking has never neared the precipice starbucks mcdonalds Disney world songs of the weekend amazing handsome always faith window clotheshanger lightpole crosschair living lives left of lines leaving lines write of lies

Wonderful images Matt – “brains are concrete…..” love this.

Thank you Jeanne!

“notetaking has never neared the precipice.” Not sure what it means, but love the sound of it. Great images throughout.

thanks Tom! i have no idea either. of course, as an english teacher you and i could likely come up with something for it. eg. there has never been enough note taking; notetaking is only as good as the bottom of the mountain… etc

lol, thanks again Tom, you’ve become faithful at commenting on my non-make-sensory posts!

Spaghetti sounds good right now… Great job Matt!

haha, right?!

it’s not that late, and it sounds real good to me too :)) thanks for the comment, lisette!

Anytime! It could never be too late for spaghetti!

Better not let any psychologists get a look at this free-association writing we’re doing here – they could have a field day!

Here’s a snippet of mine – what it reveals of my inner demons, I have no idea:

Fuchsia correct killing thyme Sun son jumping giants handle fun Haricot wimples forget-me-nots queen rapier juniper lungs Yesterday warrior bungle contemporary sweat linguine

However, having done that (and a few more lines of equal gibberish), some of the words resonated and I wrote an actual poem – not normally my thing at all. Here it is:

Celebrity cooks, killing thyme, Randy writers, striving to rhyme. Fossilised footballers, can’t keep them down, Rejected representatives, doing nothing but frown. My box is just full Of these unwanted folk. Won’t somebody tell them They’re nowt but a joke?

I loved both of these poems Alex! In the first I especially enjoyed all the crazy nouns. Haricots? Wimples? Juniper lungs? Awesome.

And the second is almost just as crazy! Representatives and footballers in your inbox? Great image! These were lots of fun, Alex. Great job!

For clarity, Joe, where I come from “box” means “television” …

Alex, I so enjoyed hearing your thought process during the writing, and then also enjoy the writing. Thanks for sharing!

Those were both very enjoyable poems! That was great! Thanks for sharing!

Interesting explanation,

Spices, are the most common flavore used to give the recipes a good taste

ninja use nunchaku whack the baby whack Bruce Lee write a song sing sing sing on stage rap swim fly dragon in the pond fly fly up with balloons land shaolin master punch matrix blue red laptop iphone smash medicine pills poets ted choose give up fly disappear forrest musics guitar horses flowers bill gates wheat weed whip whisky michael jackson fly fly fly fly

Ooh, I like this….

Cane Shut up curl

Keep try hop run

Jury Jig try dig

Methos fin help learn love

Delve done truck hug

mushroom bathroom in a line mask violate stop came in time grab grapple free sew line slow feverish tinkering mess all over feet globe car shadows blank squeeze fan top red bump in the road cemetery almost done pancakes shuffle indentation

Firstly get away guitar laying down fluent strings play pencilled drawings in graphite where it weeps the songbird relents ongoing tide in long ago fields of green someday wishful thinking may happen

This brought a smile to my face….

This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

when I wrote down my ongoing may happens, I was thinking it was a long month! with a bunch of things happening in May… and it’s not over yet!!! 🙂 great minds think alike!!!

Ripples sunlight rocking across time forgetting wisdom teeth falling out left and right and interdormand rushing giants planting tin cans frequent sighs undeserved highs racking up moments laughing hate spinning monumental focus pointless and proud

Rollercoaster Dreams I’m beaming at the seams.

Moving quickly at the speed of light I’m crawling out of my skin with fright.

People screaming, I hear My turn is getting near.

Do I actually want to ride? There’s no where to hide.

I take a seat in the rear Everything is becoming clear.

We take off with a jerk Maybe closing my eyes will work

to keep me from getting sick Maybe that’s the trick

My stomach turns My heart burns

http://www.shesallsmiles.com

To free write and simultaneously rhyme is no mean feat. I am envious of your ability! Wow!

Oh! I love roller coasters, so I especially liked reading this! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Now that’s marvellous for a quick writing exercise!

What a good peice of writing, I wish I have the same ability of writing.

Would be a great Rap song!

Cute piece!

I’m beaming at the seams!?! This is gorgeous!

I want to steal juniper lungs and sandals wanting time… After just putting the words that popped up down, I wanted to then use them within a line, so did it really quick to stop my conscious brain having any of the fun! It has made me want to go back to poetry after years away…..

Credible, cheerful, possible cream

Cauliflower people, treading mice

Like flowers popping tears tear in soulful

Cake will play because foe

Archipelago chant swear carry notice

The archipelago of my fractured mind

Gives chant to each spiralled thought

I swear I will sin again

Carry the panniers of hope

Until I notice the emptiness.

This is harder than it seems trees shoot out light beams its rays cause puss to ooze from ears and eyes multicolored tears soon begin to fall easy to say not to do brain filters raise defeat and letters emerge from holes galore

Okay yea this was weird and maybe not right so I’m off to the kitchen to fetch a bite. May attempt this later I might, but it will be well into this night.

Cool! multicolored tears soon begin to fall, trees shoot out light beams. I don’t think there is a right way to do this exercise. You write what comes to mind and cool/ weird things start happening. 🙂

yea my editor was fighting me all the way.

This remembers me of the last scene of Frank, with the song I Love You All. He creates the song based on loose phrases about the place he is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOt6ppIBOd4

Pace Breathing rapidly Tongue twisted around silk Silently contemplating Ifs and ands? Forever is temporary Tonight will change forever Night falls, dawn cracks Missions are possible.

Writing gibberish is a wonderful way to loosen up the old writing muscles. I have been doing this for years. I call these exercises “SOUPS” (like a minestrone of words 🙂

Here’s a ‘soup’ I prepared earlier:

I have hooks for ears. A fox for breath. I am alive but not for much longer. Passion over, I followed the posts, but lost her in Hades. The last words she spoke tore at my soul and were consumed in flames. I have tesserae eyes.

And here’s one I just did. (So much fun!)

How the red fruit became a violent blue. Cause and effect. Holodecks and bears. There’s a fly buzzing around my antlers. Drinking heavy water by the container ship full.

(Preface – This was ridiculously fun…)

Sisyphus expels fiction

Portable headstones rumbling nowhere

Fused opinions laugh at sweat

Mangle Josephine and Scarlet and Rastafarian hats

(Not even sure if that is a word, I continue)

Rain doesn’t come here

Snow doesn’t come here

Pacifists don’t come here

Snaggletooth and mulberries are frowned upon

over there though their new wall and

attempt at visibility works

Voo doo doll paves the way

So this is how this works?

First shots. Not a dunk or lay up

Hula hoop falls down the hips

Too many EL Fudge cookies

leave her belly trapezoidal

I’m not sure if this was what it was supposed to be, but what the heck. Here it is:

Wings darkness glow beauty

Eyes hear broken staccatos

Brainless batteries contain wealth

Eat hearts oil and sadness

Pray stay with contrite expectations

I can’t save me, why save you?

Breathe a breath, save yourself

Talk up to the sky, Sing to the clouds,

You are alone, we are alone, let me be

Hold a chainsaw gently against a pine tree

Keep a cigarette between the teeth, but don’t blow

Thoughts a whirling, don’t slow down, keep thinking

No regrets but no life as well

Don’t fail, don’t trust

Printers lay out a formal foundation

Of ink splattered on a page, rhythm to it

Like bongos, tambourines, a circus of stupidity

Why the formality? Just breathe.

Ok, I doo’d it. I tried to disconnect just write random words. The app I used has a Hemingway mode which will NOT let me go back and correct. So here it is in the raw:

fabulous bang twins supperbanner moon mistriss cold laubchlaunch cart bicycle haeart hart fart fifteen minutes foervroforever as arghhhh terry telephone wizards stupid magic radar neck crackle creakle arthritis ouch ouch ouchouch age apain in the ass still random arrggghhh fifte en minutes!!!! ocoffee coffeecake telephone terry newspaper crossword kids running on the street raining rain falling umbrellas red and blkblue morning gratgrey drizzle falling people walking coffee holding starbusks and caribou barns and noble refugee writing nonsesnenonsense geern of spring why do I keep connecting words!!!! I’m a sentence pig that should be green of spring random words hah blue whit umbrella pblue cap pink shirt white pants black man pololder cell phgone smartphone everine on a phone

This is fun, I’m curious what app you use for the Hemingway mode? Do you like it or does it tend to just force more editing after the fact?

draftin.com

This was gold! Thanks for tuning us into this part of the brain again. I had some rhymes and even a made up word that I had to write down. Some of my words were more connected than I realized after close examination. I think I’ll do it again and keep trying for more and more obscure nouns and verbs. Very fun.

Here’s my first attempt:

Buzz fuzz no flibbery slippery to trees knees acid foreign plastic pom Dom cray lips bend send Growl fowl my Galaxy bar forage skip tip mandible crime time yes Fall

Plenty of rhymes and certainly some connections. Fun connections too! My favorite line is “growl fowl my galaxy bar’

I decided to give mine a title. Very fun exercise. Writed

Hat hormonster tea says That is yours ill elcaire Crane frejuices hotdog on Very long train blank your eye Free fee to honk poink grr Grass hit shovel to joy Little carber yet kinger Questest am I

HA! I feel like I’m reading a combination of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss! I enjoyed how you verbified the word hotdog – as in the “crane frejuices hotdog on”. so many wonderfully unique and made up words, as well as not being constrained by grammar: “Questest am I”

Thanks! It was very fun!

After first draft, I felt happy. I added some connecting words.

Cormorant Languishing on the rocks I watch from the theater of trees carrier, freer, flier

beyond, a boat on the foam, full of hope, stable before, a blue jay, sneaky, to the wren feeder, pecking, tipping, flapping to stay afloat.

I get to Barnes and Nobles and realize that there most likely will not be a prompt today from Joe, new baby and all. So I said why not do Fridays again. So I did. I have no idea what this is but it was fun, which I think is the whole point.

I am a sentence pig. I grovel in words. I wallow in phrases. I show fields of green using appositives where paragraphs are ecstacy. I long for chapters. I pray for a novella Oh my what would I give for a novel. A tome of sci-fi, of memories of west Texas, of a curmudgeon just mumbling on a keyboard.

Well, there sort of was! But I’m glad you wrote this instead. This is publishable Gary! The first line and last two lines are especially wonderful.

A very creative piece with a lovely touch of humor.

Beautiful and such talent in this!

Wow! This is such an intriguing metaphor. I love it!

I loved this exercise…it felt great not to criticize the words I wrote…freeing…thank you!

Trees avenue go Paper pens and doors Wooden leaves swing Flowers sign loudly Anger rises Mad men scream Wishes take turns Mashed potatoes scream, cream and laugh Head full of noise Make it right, write

I’m pretty good at being random so here I go ….

random atom batman cat living loosely bill need a boosty can’t fathom random matter rather ponder infinite father you know, y’all, this random thinking has my inner brain’s eyes a-blinking tac namtab mota modnar line one backwards written makes even less sense this is only a test of my inner randomness but random it is scary it is i think i thunk i thought it was kind of fun but book seems long way off still

Fireworks miss you the forever paper friendly happy I’ll make the move rain oil painting tell me story earthquake end new house cucumber fence Gerber thinking crazy daisy patio fan

and glue smile together sunshine hides at hard rock flirty guitar stage tony danza

ongoing may happens

Heather Guidry

Carefully crafted canvas, smeared by my own hand, as I tried to perfect the image.

Beacon of light, luminous thought. Darkness tamped down.

I think this ended up being more cohesive than random…random words do come to mind once in a while though, and I make note of any interesting ones if I come across them (in order to use it later on).

——————-

Uncertain eyes look to yonder Over the gleaming horizon of sparkling grays and blacks. No whites. Just in between – the uncertainty of color.

Managing stark cold hands, Voices linger behind bedridden backs, Calling “Up! Up!” Back to who we are.

The dark suits hang on dressers, Image of the callback days of loose shirts, Untucked and fondly wrinkled. Memories of play.

The uncertainty of color persists.

Harboring Lost Thoughts By Kiki Stamatiou a. k. a. Joanna Maharis

The doormat brings with it it’s own excuses For harboring lost thoughts Of my vengeance.

Forever embraced by the hallow deeds Of raspberries filled with scornful melodies Inside their core, their bitterness stings My tongue with a sourness overcome By vicious melodies bombarding my Mind so listlessly.

I’m melting in the sun so filled with It’s buttery decree. I’m left dancing outside like a mundane Archer taking aim against vicious levities Of the outright political game.

I’m embalmed with the crucifix burning My flesh with starved convictions. I’m famished by the powers withholding me And feeding me to the hungry sharks Swarming around my cage.

I’m lost in a watery grave Where only the sadistic survive The maze of the harpoon. Dying carp freeze in the ice. I’m withholding my heart Until tomorrows spring.

For I’ve learned to dance in the snow When the burrow brings forth it’s own song. Let the rich melodies pour out of your Grave, and bring me into the hourly tides.

I’m ever floating across the lake of your Misery. Allow me to bring my party hats, so I can Topple over you mind with the fruitfulness Of lush shrubbery with all their essence.

I’m driven by the fires burning up my soul With evergreens throbbing against my heart. For they bleed out the grail pouring forth Unto you, my friend.

If only you’ll learn to hobble once you’ve Been stung on the foot by a bee.

I create my own task master. For it is none other than me. I’m left standing there holding your Heart on a pole.

I’m ready to consume the vilest taste Of your herbs, if only you’ll sedate me So I no longer have to feel the pain Of your leaving me behind.

I’m drifting in the foulest pools Of consciousness when the melody Stops breathing. I’m the delft parted across the sea Of the fires.

I long to be cast aside by the nets Holding me prisoner to the night, But the song they choose to play Is the feverish hours of the stars Blinking their light into my eyes.

I’m gone overboard, because I lost My grip on life. I’m sailing across the sea with no one To guide me to you.

How can I bring for the misery unto You when you’ve left me nothing but The hollow log I sleep in on a cold night.

The waters thirst for survival in the grave Of your rite, but I’m left winded after Trying to tread on water for so long a tide.

I’m sifted by the breathing fire coming From your nostrils when the harpoons Engage themselves in the shark meat Ready to be pounced upon.

I’m the grave holding myself prisoner To you. For I know nothing else better than To sing of the wisest miser ever created By the Creator himself.

I’m strong, but I’m fragile all At the same time.

Help these seeds grow you left Planted in my heart. For they torture me at night with Their bite. I’m helpless in the darkness when Striving to breath in wicked breaths Of fire. Every time the rain goes away,

You take a piece of my sight with you.

Each day passing by me, I’m overcome With the hunger to seize your wild heart, And devour it’s passion with my tired spirit. Bring me back into the lion’s den So my song will continue to be heard.

Let me be the one who lets you into the Coasting plight of this miracle dancing Before us. For the captor is none of than the waves Crashing upon our heads when disease Of the soul echoes on in the realms of the dead.

Time stands still Until it can tip no more And then the days move on Until you lips bleed lore The birds hone down their beaks And the water is low The boats begin to leak With what failed to show I hope with all kindness Genuity and trust That we lack what makes us better That is Until we know what we have lost Because with pride comes the end And as they say The end is the beginning It’s only in the new start Can we begin to see meaning

Fickle beans tasty trophy Force winds and rings tomorrow Gentle sabbath soaring greenly Froth and spirits sending dreams of chairs and inspiration Karma subtle and sorcery bright as foggy lenses Crime and candy dabble in forts of cheesecloth and dandelions Bear crawls for when it has none

Thanks for the idea. It was a lot of fun!

This was a lot of fun! Hippo java maps connects

My boom excites telephones

Rapidly energize terribly memorized

Backpack table cama pillow candles little tables

Life stipe’s the dog and kidnaps the night

Relentless stripes remarkable marbles scattered

Where is the man That purposely punched pilots Of spoiled roses And oscar cigarettes

From the steps he fell Fluffy clouds float Don’t look him in the eye It’s the devil in a goat

Frolic in the fields The sweater astrewn Dream catchers above Still wondering about the man in blue.

(Yeah random and fun exercise)

Busted bread gulls gaping gushing Gucci over moonbeans Muppets bruising, black buckets belting, bucketing, melting, Droplets pelting, pelts, Cigarettes high, rise of smoke of fabric blokes Muscles choke, mice pedal, broke, Wrappers soak Wrap me up, warm, torn, tongue worn and eyes sore, Fingers of lore, written in pores, shivers delivers Knuckles raw on wooden doors.

Sloshed and moshed and fever caboshed Rick Rack, thistle, high jack, delve, dig, seethe, heave Wrist watch, moss, laden toast Butter creamed and curdled and hurdled at strangers On bikes Come in Be gone Be sworn this is yours Its ours – our seething mess, our rubber ringworm test Of time.

Culture gone forgotten Who what am I Where do I come from Here, there, I cannot be from everywhere Lost in a line Pen investigates Discover insight, delightful I am Content with me

Practice moon green deliverance when I loved full but empty I thought I knew, I knew what I thought signing sounds on the wind christmas, crackling flowers druzy quartz sleep grey is silver a song isn’t a voice love is in crisp leaves in autumn smell pain and loss red, blue and purple veins sing a song of merry and bright scream shadows and lust revenge and deception and outrage meditation out of a void experience touch and sound walking children forest dark blues gasping for love remembering you remembering us.

Love killer season pie Melon dew drop Hug me lemon pink dye Books rob heart man Warmth in the blue snowflake Stars drown in lake boat Shy girl dress up dress out Dark sunlight blue sky

Catheter betrayal Why bottle bowl spritz spoon Long bright breezy Simple calm sound Magazine in the trash Water never drunk Purple towel, folded, untrusted Never betrayed Like he had I trusted him in the bed And not the towel But the towel never betrayed He did

Food is food. And I am I. Phones are cool. See eye to eye. Don’t you know how good it feels. To finally be as free as a bee. Love is hate and hate is sorrow. Yolo my friends so be okay. Piglets are weird and so are bowties. But don’t be afraid, my sick little fry. Yolo my friend, you don’t know what it’s like to be me. I am a fry, and so are you, bee. Okay okay where should i go if ye who wanders, Not to far from thee. I am pretty cool, not gonna lie. Omg um yeah cool. Love is food and food is love and i am asparagus. Cheese cheese wonderful cheese to yee who wanders… I’m not really a twat just it’s complicated, okay? Life is stars and stars are life yasss queen work okay Tyler oakley is stupid and kinda is not a queen So is joey and shane and grade I should be a teacher cuz im cool and i grammar right Piglets are dumb No they’re not What am i saying Okay okay i’m okay Fault in our stars is actually a good movie Wattpad is awesome

I long to no longer long. I long to chase my shadow I long for that moment when the sun takes its light and the shadow becomes one with darkness. I long to stand in darkness, panting and laughing at the absurdity of my chase.

life fleeting ships red burning winter’s deep asparagus peel back the layers while finding the bird’s song pinecones a layer of dust she breathes until dawn shining on your back my heart crumpled i pander to your soul the most esoteric fragments of my fingertips radiate and suddenly we are one

Huglesnort prediction elevation anger redevelopment spitfire unadorned clickity-clack barn meadow racer acclimation result thinking adhd motherhood replace learn become Aldrenation replicated meshining verbiage dumper

whisper down the swallowing stream, aloft from the earth, sea green angelic melodies, no desire for the smothering day, nauseating glimmers of a sense of feeling, but there is no more there is no more

Okay, I gave this a try. Here is what I came up with:

Singing a rain of showers Holding the clovers Wishing upon the jar Look the seeds are brining Fool heart incontent Slam slimming silliness Shapes come by hard Shall we ride now pard Hope do not despair Poop on the stairs

LOL Okay, I’m done.

That was fun. I might try this daily to get the juices flowing. Thanks Joe

Holes always look to never Emptiness knows no more clever On life’s machine I lever So pull no more punches And ties no more sever Never say ever Today is much better Present gifts push tomorrows buttons So no loving all of a sudden Butchers chop no muttons Or see self esteem plunging The pen is an extension of my hand So stretch your arms out do it dance to life’s music or die in life’s silence sight.

I was really skeptical for some reason when starting this exercise. I was doubting myself and the process, but something happened to me once I got going and this is what I came up with. There are definitely some crap lines, but true to what Joe claims, there are also some keepers!

Lust crust stuck to my nose. A seed planted where wild things grow. Now I have no room to breath. Rub elbows while desires seethe.

Polarity creates a daunting rift. Between extremes I seek, I sift. Close my eyes and there I find. The alleyway that is my mind.

Wedged between a corner store. And failing rotten tavern door. Graffiti art laments the day. That all we see should turn to grey.

Hypodermic desperation. Apathetic consternation. Should I share my deepest thoughts? With the naked body I’m draped across.

Rejection looms beyond the mist. Savagery consumes our tryst. Explosive climax from both ends. Meets the middle spectrum trends.

Morning brings mundane expressions. Forgotten by the twilight lessons. Of what to do when passions raw. Begin to rip, and tear, and gnaw.

Thanks! That was fun!

Here it is: fast taken long yellow road funny laughter dog takes a wheel of cheese boom goes the cat in winter wintery gloomy sad and desperate final dinner sees broadcast trucking along in the winter snow capped feelings it’s all allowed it’s all aloud cheese strings of death scary and morbid spooky and wrongly written bitten apple snow and white

I stumbled upon this post two years later, but thought I’d join in the creativity. Arriving fashionably late to the party…

Miraculous Ezra writes now And never did he whistfully boast Loud cymbals dampen darkness Lulled by sweet melancholy trees Torn amber flickers in kerosine Forgotten resorts listless in new days Harpoons by night Enslaved carvings hangers of folly Miracle girl Paisley lover Blinded and languid forever mine Shells and shambles balloon or fray Liquid ignition and lusty eyes Pooling careening cereal magic Employing adoring your bickering teeth Pliable queens of utmost sincerity Important or pleasurable it matters not Sandy hearts quake and shudder in time

Me foolish window was astonished Right poster under my keyboard tried to be sympathy Pen afterward might seek another coaster Hello if my chair help me to kick the wire off vegetable sicks coal sky

FUCK PERFECTIONISM words trickle ever so light sounds seem sharper tonight emotions cutting edges thank God for freedom long walks nighttime stories laughter the world moves slowly in the distance i see a perfect stranger in front of me she wears nothing but black with a devious smile & ready to attack eyes as sharp as daggers but a laugh so beautiful it puts my french horn to shame she walks with pride in every step, taking her time soaking in her surroundings gratitude is an action word and to be breathing today is more than I deserve

what are your interpretations? i’m interested

Ton bam landfill mining on a truck Unsure what the jar has struck On the grass a settle petal We sat lavishing flowers in sight To old and young, They all played In songs of mass and greed We stood like pires Eating the way for those saddened In the dormant spaces of their lives Unlucky and solemn Truth be told we aren’t the saints That paper sent us through disdain

Random, chair, purple, millenium falcon, buzz, silver Double, fingers, contact, nod, blank, empty, crack, Jump, tweet, snore, light, cat, breath, duplo, criss-cross Applesauce, orange, wood, song, island, coaster, basket, Egg, video, stupid, dumb, nonsense, soda, dim, car, morning, Awake, early, email, thoughts, tasks, day, ahead, drudge Time, scared, moron, promising?, not, dictionary, web, blog, feather, Kettle, knife, bowl, lunchbox, time, slow, poor, worthy, light switch Ceiling, floor, table, rug, avoid, tray, card, lego, figure, television, Books, breathing, silly, impossible, another avenue, keep, trying?, Exercise, practice, hi-low, plug, outlet, moving, awake, resolve, Undecided, laundry, dust, webbing, sad, afraid, anxious, inferior, Awful, no use, boring, coffee, progress, no, banana, wii, hat, Swallow, fingernails, click, snap, bulb, roar, big, engine, fast, Dawn, light, street lamp, trees, branches, dark, binoculars, Slow, view, pop, nothing, inhale, exhale, move, suddenly, Time, a.m., what, meaning, tires, pavement, stop sign, Text, edit, white, black, housecoat, feet, decision, waste, Possible, not, last, minute, keep, forward, sometime, Expression, money, job, administrate, look, busy, nothing,

Pain and failure easy to come difficult to go it’s just a phase, really?

Coldplay- hope and kindness generosity and love music happiness, calmness

crazy ideas implementation overpowering fear negative to positive long lost dreams.

words, words, words time not enough lost in transition waiting to be found

curious minds to care or not to care here or there now or later to create or not don’t know

New excersize for me, but what fun. Cant say mine makes a bit of sense, but here it is:

Running through the leaves Hyper on my life Hoping past hoping that pain will be Put to rest Open wide Feel free Slide in home Cheaters tea

It seems difficult, yet you must face it, feels likes it never going to end, but you have to get to the end to prove that, when it looks too long, all you need to do is to walk all the way to see how short it actually is… Such is life, we must learn to overcome our fears daily; be rest assured that every unpleasant situation will definitely end, and walk confidently through every daunting and challenging experiences to see how helpful they have been. I think that’s what I’m going to do…. I’ll keep overcoming the fears, enjoying the process, and celebrating the fulfillment of my writings so that someday, I’ll look back and be amazed at how much I have written in a short time….. I hope I’ve been able to walk through these few lines to show that my writings can become better.

So after my Physics lesson I wrote this for fun..

Your soul was embedded within every particle of my being Thus with a kiss my body caught alight From one phase to another my bonds broke Until I was one with the air

You lifted me up

Drifting aimlessly, until you breathed me in slowly I flowed inside of you, through every inch of you Until you were consumed by me

I brought you life

Full I fell in well of will But There is alot n lots thrill.

I love this exercise: it’s fun and it greatly helped with my creative slump. I had a go at it. Here are my results (warning: contains swearing (hope I’m not breaking any rules).

Watch out for the smack attack; making a jam.

If you’re in first class, I’ll put some glass in your ass.

Vroom vroom bam, doing the jam slam.

I’ll beat you till you spew faecal; coming out like treacle.

Gonna end this poem like I did your dick.

Don’t forget this brutality; my formality is a fatality.

Next time I’ll beat you with a stick. (damn right that was sick).

Atop my tower Gazing in despair at all my hands wrought. I strove to raise a better order. Slowed by hubris of the oligarchy. Heads rolled as I pressed on, the weak cowed into place. Behind my back they plot my fall. I am betrayed by all, and I betray all.

All I want Is to shout Really loud Because I’m so mad and sad Since I was bit by a turtle when I was a young lad Make me clap See me slap That ugly turtle face It’s such a disgrace messing up that place

… well this was fun.(Ps. I love animals I swear, it’s like my hand wrote on its own)

I thought this was really good. You seem to have a flair for poetry.

proud victorious free

Soaring high above trees

Beady eyes watchful frilly

It was fun to be silly

the treasure of sound by dancing trees from the swinging wind

the treasure of smell by dropping water from the falling rain

the treasure of taste by refreshing life from the rising sun

the treasure of sight by coloring sky from the varying lights

the treasure of smell by blossoming petals from the growing flora

Post modern poem

Sketch elephant shoe

Badoom badoom baddom

Jukebox millionare

Becky with the guitar hair

And suddenly, I’m soaring

Poop boop and cute

You’re raining and your snoring

Gravy pad thai pouring

Luke warm Jonathon cold

Badoop badoop badoop.

Spirit rider Pickle in syrup Jump out of your skin Pull the rope to freedom Roar like the sister wind Waves of emotion Perfectionism sucks….

Chewy Furry boy Big boy Bad boy Loveable boy Playful boy Handsome boy He’s my boy Loves to look outside at the pretty birds, Wonder what he would do if he were to ever catch one? Headbutting, bread kneading little boy Fat boy, furry boy, does he know how much I love him? Chewy is my handsome, loveable, furry CAT

Eerie palms swinging in the northern breeze Endless summer leaves are playing to the wind The relatively of relatives just brings me in this awful place of hill where sun does not shine either on your door or mine I still hope that the city dream would tell me to sing But I can’t do the party animal I can sing all the genres of dreams Let me do this for you

She was standing over there , chewing her gum , when the old man stumbled on his face on a rainy day , and she sarcastically started to laugh louder, louder and louder , and merly she was trying to help him , what a sorrow to be such sarcastic and regretful at the same time , the man was barley looking at her with eyes full of shame .

So I take a random word. Then write another word disconnected. And then just let it go. Sounds really good. just clarifying.

Emeralds form in my heart Rubies and rainbows show in the dark Crazy molasses engraved in my skin Elevated munchkins makes it harder to kin

Justice prevails, to you I love to hail I am a woman and you are a male Courageous enough to show that I care This is goodbye, get out of my dare

Baby diapers are Fuel for cars Carnation corsage for her Hotrod partner Swimming is fun for Cats who like to skate Honorable mentions for Meticulous wheels Of happiness outfitting Our highways

Thank you for this. I’ve been wanting to write but don’t really know what to write and where to begin. This was an enjoyable way to begin though. Here is my very first attempt with this exercise:

Surging pain for the demented brain Never underestimate the fate of the absurd Words have meaning but why do I care Follies of life and static despair Where is the bag of time wasted When do we trade this agenda for mourning Laugh and you shall see The tears that run through me For I can’t believe anymore I had faith but realized it was fruitless Time can heal but I still remain rootless Fly in the breeze to separate thoughts Grounded for life until I take flight Energize your procrastination to delay the inevitable Chaos ensues we are the idols of temptation

That is amazing

liked the last two sentences

Energize your procrastination to delay the inevitable. Wow great!

Wow!!! This is really great! Your choice of words is inspiring! (It makes way more sense than mine!)

What a nice exercise, I like how random it is. The results are terrible though 😀

mirror is a random word stars and rainbow windows the wet dogs sleep maroon Mr Swish is waterbottlishly pale I like to be sad sometimes is never as good as trees the lasagne contains the summer and Brutus runs as top speed drummer cats wail in narrow alleyways I like words radish radish softly blood when cavernous halls sing piano and the taste of iron my key hole is black chocolate leaves verbs are missing Jesus is not here today my mind spins spoons running time out of setting stage work and French class under the weapon shot Kenmare ink blood navy feather table blue glue sandwich green ocean cold my door is open splashing No! out of tune like the big fish and the past and the future we are laughing laughing still

Jeopardy, what’s this word A lot to think about this torn world He wouldn’t even talk to me A new topic to envy

Wishing upon my diaries I never went fishing with such families Climbing stories and craving lamenities Leverage powers of beauty custodies

I am a woman, or maybe just a girl Crying in depth for when I twirl With sentiments of a wiggly ride Slowing down with a sudden pride

Louminous hearts so bright as to see to jolt is to wander, an unending tavern While darkness hold to what it is told Lies the secret where truth never gets old

Shall I perish? How bout today? How bout tomorrow? Tired as the dog who journeyed restless Chasing the devil who stole sight nevertheless

Allow the highness to judge you of what you are Or what you could have done to save someone drowning

Its u and me today. But not tomorrow.

I do this fun exercise now and then whenever i didnt have the motivation to contine my WIP or there werent just any ideas coming up.

Reading my peoms, I sound smart ass to myself. It’s like reading something very fine and well thought – “Wow, those words are deep!” – but really there’s not much of an effort put there.

It really was fun and helpful.

Thanks, Joe

Spring like morning Dust like wind Feel your mind Wander within Think about The emptiness inside You will find nothing within.

Broken wings, like a strangling theme.

Wanting to be green, In a deserted dream.

The wings that I wear, Were once white and fair.

Now stained with despair, they look dark and glare.

Rubbing the stains, To get them off.

I end up realizing, My hands are also stained dark.

I love this idea and the freedom it brings. Here is what I strung together.

Maine bears eat ice cream From the hands of children To see if they will cry They lick it sweet and Suddenly find The tree and rope to hang it by The furry feet of mothers fretting Will keep us busy and fight for meaning in the night

Crazy but fun! Thanks Joe.

This is such a fun poem! Main, bears, and icecream? Oh my!

Boldly the endless nighttime waits

For tricking tears and synapse connections

Stop fearing It longs to hold you

To free you from your body’s

Fleshy envelope Break apart

Shatter in the glass and be free Darkness passes.

It feels so mysterious. I love the flow of this poem. Thanks for sharing!

I might have missed the point of this exercise by taking so long, but here’s what I wrote.

demolition garden fate a residue keeps its promise some people are far under sea I imagine their tents are ragged live to starve when she eats the fire bowly poley nobody likes me sad that sailboats aren’t more popular what a waste now, people don’t care salvo codec lips eat the rose thyme we live in a deceitful world where presidents are from TV where poetry sucks and the ends justify the means never say always, it always is never right so say the sunken swollen sorry sallow sot air at the mountaintop is thin but the sun can be beautiful on the clouds he with he and she with me how many hidden sets they give to them when their own did that with him and me she didn’t even reply to those dark deeds boat in the fog she leapt off as always, nobody cares air is filled with water matter is filled with me suck it and the morning and the evening were the twenty-first day.

I spent way too much time making it unexpected, but it sure was fun!

Apple. Alms. Rib cage nuns fall in the Dark of day looking for a way Today a heart thaws and hurts raw World blurs feel so small A doll on a staircase childhood memories like sand in my hand Words burns towards nothing low blow Angry frothing doe eyed Cocoa dark Honey in the night Rib cage tight pretty sight Mage bites a knife Circus call backstage brawl Crawl away skin bright tonight Black and blue and purple too White elephant fly high die specify Ivory burst sorts retorts shorts Reaching his knees these people Stones and moans groans in pain Worthless street rat in a fancy shy hat die in glory tell his story ain’t an allegory remembered by none no friends till the ends funeral flowers every hours sours his name sins weigh a ton everyone cries lies say they won’t forget about that I have my doubts. Someone shouts in the back Golden boy rusted never suspected Him of this sin never let it Rejected motivations dissected Like a frog in biology class That was never kissed missed So close to last year’s Christmas Laughs burn the tongue so young Last laugh worth frothing nothing If nobody to share it with.

Love board it happens Phone rings now Can marker paper love Water flowing randomly We are present We are absent Could I be that Picture flowers Girl getting moving dancing crying Where do you go Am I funny or am I not Is it real or is it not

Hello simmering thinking Eye arises clicks sees Silent tears no fear Heart strong quiet warrior stone Black white words shine fight conquer Breathe die live Bell rings toxic fume Mystical ramblings and foes Fantasy reality illusion. Dreams.

Kitten Birmingham fossils share Brimming torture fairly there Wither so the bees dew frown Spinning fruit from wayward cow socks and parrots collide until Fevers surging writing well Cancel pain from yonder square Fancy prancy all the daywear

This is a great idea for starters like me. Thank you.

Roar ocean loud You powerful prudent proud Dusk towards fire She goes nowhere Leaves burning astray I’ll love you today Tomorrow stars will play Dark fading day Fairies sing lilac tears I’ll wait years

Flower: of mine planted in the Ground: To grow and stretch and Beach: itself in a truly fine Wood: That aromatic substance is not Amiss: To a fresh pressed garment sprayed with Starch: A garment that sits up around the neck and chaffs the Chin:

I’ve got a terrible cold right now and my head doesn’t feel quite right, but I thought I may as well give this a go. It was very fun once I got into it! Here is my first one, not really sure where it all came from but I suppose that’s the point!

Stumbling tumbling with yet dawn lawn on shallow peaks some yet speak but some yet don’t humbling lounges spiraling peaks Who might Shoe might Shulamite miss With wide brass buttons and a harrowing kiss close quarters

“Shoe might Shulamite miss”

LOVE it! Are we talking Abishag here?

Exercise #3 The lights are out. The coffee has been drunk. The phone is ringing, The computer is on. The dog is snoring and so is the cat. The paper came The news was checked There’s a desire for dreams.

No great imagination here!

I love the passive voice here: “The news was checked”

So, here is something that I managed to write, using your prompt and my brain working with no expectations whatsoever :D.

Bridge monologue news anchor Lies and tries the fifth Heavy headset rumbling Pantless actor’s face Words blasphemy roll Fear the enemy no 1 Danger we all face Heartless jerk in mic Eyes empty on the cup Thoughts on a coffee sip News anchor sitting up Weather forecast amiss Raining lies wash away Truth in it’s making Realise the bridge monologue Of the puppets and a puppetier Strings and strands Pulled by the fifth king

Delightful smiles Optimistic Non-stop fun Take a break Wipe the few that escape Overwhelmed Rest your mind Replenish energies Youthful spirit Ignite a flame Make the most of the day Funny jokes Incessant laughter Never breaking Every day the same game

excellent is word you want to hear from people for you Pakistan is my lovely country: Mirror can describe you face not your personality, attitude, behavior and inner soul:

I don’t really know what does this means but I enjoy it:

Make it top Stop Evil drops Crops and the bots I care Bear the pain Cain ain’t rain Main system Get together Love it better Leave the mice Spaghetti Leave it I can’t Bear the pain You should know For you Closed

When I awake, I see the light And if I don’t, then it is night Too much tv is bad for the mind Just spot the difference Then you will find Love is blind But so am I Like a diamond In the sky I wrote this poem for you Because the internet told me to.

I wrote this in Messenger and immediately sent this to my sister. Ahhh well.

In a dark forest far far away from the truth. A deadly husband waits alone for his wife. Alone, and drunk in despair, dream terrors at night are his companions. And now the end is coming soon. Everything he wanted for his life was to receive some love, but now it is too late, all too late, all is doomed.

… A little disturbing but really fun to write!

Stop drop tired

blop glop ayer

what is that

this is so bad

crude brood

read and brood

tense happy angry and sad

all the reaction when I read

will they be there when you read

My violena major upgrade senior quality Ten thousand hore radishes eating popcorn why must I beg I shall not go to the zoo with monsoon rain brian burger main chimpzoobam chichichinese why must I be the source of misery misery alli oop Arcana my cana chi cana everybody jutsu ray say ray gun rain May scary play of course the dang blang demented as a hoodlum I acquire a plan tum Jump off the cow Into my arms You dog

Thanks a ton! this was amazing and fun! I always wanted to write something of this style and finally i got to know the mantra. here is something that I wrote just in five minutes. Thanks to you.

sound of the soul loud and clear shines so bright in the dark sky never blame it for your actions close you eyes and feel the sensation try not to tame it free bird flies high so does the soul far from the destination but closer to the realization breathe in breath out let the peace be all yours

I feel like I should print this and read it again from time to time.

I did this one a couple of days ago foe similar reasons(i felt stuck but wanted to keep on writting) I am at the edge waiting I know i must jump I want to jump But I pause There’s rocks down there My bones will shatter There’s water down there My lungs will falter But there’s also grass And a whole new life Maybe I wont die Maybe it wont hurt to crash I wanna jump I’m gonna do it So Help me god Faith as my fuel I can do it I’m doing it I jump

***** I enjoyed writting it. It felt like describing a dream.

Thanks, Mr Bunting! This exercise is fun indeed. It took a decade for my next ‘poem’. I’m weird at it, so here it is. 🙂

unserious this, please logger dee, logger done twisty legger gum lettuce risen, damage dome fractions munchies calleth sie Zed makes weatherly weasels in to the suncorn megadeers and teenage tentacles to whiperdone and tiny bababas riped with abstract peopees how is the glue Hank achieved? bristing breaching broth reacus propelled pud-ding liberation fungae, clouds of joy champion of life is tot pocket oh, the last escape! jurney knocked china ware spacege cracks inself wieseldorf a bee an a, a c through tyne enterprise euny pewney cow need a shrinky sauce brutalized canvas steer globe around is fear or is ith, dearling tooz? cangashnouze statues work pensil hack up underdust cut off the deal me a ninja skill

Greetings to all from Slovenia!

Grand new start Beautiful beginning Sunrise so peaceful Ready to work Writing at best Looking forward at the rest Same spirit of fluency Guided at best

Straining night Wine before dawn Cat goddess is the only oath Book stacks are craving for fire Peony blossoms yet nobody cares Illusion you saw Weaknesses I sought Fade away In the songs of white birds You are here, my darling, Wander in the wild

Lesson #3 writing practice assignment #2 “modernist poetry”

compare final plans with initial brainstorm prepare night fight right, is it delight? brisk frisk makes fakes angri-nervy singing ringing hinging binging etiquet music in my ears famous woodwind quartet there are no saints here, only strange and queer people from the steeple, who wait for the second shoe drop that gat Looey, watch out! it’s gone kablooey lotta hooey if you ask me take your “poem” and climb up a tree distract compact and also retract I break I bend here lies the end

Reworked this and I like it better.

Lesson #3 writing practice assignment #2 “modernist poetry” version #2

compare final plans with initial brainstorm prepare for night fight, am I gormless or gorm? brisk frisk makes fakes angri-nervy singing ringing hinging binging topsy-turvey music in my ears famous woodsy wind quartet beef steak and kidney pie, finger bowls and pretty etiquette there are no saints here, only stranges with not-a-clue-ish people from the steeple, waiting for the second shoe-ish to drop that gat Looey, watch out! it’s all gone kablooey if you ask me it’s a lot of hooey take this “poem” and stare at a fractal distract compact and also retractal I break, and broken I bend here lies welcome, this is the end

This poem is for my daughter who’s always curious with everything

Hovering into the screen Wide eyes, feelings melting into one Dawdling like a cat purring in the ground Screaming, gnarling feisty feline Up she rose, up she goes Totally immersed into the pooling water of depth How was she to know when the music stops? How was she to know when all things would last? She’s just there, staring, sitting into the bewilderedness She’s just there, feeling the tick of the clock of eagerness Now and then, the bell will rang But she would not bear the raging sound Alas! The time has come to an end! And then she stood again She prowled into me with eyes like diamonds Snuggly, relaxingly came into my embrace As I slowly uttered these words as I say “ What do you have been dreaming my dear?” “ Come here my darling” “ Let’s venture forth and sail”

smooch pooch when coffee quivers write out of sight down deep delving sleep hope for now unturning turn twist toasting tumble flip and sigh. Sleep short sweet shiver sleep soon surest shout ships and skips come shooting through a starless sky, bible black, and blue.

My love Your not alone Running in the the uphill battle I will be silent Till the day I die Take me somewhere nice Bring me the horizon Seize the day I see star My chemical romance Leave me blind My love I’d like to write a love letter in your arms I hate you, I love you I don’t want you Just give me a reason A war inside my head Broken open I’m yours Yet I’m still broken holding-on

Sanity Chaos Dreams Living life in what seems Spiraling up then down again Always moving never proving

Ive told that little girl before When you grow up this will be no more But here I am yet again Drowning Swimming oops..Suffering I promised her on many nights Those thieves would never steal her light I need to fix this make it right I promised her we would always fight.

I really don’t know what i came up with..!! 😀 may be a mordern rap. Here comes my first attemp.

Shape the wire practice at office

Door with the write privilege is the politics of the car

auto made of cabbage taking charge meet the idea of mid-brain

avengers of the scent shop is the pickup

app that chirp fan could walk cloth sing, spoon flap

motor of fish rain bike was a fraud

[bump horn] Sun just honked

Font that wireframe zoom at the article

contestant can check smile with smule

run for the missed ad be like a snail in Facebook

Phew said Phil from boomerang

He blew a thrill so slang

Confused so full of twang

Bulbous frills swing till I sang

So many pills in my hand

Crazy in love til I’m mad

To show how much good to the bad

Filled with surprise till I hang

Dead from the ceiling fan

That was fun!!

Muten gelingen traute Versagen

zeig nicht genügend

Sinn sinnieren transzendental

tausend brillieren versanden zum Ziel

ohne ein Leuchten Paläste und Schwärme

Sanftmut verwundbar zertreten im Staub

Großes gebären Brombeeren nur Mut

Taglicht gesendet rasch kräftezermürbend frömmelnd vergleichen

plaudern zum Troste Rüschen gereichen

…well, it’s German, my second try, but I certainly had fun and I loved most to play with the sounds – the most incredible words flowed out of me, interestingly many quite oldfashioned words that I never use in my day-to-day language. Wonderful! I take it as a beautiful wordfinder and certainly as a good practice whenever creativity seems to be sleeping 😉 Thank you!

Just amazing! is all I can say!!! this method relaxes that internal ‘perfectionist’– completely sacks it really. I kind of like my rendition…sort of poetic:

Picking Up Down It goes Where up your nose Silly as it seems to be Why ask what happened to me

Tip toe in the dawn tulips A blip goes blop and ends in slop Why whistle when the wind wildly wings where No one sings

Purple dermis does a do for you Far away it scatched and sizzled Sinking Rising over the rainbow Far Far Away working while we wink

This tis tarry til tall tail tell Signs sickly sink sound Down dares deeply distressed Crossword carries Carmel convenience

I think this exercise was great fun! Here’s one I came up with

Cant handle the night Hope is a nightmare Dressed in leather and steel Lace and taffeta laugh at the night Boots stomp on the moon Sheep smell the fear of the farmer

#1 hoorah lets get there somewhere to get free and have a bit of coffee and shall not have to pay the fee for everything there is free free

#2 waves of the sea always in motion they are always at work is everyones’s notion when there is a storm they are at commotion when you find that you are stuck up in emotions peace to the heart is what we get on observing the waves devotion

wire put fire truth pour lyre soar drier (i had to work so hard to not write higher over here) mere crier sheer liar pasty admire hasty prier

Foam scared blue Love you too Don’t dive in Love is mean Floor jump sky Feet can fly Disconnected My heart has fainted I wish it was worth it I wish I was worth it

What do you think? I have mixed feelings about it

Halo on high Silver stag midnight woods Time slows Bittersweet snowflakes hang Mutual missing Longing stinging wind Howl under night’s cowl

Wow. Reading all the poems here and then looking at mine= definitely not motivating 😉 I’m going to post it anyway though…

Fall candy sweaters Makes me laugh With sadness Pencils destroy me Coffee an addiction Of despairing minds Paper is linked with Letters and words unmanageable Glasses of kindness Fill my heart with joy Speakers speak with perfectionism Destroy me When people stoop Or slouch and bend So stand straighter

I dream as I lay From last night’s play I wore armor That feels warmer To fight the enemy And win for my army I shout in victory That has become history

this was a terrible one

I blink aim and target With knife that made me feel joy As clear as death Dad claim bed Shout stop gloom Laid slain in clean mid marsh Shave hand and claim bold Chomp stop and dance

Awesome exercise, perfectionism is definitely a force to contend with.

Mind tool freak teak speak geek Hello computer find me where you roam Ventually you step through the foam of life and home Recover not what you once knew but what you will Whereto are the masters of the abyss End of new comes strength and resilience Btw this is was supposed to be gibberish Foiled again damn creative mind

Here’s my poem using random words:

Folly fools eat forest leaves Lyrical leaves fall gushing blur confusing watchers Birds tweet longingly to distant hills Falling wings soar endlessly Fragile features form in tree tops amongst the clouds Dropping tender tears onto branches Sip my nectar slowly

Here is my try at it: Telephone mushroom giveaway morning eagle closet green danger value rose entry speeding blank tube window future whispering hidden modern trembles plastic jokesters parables onion storm demanding eternity venues zero mixtures nibbling honesty general spanning blowing thrust inclement product

Nothing could be more embarrassing than this one. But it’s fun, life is better when you’re laughing.

Water in Mumbai, Happiness sensation. Awkward moments! Formed creative bonds Made artistic expressions Experience art and architecture Different bond with passion A joyful trip captured. Work hard and travel, Wellness through satisfaction. Enjoying writing having fun! Forget limits and recapitulate childhood, Free as an infant, could go to everyone in the neighborhood.

Let me start by saying the last word of every line was the random word. Except for the last line, the last line is the name of the poem. And this is probably dumb sounding but it’s more of a KIDS’ poem, so it’s supposed to be weird and maybe funny. I don’t even know if it counts as a poem because the last word of every line doesn’t rhyme, but whatever. It’s more like a bunch of incomplete sentences… Well, here goes: UNFORTUNATE Heard Biscuit, my dog, Biscuit had my shirt. I had bed-head, Had slept in my closet. Ran into the sink, Last night at the skating rink. Got home on the bus, Sat on a pencil. Broke a mirror, And a doorknob. Tripped on a bouncy ball, Lost a yo-yo. Can’t watch TV. Popped some balloons. Found dirty headphones. My dog ripped a pillow, He tore up the grass, Messed up the rocks, Then chewed my sock, Ripped the head off my doll, Crashed my model airplane. But when he sits on the chair, I know I’m not totally, Unfortunate.

It’s true; it is a fun exercise! Here are the words I wrote down, and I did a bit of straightening up to them:

Ghouls smile to girls Like wolves they twitter Whitewashed curtains Behind wreaths and dolls

But teenage games Have copious spice Like a box of ginger and flowers Crumbs and cables Goad ghosts

But we worn-out tires Hair stiff split flat crooked and parted Await the amorphous death Bright as the moon

I enjoyed the exercise! Thank you for posting! Here’s my first attempt . . .

Bum with rum Tantalize your mind Bust a move, not original, but worthy of movement Sound-ra-la Post much sound waves, talk a lot Be free, run far – don’t get caught Smile with style and hitch it Beyond my dreams, I live Trees and stars Black as night, right as rain, clearly not original but descriptive Abate do not rate Something inside squirms Bringing the A back A time line stopped and reset Refresh to start over Again with the A Stoic empathy Brave beyond fear Sympathy sucks, love is real

I don’t know exactly why most of these things popped into my head. But they did. So here you go. Enjoy!

Apples! They shall rue the day For morning comes after night Red blood shall rein true For the night is young And we shall bogey to our hearts content Cease and desist all intrusions! For it takes only two to tango And one more to be rude Yay verily! For the day is short Shorter than expected Because it’s like that And that’s the way it is Pity the fool who’s never watched the A-team Ed Sheeran should be King of Westeros Spoiler Alert! This life weird Annotations are key Antonio Banderas is lord Shut the gates! Let’s do this! Logang for life Thank you #Pleased

Holy shower devours hours Mannequin brains strain until they fade Believable bars of sand can afflict the conscious Markers of grain make gains upon the day Optimist birds float upon dandelions of smoke Golden spires of ancient dust reflect unjust days

This exercise is amazing! Here’s my poem. Pineapple chair doodles peanut Can flair mixed poodle rut Dinosaurs weep Tiddlywinks sleep Day draws long of noodles or cuts Freckle Pickle Fun Page flip harness his slip Face diet checkers whiz hip Munch lid ponder Wide-eyes wander Doorknob squishes priss lip Peace Crease Run

I wrote this in the comments section. The starting of each line is the word I came up with. Then I fleshed out with minimal thought. Wonderful exercise thank you!

pain is inevitable life is complicated with hopeless promises curry stimulates the senses painting yellow stars in the brain strife fuels courage fueling greatness peel the skin of perfectionism and expose the priceless flaws foam bleeds white cuddling bubbles and picturesque mirage brain fiends optimum success but the line above average houses gold fight the fear of failure white knight throwing worded spears village like happiness no technology just you and the greenery procrastination insidiously creeps up on you, quick stop while your ahead vacuum your mind of negative thoughts barely stop and you’ll be a perfect writer!

duck boomerang never laughing

macabre brain riot

question volume tomb belonging

boom zoom doom and gloom

square leaping sawing bouncing boinging

quitting smoking in the morning

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Love To Write? Check Out These 51 Creative Writing Prompts For Adults

An essential part of being a writer is daily practice —even if that practice is only a few minutes.

And even when the results are less inspired than you hoped.

As long as you’re committed to building a writing habit and practicing your craft, you’re a writer—not just an “aspiring” one.

Sometimes, all you need is a generous supply of fun writing prompts for adults to get you started.

We’re happy to help with that.

What Are Some Interesting Writing Prompts?

The best, most effective writing topics for adults are those you enjoy. They should stimulate your memory and imagination and create connections in the mind. All you need to do at that moment is to let the words flow onto the page.

Writing prompts can do this in one or more of the following ways:

Remind you of a significant event in your own life;
Trigger a powerful emotion about a particular event or relationship;
Connect to a meaningful experience you’d like to dwell on for a bit;
Connect to other disjointed details in your memory;
Relate to universal themes you’d like to explore.

How You Can Use Daily Writing Prompts for Adults

Here are a few ideas for using adult writing prompts:

Start a creating writing journal using these as daily prompts ;
Take one prompt and break it down into smaller installments;
Start a creative writing group and share 1-3 prompts per week;
Play music that fits the mood of a particular prompt;
Set a timer and commit to writing for at least five minutes straight.

The best ideas for using the list of prompts below are those you’ll actually use and enjoy.

51 Creative Writing Prompts for Adults

Read through the following list of adult writing prompts and let your imagination respond to each one. Some will get your mind going more quickly than others. Some will have a stronger effect at different times.

You’re welcome to keep this whole list handy or make a smaller list with your favorites.

1. You’ve just been jolted out of a dream you’d give all your worldly possessions to return to. What was it about?

2. Someone you look up to makes an unexpected and hurtful remark about your body. What goes through your head, and how do you respond?

3. You’re alone at night in your apartment in the city, and the doorbell starts ringing repeatedly. You look through the peephole and…

4. You write an anonymous advice column and one day discover the unintended consequences of advice you thought was helpful.

5. By day, you’re a responsible, if reclusive, college student. By night, you fly over your city as a dragon.

6. On the advice of her therapist, you write about a character from her dreams, and they show up at your door.

7. Your significant other interrupts your work one day to say, “I need to tell you something.” What goes through your mind?

8. You don’t really want a pet, but when a friendly stray follows you home, your tender heart wins out and you let it in.

9. You meet someone with whom you feel not only safe but wanted and cherished. One day you catch them with someone else.

10. You wake up in a different place lying next to someone else and, for some reason you feel more at home. But which life is real?

11. You’re a few short hours away from facing your worst nightmare. What is it, and how do you prepare?

12. You wake up with a headache in a coffin-size box and hear voices outside it speaking a different language.

13. What comes to mind with the words, “What were you thinking ?”

14. For some reason, everyone is giving you strange looks and tip-toeing around you.

15. Figures. Just when you get good at coding, the internet shuts down — everywhere.

16. You were digging in your yard when you found it. And you fully intend to keep it secret.

17. You’re comfortable with anonymity, so it’s unsettling when, one day, everyone you meet acts as if they’ve known you all your life.

18. Your spouse thinks you’re leaving for work, but you know the truth. Maybe, one day, you’ll tell them—if you survive today.

19. Someone slips a note underneath your apartment door. You unfold it to find a phone number and a brief, urgent message.

20. Your spouse asks if you’re interested in trying something different with your marriage. And it’s not fantasy role-play.

21. You wake up one day, and everyone seems shocked to see you alive. You look in the mirror and understand why.

22. You wake up in the body of a famous historical figure you’ve been studying. How does your day go?

23. Ever since the accident, you’ve been hearing voices—not all the time but often when it’s least convenient.

24. You show up alone at an old friend’s funeral to pay your respects, but when you reach the coffin, the face you see is your own.

25. You’ve always taken comfort in the presence of your own shadow, but it’s started taking on a life of its own.

26. You have one day to do whatever you want without any consequences. What do you do?

27. You’re visited one night by the disembodied spirit of someone you know (still living). Why do they visit you?

28. You’re on the worst vacation ever. And you’re about to do something crazy to change it for the better.

29. An evil genius hires you as his personal assistant. Your first day on the job is life-changing.

30. Your life is the subject of a favorite TV show. Describe your character and write about an important scene of your own making.

BEST ADULTS WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

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From the top, write a story in the form of a list of new year's resolutions., end your story with two characters reconciling., set your story at a large entertainment venue, after the show has ended, amongst the discarded plastic cups and confetti., your main character has a secret superpower; the gossip they spread always comes true., write a story about someone trying to track down the source of a rumor..

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Start your story with someone making a vision board.

Write a story about someone who volunteers to read for others at the local library, and how it impacts their community., write about two old friends meeting for the first time in years., end your story with a character receiving a deeply meaningful gift they weren’t expecting., in this world, everyone is born knowing how old they will be when they die., you get to star in a reality tv show of your choice. which show do you choose, and what kind of a character do you become on that show, write a short story that charts the beginning of a relationship to its end., you just got promoted at work... but your new boss is a piece of work. or so you thought., describe your ideal holiday., your grandfather has just passed away, leaving you with an inheritance of $1 million. what do you do with it, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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The best writing prompts for adults

Are you struggling to find an outlet for your imagination as an adult? There's an easy solution for that: creative writing prompts for adults. Though writing prompts might look like simple questions and topics on the surface, they are powerful tools that can help you put pen to paper and explore such topics as food, technology, family, people, life, and the universe around us through a story.

Best of all, they work for authors of all stages, whether you're a beginner looking to overcome writer's block or an established writer thinking about exploring different genres. So what are you waiting for? You, too, might find that a writing prompt will inspire and give you ideas for everything from a short story to a full-blown book.

If you're looking to cut to the chase, here's a top ten list of writing prompts for adults:

Write a story about a 40th birthday party.
Set your story at a retirement party.
It's your wedding day, and as you're saying your vows, a voice from the crowd yells, "I object!"
Start your story with the line 'Back in my day…'
Start your story with the line, "That's the thing about this city…"
Write a cautionary fable about someone who always lies.
Write a day-in-the-life story about a first-time parent and their newborn child.
Write a short story about someone doing laundry.
Write a story about a character obsessed with one of the long-dead "greats" in their profession.
Write a story about a parent putting their child to bed.

If you'd like to go beyond the world of writing prompts and dip a toe into becoming an author, check out our free resources on the topic:

Develop a Writing Routine (free course) —You might hear a lot of advice on how to write a book, but at the end of the day, what it takes is simply the commitment to regularly sit down in front of a computer and put words down on paper. A writing routine is key to that sort of dedication — and our free 10-day course will show you how to develop one that works for you.
Learn novel writing basics (blog post)— Once you’ve got a writing routine now, all that’s left is the hard part: actually writing the book! That's where this blog post comes in handy.
Character Development 101 (blog post) — As an author, you become the psychologist of your characters. Learn how to build a great character in this comprehensive blog post and build one up, from their motivations to their goals. Don’t forget to download the free character profile template while you’re in the blog post!

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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ThinkWritten

365 Creative Writing Prompts

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to help inspire you to write every single day! Use them for journaling, story starters, poetry, and more!

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If you want to become a better writer, the best thing you can do is practice writing every single day. Writing prompts are useful because we know sometimes it can be hard to think of what to write about!

To help you brainstorm, we put together this list of 365 creative writing prompts to give you something to write about daily.

Want to Download these prompts? I am super excited to announce due to popular demand we now have an ad-free printable version of this list of writing prompts available for just $5. The printable version includes a PDF as a list AND print-ready prompt cards. {And all the design source files you could ever need to customize any way you would like!}

Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire:

Whether you write short stories, poems, or like to keep a journal – these will stretch your imagination and give you some ideas for topics to write about!

1. Outside the Window : What’s the weather outside your window doing right now? If that’s not inspiring, what’s the weather like somewhere you wish you could be?

2. The Unrequited love poem: How do you feel when you love someone who does not love you back?

3. The Vessel: Write about a ship or other vehicle that can take you somewhere different from where you are now.

4. Dancing: Who’s dancing and why are they tapping those toes?

5. Food: What’s for breakfast? Dinner? Lunch? Or maybe you could write a poem about that time you met a friend at a cafe.

6. Eye Contact: Write about two people seeing each other for the first time.

7. The Rocket-ship: Write about a rocket-ship on its way to the moon or a distant galaxy far, far, away.

8. Dream-catcher : Write something inspired by a recent dream you had.

9. Animals: Choose an animal. Write about it!

10. Friendship: Write about being friends with someone.

11. Dragon : Envision a dragon. Do you battle him? Or is the dragon friendly? Use descriptive language.

12. Greeting : Write a story or poem that starts with the word “hello” or another greeting.

13. The Letter: Write a poem or story using words from a famous letter or inspired by a letter someone sent you.

14. The Found Poem : Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a poem. Alternatively, you can cut out words and phrases from magazines.

15. Eavesdropper : Create a poem, short story, or journal entry about a conversation you’ve overheard.

16. Addict: Everyone’s addicted to something in some shape or form. What are things you can’t go without?

17. Dictionary Definition : Open up a dictionary to a random word. Define what that word means to you.

18. Cleaning: Hey, even writers and creative artists have to do housework sometimes. Write about doing laundry, dishes, and other cleaning activities.

19. Great Minds: Write about someone you admire and you thought to have had a beautiful mind.

20. Missed Connections: If you go to Craigslist, there is a “Missed Connections” section where you can find some interesting storylines to inspire your writing.

21. Foreclosure : Write a poem or short story about someone who has lost or is about to lose their home.

22. Smoke, Fog, and Haze: Write about not being able to see ahead of you.

23. Sugar: Write something so sweet, it makes your teeth hurt.

24. Numbers: Write a poem or journal entry about numbers that have special meaning to you.

25. Dread: Write about doing something you don’t want to do.

26. Fear: What scares you a little? What do you feel when scared? How do you react?

27. Closed Doors: What’s behind the door? Why is it closed?

28. Shadow: Imagine you are someone’s shadow for a day.

29. Good Vibes: What makes you smile? What makes you happy?

30. Shopping: Write about your shopping wishlist and how you like to spend money.

31. The Professor: Write about a teacher that has influenced you.

32. Rewrite : Take any poem or short story you enjoy. Rewrite it in your own words.

33. Jewelry: Write about a piece of jewelry. Who does it belong to?

34. Sounds : Sit outside for about an hour. Write down the sounds you hear.

35. War and Peace: Write about a recent conflict that you dealt with in your life.

36. Frame It: Write a poem or some phrases that would make for good wall art in your home.

37. Puzzle: Write about putting together the pieces of puzzles.

38. Fire-starters: Write about building a fire.

39. Coffee & Tea: Surely you drink one or the other or know someone who does- write about it!

40. Car Keys: Write about someone getting their driver’s license for the first time.

41. What You Don’t Know: Write about a secret you’ve kept from someone else or how you feel when you know someone is keeping a secret from you.

42. Warehouse : Write about being inside an old abandoned warehouse.

43. The Sound of Silence: Write about staying quiet when you feel like shouting.

44. Insult: Write about being insulted. How do you feel? Why do you think the other person insulted you?

45. Mirror, Mirror: What if you mirror started talking to you? What might the mirror say?

46. Dirty: Write a poem about getting covered in mud.

47. Light Switch : Write about coming out of the dark and seeing the light.

48. The Stars : Take inspiration from a night sky. Or, write about a time when “the stars aligned” in your horoscope.

49. Joke Poem : What did the wall say to the other wall? Meet you at the corner! Write something inspired by a favorite joke.

50. Just Say No : Write about the power you felt when you told someone no.

51: Sunrise/Sunset : The sun comes up, the sun goes down. It goes round and round. Write something inspiring about the sunrise or sunset.

52. Memory Lane : What does Memory Lane look like? How do you get there?

53. Tear-Jerker : Watch a movie that makes you cry. Write about that scene in the movie.

54. Dear Diary: Write a poem or short story about a diary entry you’ve read or imagined.

55. Holding Hands : The first time you held someone’s hand.

56. Photograph : Write a story or journal entry influenced by a photograph you see online or in a magazine.

57. Alarm Clock: Write about waking up.

58. Darkness: Write a poem or journal entry inspired by what you can’t see.

59. Refreshed: Write a poem about a time you really felt refreshed and renewed. Maybe it was a dip into a pool on a hot summer day, a drink of lemonade, or other situation that helped you relax and start again.

60. Handle With Care : Write about a very fragile or delicate object.

61. Drama: Write about a time when you got stuck in between two parties fighting with each other.

62. Slip Up: Write about making mistakes.

63. Spice: Write about flavors and tastes or a favorite spice of yours.

64. Sing a New Song: Take a popular song off the radio and rewrite it as a poem in your own words.

65. Telephone: Write about a phone call you recently received.

66. Name: Write a poem or short story using your name in some way or form.

67. Dollhouse: Write a poem or short story from the viewpoint of someone living in a doll house.

68. Random Wikipedia Article : Go to Wikipedia and click on Random Article . Write about whatever the page you get.

69. Silly Sports: Write about an extreme or silly sport. If none inspire you, make up the rules for your own game.

70. Recipe : Write about a recipe for something abstract, such as a feeling.

71. Famous Artwork: Choose a famous painting and write about it.

72. Where That Place Used to Be : Think of a place you went to when you were younger but it now no longer there or is something else. Capture your feelings about this in your writing.

73. Last Person You Talked to: Write a quick little poem or story about the last person you spoke with.

74. Caught Red-Handed: Write about being caught doing something embarrassing.

75. Interview: Write a list of questions you have for someone you would like to interview, real or fictional.

76. Missing You: Write about someone you miss dearly.

77. Geography: Pick a state or country you’ve never visited. Write about why you would or would not like to visit that place.

78. Random Song: Turn on the radio, use the shuffle feature on your music collection or your favorite streaming music service. Write something inspired by the first song you hear.

79. Hero: Write a tribute to someone you regard as a hero.

80. Ode to Strangers: Go people watching and write an ode to a stranger you see on the street.

81. Advertisement: Advertisements are everywhere, aren’t they? Write using the slogan or line from an ad.

82. Book Inspired: Think of your favorite book. Now write a poem that sums up the entire story in 10 lines.

83. Magic : Imagine you have a touch of magic, and can make impossible things happen. What would you do?

84. Fanciest Pen: Get out your favorite pen, pencils, or even colored markers and write using them!

85. A Day in the Life: Write about your daily habits and routine.

86. Your Muse: Write about your muse – what do they look like? What does your muse do to inspire you?

87. Convenience Store : Write about an experience you’ve had at a gas station or convenience store.

88. Natural Wonders of the World: Choose one of the natural wonders of the world. Write about it.

89. Status Update: Write a poem using the words from your latest status update or a friend’s status update. If you don’t use sites like Facebook or Twitter, you can often search online for some funny ones to use as inspiration.

90. Green Thumb: Write about growing something.

91. Family Heirloom: Write about an object that’s been passed through the generations in your family.

92. Bug Catcher: Write about insects.

93. Potion: Write about a magic potion. What is it made of? What does it do? What is the antidote?

94. Swinging & Sliding: Write something inspired by a playground or treehouse.

95. Adjectives: Make a list of the first 5 adjectives that pop into your head. Use these 5 words in your story, poem, or journal entry.

96. Fairy Tales: Rewrite a fairy tale. Give it a new ending or make it modern or write as a poem.

97. Whispers: Write about someone who has to whisper a secret to someone else.

98. Smile: Write a poem about the things that make you smile.

99. Seasonal: Write about your favorite season.

100. Normal: What does normal mean to you? Is it good or bad to be normal?

101. Recycle : Take something you’ve written in the past and rewrite it into a completely different piece.

102. Wardrobe: Write about a fashion model or what’s currently in your closet or drawers.

103. Secret Message : Write something with a secret message hidden in between the words. For example, you could make an acrostic poem using the last letters of the word or use secret code words in the poem.

104. Vacation: Write about a vacation you took.

105. Heat: Write about being overheated and sweltering.

106. Spellbinding: Write a magic spell.

107. Collection : Write about collecting something, such as salt shakers, sea shells, or stamps.

108. Taking Chances: Everyone takes a risk at some point in their life. Write about a time when you took a chance and what the result was.

109. Carnival: Write a poem or story or journal entry inspired by a carnival or street fair.

110. Country Mouse: Write about someone who grew up in the country visiting the city for the first time.

111: Questions: Write about questions you have for the universe. Optional: include an answer key.

112. Rushing: Write about moving quickly and doing things fast.

113. Staircase : Use a photo of a staircase or the stairs in your home or a building you love to inspire you.

114. Neighbors: Make up a story or poem about your next door neighbor.

115. Black and Blue: Write about a time you’ve been physically hurt.

116. All Saints: Choose a saint and create a poem about his or her life.

117. Beach Inspired: What’s not to write about the beach?

118. Shoes: What kind of shoes do you wear? Where do they lead your feet?

119. The Ex: Write a poem to someone who is estranged from you.

120. My Point of View: Write in the first person point of view.

121. Stray Animal: Think of the life of a stray cat or dog and write about that.

122. Stop and Stare : Create a poem or story about something you could watch forever.

123. Your Bed: Describe where you sleep each night.

124. Fireworks : Do they inspire you or do you not like the noise and commotion? Write about it.

125. Frozen: Write about a moment in your life you wish you could freeze and preserve.

126. Alone : Do you like to be alone or do you like having company?

127. Know-it-all: Write about something you are very knowledgeable about, for example a favorite hobby or passion of yours.

128. The Promise: Write about a promise you’ve made to someone. Did you keep that promise?

129. Commotion: Write about being overstimulated by a lot of chaos.

130. Read the News Today : Construct a poem or story using a news headline for your first line.

131. Macro: Write a description of an object close-up.

132. Transportation : Write about taking your favorite (or least-favorite) form of transportation.

133. Gadgets: If you could invent a gadget, what would it do? Are there any gadgets that make your life easier?

134: Bring on the Cheese: Write a tacky love poem that is so cheesy, it belongs on top of a pizza.

135. Ladders: Write a story or poem that uses ladders as a symbol.

136. Bizarre Holiday : There is a bizarre holiday for any date! Look up a holiday for today’s date and create a poem in greeting card fashion or write a short story about the holiday to celebrate.

137. Blog-o-sphere : Visit your favorite blog or your feedreader and craft a story, journal entry, or poem based on the latest blog post you read.

138. Mailbox: Create a poem, short story, or journal entry based on a recent item of mail you’ve received.

139. Sharing : Write about sharing something with someone else.

140. Cactus: Write from the viewpoint of a cactus. What’s it like to live in the desert or have a prickly personality?

141. It’s a Sign : Have you seen any interesting road signs lately?

142. Furniture: Write about a piece of furniture in your home.

143. Failure: Write about a time you failed at something. Did you try again or give up completely?

144. Mystical Creatures: Angels or other mystical creatures – use them as inspiration.

145. Flying: Write about having wings and what you would do.

146. Clear and Transparent: Write a poem about being able to see-through something.

147. Break the Silence : Record yourself speaking, then write down what you spoke and revise into a short story or poem.

148. Beat: Listen to music with a strong rhythm or listen to drum loops. Write something that goes along with the beat you feel and hear.

149. Color Palette: Search online for color palettes and be inspired to write by one you resonate with.

150. Magazine: Randomly flip to a page in a magazine and write using the first few words you see as an opening line.

151. The Grass is Greener : Write about switching the place with someone or going to where it seems the “grass is greener”.

152. Mind & Body: Write something that would motivate others to workout and exercise.

153. Shaping Up : Write something that makes a shape on the page…ie: a circle, a heart, a square, etc.

154. Twenty-One: Write about your 21st birthday.

155. Aromatherapy: Write about scents you just absolutely love.

156. Swish, Buzz, Pop : Create a poem that uses Onomatopoeia .

157. What Time is It? Write about the time of day it is right now. What are people doing? What do you usually do at this time each day?

158. Party Animal: Have you ever gone to a party you didn’t want to leave? Or do you hate parties? Write about it!

159: Miss Manners : Use the words “please” and “thank you” in your writing.

160. Cliche: Choose a common cliche, then write something that says the same thing but without using the catch phrase.

161. Eco-friendly : Write about going green or an environmental concern you have.

162. Missing You: Write about someone you miss.

163. Set it Free: Think of a time when you had to let someone or something go to be free…did they come back?

164: Left Out : Write about a time when you’ve felt left out or you’ve noticed someone else feeling as if they didn’t belong.

165. Suitcase: Write about packing for a trip or unpacking from when you arrive home.

166. Fantasy : Write about fairies, gnomes, elves, or other mythical creatures.

167. Give and Receive : Write about giving and receiving.

168. Baker’s Dozen: Imagine the scents and sights of a bakery and write.

169. Treehouse: Write about your own secret treehouse hideaway.

170. Risk: Write about taking a gamble on something.

171. Acrostic : Choose a word and write an acrostic poem where every line starts with a letter from the word.

172. Crossword Puzzle: Open up the newspaper or find a crossword puzzle online and choose one of the clues to use as inspiration for your writing.

173. Silver Lining : Write about the good that happens in a bad situation.

174. Gloves: Write about a pair of gloves – what kind of gloves are they? Who wears them and why?

175. All that Glitters: Write about a shiny object.

176. Jealousy: Write with a theme of envy and jealousy.

177. How Does Your Garden Grow? Write about a flower that grows in an unusual place.

178. Jury Duty : Write a short story or poem that takes place in a courtroom.

179. Gifts: Write about a gift you have given or received.

180. Running: Write about running away from someone or something.

181. Discovery: Think of something you’ve recently discovered and use it as inspiration.

182. Complain: Write about your complaints about something.

183. Gratitude: Write a poem or journal entry that is all about things you are thankful for.

184. Chemistry: Choose an element and write a poem or story that uses that word in one of the lines.

185. Applause: Write about giving someone a standing ovation.

186. Old Endings Into New Beginnings: Take an old poem, story, or journal entry of yours and use the last line and make it the first line of your writing today.

187. Longing: Write about something you very much want to do.

188. I Am: Write a motivational poem or journal entry about positive traits that make you who you are.

189. Rainbow : What is at the end of a rainbow? Or, take a cue from Kermit the Frog, and ask yourself, why are there so many songs about rainbows?

190. Museum: Take some time to visit a nearby museum with your journal. Write about one of the pieces that speaks to you.

191. Cartoon: Think of your favorite cartoon or comic. Write a poem or story that takes place in that setting.

192. Copycat: Borrow a line from a famous public domain poem to craft your own.

193. From the Roof-tops: Imagine you could stand on a rooftop and broadcast a message to everyone below – what would you say?

194. Time Travel: If there was a time period you could visit for a day, where would you go? Write about traveling back in time to that day.

195. Changing Places: Imagine living the day as someone else.

196. Neighborhood: Write about your favorite place in your neighborhood to visit and hang out at.

197. Pirates: Write about a pirate ship.

198. Interview : Write based on a recent interview you’ve read or seen on TV or heard on the radio.

199. Hiding Spaces : Write about places you like to hide things at. What was a favorite hiding spot for you as a child playing hide-and-seek?

200. Extreme Makeover: Imagine how life might be different if you could change your hair color or clothing into something completely opposite from your current style.

201. Empathy: Write about your feelings of empathy or compassion for another person.

202. Opposites: Write a poem or story that ties in together two opposites.

203. Boredom: Write about being bored or make a list of different ways to entertain yourself.

204. Strength : Think of a time when you’ve been physically or emotionally strong and use that as inspiration.

205. Hunger: Write from the perspective of someone with no money to buy food.

206. Greed: Write about someone who always wants more – whether it be money, power, etc. etc.

207. Volcano: Write about an eruption of a volcano.

208. Video Inspiration : Go to Vimeo.com or YouTube.com and watch one of the videos featured on the homepage. Write something based on what you watch.

209. Sneeze: Write about things that make you sneeze.

210. Footsteps on the Moon: Write about the possibility of life in outer-space.

211: Star-crossed: Write a short modern version of the story of Romeo and Juliet or think of real-life examples of lovers who are not allowed to be together to use as inspiration for your writing.

212. Font-tastic: Choose a unique font and type out a poem, story or journal entry using that font.

213. Schedule: Take a look at your calendar and use the schedule for inspiration in writing.

214. Grandparents: Write about a moment in your grandparent’s life.

215. Collage: Go through a magazine and cut out words that grab your attention. Use these words to construct a poem or as a story starter or inspiration for your journal.

216. Oh so Lonely: Write a poem about what you do when you are alone – do you feel lonely or do you enjoy your own company?

217. Waterfall: Think of a waterfall you’ve seen in person or spend some time browsing photos of waterfalls online. Write about the movement, flow, and energy.

218. First Kiss: Write about your first kiss.

219. So Ironic: Write about an ironic situation you’ve been in throughout your life.

220. Limerick: Write a limerick today.

221. Grocery Shopping: Write about an experience at the grocery store.

222. Fashion : Go through a fashion magazine or browse fashion websites online and write about a style you love.

223. So Close: Write about coming close to reaching a goal.

224. Drinks on Me: Write a poem or short story that takes place at a bar.

225. Online Friends: Write an ode to someone online you’ve met and become friends with.

226. Admiration: Is there someone you admire? Write about those feelings.

227. Trash Day: Write from the perspective of a garbage collector.

228. Mailbox: Open your mailbox and write something inspired by one of the pieces of mail you received.

229. Fresh & Clean: Write about how you feel after you take a shower.

230. Energized: Write about how you feel when you’re either at a high or low energy level for the day.

231. Rhyme & No Reason: Make up a silly rhyming poem using made up words.

232. Tech Support: Use computers or a conversation with tech support you’ve had as inspiration.

233. Hotel: Write from the perspective of someone who works at a hotel or staying at a hotel.

234. Underwater: Write about sea creatures and under water life. What’s under the surface of the ocean? What adventures might be waiting?

235. Breathing: Take a few minutes to do some deep breathing relaxation techniques. Once your mind is clear, just write the first few things that you think of.

236. Liar, Liar: Make up a poem or story of complete lies about yourself or someone else.

237. Obituaries: Look at the recent obituaries online or in the newspaper and imagine the life of someone and write about that person.

238. Pocket: Rummage through your pockets and write about what you keep or find in your pockets.

239. Cinquain: Write a cinquain poem, which consists of 5 lines that do not rhyme.

240. Alphabetical: Write a poem that has every letter of the alphabet in it.

241. Comedy Club: Write something inspired by a comedian.

242. Cheater: Write about someone who is unfaithful.

243. Sestina: Give a try to writing a sestina poem.

244. Fight: Write about witnessing two people get in an argument with each other.

245. Social Network : Visit your favorite Social Networking website (ie: Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, etc.) and write a about a post you see there.

246. Peaceful: Write about something peaceful and serene.

247. In the Clouds: Go cloud watching for the day and write about what you imagine in the clouds.

248. At the Park: Take some time to sit on a park bench and write about the sights, scenes, and senses and emotions you experience.

249. Sonnet: Write a sonnet today.

250. Should, Would, And Could: Write a poem or story using the words should, would, and could.

251. How to: Write directions on how to do something.

252. Alliteration: Use alliteration in your poem or in a sentence in a story.

253. Poker Face: Write about playing a card game.

254. Timer: Set a timer for 5 minutes and just write. Don’t worry about it making sense or being perfect.

255. Dance: Write about a dancer or a time you remember dancing.

256. Write for a Cause: Write a poem or essay that raises awareness for a cause you support.

257. Magic : Write about a magician or magic trick.

258. Out of the Box: Imagine finding a box. Write about opening it and what’s inside.

259. Under the Influence: What is something has impacted you positively in your life?

260. Forgotten Toy : Write from the perspective a forgotten or lost toy.

261. Rocks and Gems: Write about a rock or gemstone meaning.

262. Remote Control: Imagine you can fast forward and rewind your life with a remote control.

263. Symbolism: Think of objects, animals, etc. that have symbolic meaning to you. Write about it.

264. Light at the End of the Tunnel: Write about a time when you saw hope when it seemed like a hopeless situation.

265. Smoke and Fire : “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Use this saying as inspiration to write!

266. Railroad: Write about a train and its cargo or passengers.

267. Clipboard: Write about words you imagine on an office clipboard.

268. Shipwrecked: Write about being stranded somewhere – an island, a bus stop, etc.

269. Quotable: Use a popular quote from a speaker and use it as inspiration for your writing.

270. Mind Map it Out: Create a mind map of words, phrases, and ideas that pop into your head or spend some time browsing the many mind maps online. Write a poem, story, or journal entry inspired by the mind map.

271. Patterns : Write about repeating patterns that occur in life.

272. Scrapbook : Write about finding a scrapbook and the memories it contains.

273. Cure: Write about finding a cure for an illness.

274. Email Subject Lines: Read your email today and look for subject lines that may be good starters for writing inspiration.

275. Wishful Thinking: Write about a wish you have.

276. Doodle : Spend some time today doodling for about 5-10 minutes. Write about the thoughts you had while doodling or create something inspired by your finished doodle.

277. Chalkboard: Imagine you are in a classroom. What does it say on the chalkboard?

278. Sticky: Imagine a situation that’s very sticky, maybe even covered in maple syrup, tape or glue. Write about it!

279. Flashlight : Imagine going somewhere very dark with only a flashlight to guide you.

280. A Far Away Place : Envision yourself traveling to a fictional place, what do you experience in your imaginary journey?

281. On the Farm : Write about being in a country or rural setting.

282. Promise to Yourself: Write about a promise you want to make to yourself and keep.

283. Brick Wall : Write a poem that is about a brick wall – whether literal or figurative.

284. Making a Choice: Write about a time when you had to make a difficult choice.

285. Repeat: Write about a time when you’ve had to repeat yourself or a time when it felt like no one was listening.

286. Outcast : Write about someone who is not accepted by their peers. (for example, the Ugly Ducking)

287. Scary Monsters: Write about a scary (or not-so-scary) monster in your closet or under the bed.

288. Sacrifice: Write about something you’ve sacrificed doing to do something else or help another person.

289. Imperfection: Create a poem that highlights the beauty in being flawed.

290. Birthday Poem: Write a poem inspired by birthdays.

291. Title First : Make a list of potential poem or story titles and choose one to write from.

292. Job Interview : Write about going on a job interview.

293. Get Well : Write a poem that will help someone who is sick feel better quick!

294. Lost in the Crowd: Write about feeling lost in the crowd.

295. Apple a Day: Write about a health topic that interests you.

296. Cravings: Write about craving something.

297. Phobia: Research some common phobias, choose one, and write about it.

298. In the Moment: Write about living in the present moment.

299. Concrete : Write about walking down a sidewalk and what you see and experience.

300. Battle: Write about an epic battle, whether real, fictional or figurative.

301. This Old House : Write about an old house that is abandoned or being renovated.

302. Clutter: Is there a cluttered spot in your home? Go through some of that clutter today and write about what you find or the process of organizing.

303. Go Fly a Kite: Write about flying a kite.

304. On the TV: Flip to a random TV channel and write about the first thing that comes on – even if it is an infomercial!

305. Fruit: Write an ode to your favorite fruit.

306. Long Distance Love: Write about a couple that is separated by distance.

307. Glasses: Write about a pair of eyeglasses or someone wearing glasses.

308. Robotic : Write about a robot.

309. Cute as a Button: Write about something you think is just adorable.

310. Movie Conversation: Use a memorable conversation from a favorite movie to inspire your writing.

311. Easy-Peasy : Write about doing something effortlessly.

312. Idiom: Choose from a list of idioms one that speaks to you and create a poem around that saying or phrase. (Ie: It is raining cats and dogs)

313. Playground: Whether it is the swings or the sandbox or the sliding boards, write about your memories of being on a playground.

314. Romance: Write about romantic things partners can do for each other.

315. Rock Star: Imagine you are a famous rock star. Write about the experience.

316. Come to Life: Imagine ordinary objects have come to life. Write about what they do and say.

317. Airplane: Write about meeting someone on an airplane and a conversation you might have.

318. Health & Beauty: Take some time to peruse your medicine cabinet or the health and beauty aisles at a local store. Write a poem, short story, or journal entry inspired by a product label.

319. Determination: Write about not giving up.

320. Instrumental Inspiration: Listen to some instrumental music and write a poem that matches the mood, beat, and style of the music.

321. Wait Your Turn: Write about having to wait in line.

322. Personality Type : Do you know your personality type? (There are many free quizzes online) – write about what type of personality traits you have.

323. Decade: Choose a favorite decade and write about it. (IE: 1980’s or 1950’s for example)

324. I Believe: Write your personal credo of things you believe in.

325. Lost and Found: Write about a lost object.

326. Say it: Write a poem or story that uses dialogue between two people.

327. The Unsent Letter: Write about a letter that never made it to its recipient.

328. The Windows of the Soul: Write a poem about the story that is told through someone’s eyes.

329. Trial and Error: Write about something you learned the hard way.

330. Escape : Write about where you like to go to escape from it all.

331. What’s Cooking: Write something inspired a favorite food or recipe.

332. Records : Go through your file box and pull out old receipts or records…write something inspired by what you find!

333. Banking: Write about visiting the bank.

334. Sweet Talk: Write about trying to convince someone of something.

335. Serendipity: Write about something that happened by chance in a positive way.

336. Distractions: Write about how it feels when you can’t focus.

337. Corporation: Write about big business.

338. Word of the Day: Go to a dictionary website that has a word of the day and use it in a poem, story or journal entry you write.

339. Pick Me Up: What do you do when you need a pick me up?

340. Unfinished: Write about a project you started but never completed.

341. Forgiveness: Write about a time when someone forgave you or you forgave someone.

342. Weakness: Write about your greatest weakness.

343. Starting: Write about starting a project.

344. Mechanical: Think of gears, moving parts, machines.

345. Random Act of Kindness : Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone or someone has done for you, no matter how small or insignificant it may have seemed.

346. Underground: Imagine living in a home underground and use that as inspiration for writing.

347. Classic Rock: Pick a classic rock love ballad and rewrite it into a story or poem with a similar theme.

348. Night Owl : Write about staying up late at night.

349. Magnetic : Write about attraction to something or someone.

350. Teamwork: Write about working with a team towards a common goal.

351. Roller-coaster : Write about the ups and downs in life.

352. Motivational Poster: Look at some motivational posters online and write a poem or journal entry inspired by your favorite one.

353. Games: Write about the games people play – figuratively or literally.

354. Turning Point: Write about a point in life where things turned for the better or worse.

355. Spellbound: Write about a witch’s spell.

356. Anniversary: Write about the anniversary of a special date.

357. Gamble: Be inspired by a casino or lottery ticket.

358. Picnic: Write about going on a picnic.

359. Garage: Write about some random item you might find in a garage.

360. Review: Review your week, month, or year in a journal entry or poem format.

361. Detective: Write about a detective searching for clues or solving a mystery.

362. Camera: Take your camera for a walk and write based on one of the photographs you take.

363. Visiting : Write about visiting a family member or friend.

364. Trust: Write about putting trust in someone.

365. Congratulations : Did you write a poem, short story, or journal entry every day for a whole year? Write about what you’ve learned and celebrate your achievement!

We hope you enjoy these creative writing prompts! And of course, if you write anything using these prompts, we’d love to know about it! Tell us how you’ll use these everyday creative writing prompts in the comments section below!

And of course, if you’d like the printable ad-free version of these prompts to reference again and again or to use in your classroom, you can find them at our Etsy shop !

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle & High School – 2024

April 15, 2024

creative writing prompts for high school and middle school teens

Some high school students dream of writing for a living, perhaps pursuing an English major in college, or even attending a creative writing MFA program later on. For other students, creative writing can be useful for school assignments, in English and other subjects, and also for preparing their Common App essays . In a less goal-oriented sense, daily freewriting in a journal can be a healthy life practice for many high schoolers. Not sure where to start? Continue reading for 100 creative writing prompts for middle school and high school students. These middle/high school writing prompts offer inspiration for getting started with writing in a number of genres and styles.

Click here to view the 35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing .

What are Creative Writing Prompts?

Similar to how an academic essay prompt provides a jumping-off point for forming and organizing an argument, creative writing prompts are points of initiation for writing a story, poem, or creative essay. Prompts can be useful for writers of all ages, helping many to get past writer’s block and just start (often one of the most difficult parts of a writing process).

Writing prompts come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they are phrases used to begin sentences. Other times they are questions, more like academic essay prompts Writing prompts can also involve objects such as photographs, or activities such as walking. Below, you will find high school writing prompts that use memories, objects, senses (smell/taste/touch), abstract ideas , and even songs as jumping-off points for creative writing. These prompts can be used to write in a variety of forms, from short stories to creative essays, to poems.

How to use Creative Writing Prompts

Before we get started with the list, are a few tips when using creative writing prompts:

Experiment with different formats : Prose is great, but there’s no need to limit yourself to full sentences, at least at first. A piece of creative writing can begin with a poem, or a dialogue, or even a list. You can always bring it back to prose later if needed.

Interpret the prompt broadly : The point of a creative writing prompt is not to answer it “correctly” or “precisely.” You might begin with the prompt, but then your ideas could take you in a completely different direction. The words in the prompt also don’t need to open your poem or essay, but could appear somewhere in the middle.

Switch up/pile up the prompts : Try using two or three prompts and combine them, or weave between them. Perhaps choose a main prompt, and a different “sub-prompt.” For example, your main prompt might be “write about being in transit from one place to another,” and within that prompt, you might use the prompt to “describe a physical sensation,” and/or one the dialogue prompts. This could be a fun way to find complexity as you write.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Students (Continued)

Write first, edit later : While you’re first getting started with a prompt, leave the typos and bad grammar. Obsessing over details can take away from your flow of thoughts. You will inevitably make many fixes when you go back through to edit.

Write consistently : It often becomes easier to write when it’s a practice , rather than a once-in-a-while kind of activity. For some, it’s useful to write daily. Others find time to write every few days, or every weekend. Sometimes, a word-count goal can help (100 words a day, 2,000 words a month, etc.). If you set a goal, make sure it’s realistic. Start small and build from there, rather than starting with an unachievable goal and quickly giving up.

100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Teens

Here are some prompts for getting started with your creative writing. These are organized by method, rather than genre, so they can inspire writing in a variety of forms. Pick and choose the ones that work best for you, and enjoy!

Prompts using memories

Begin each sentence or group of sentences with the phrase, “I remember…”
Describe a family ritual.
Choose an event in your life, and write about it from the perspective of someone else who was there.
Pick a pathway you take on a regular basis (to school, or to a friend’s house). Describe five landmarks that you remember from this pathway.
Write about your house or apartment using a memory from each room.
Write an imaginary history of the previous people who lived in your house or apartment.
Write about an ancestor based on stories you’ve heard from relatives.
What’s your earliest memory?
Who was your first friend?
Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen since childhood.
Write about yourself now from the perspective of yourself twenty, or eighty, years from now.
Write about the best month of the year.
Write about the worst day of the year.
Rant about something that has always annoyed you.
Write about the hottest or coldest day you can remember.
Visualize a fleeting moment in your life and as though it’s a photograph, and time yourself 5 minutes to write every detail you can remember about the scene.
Draw out a timeline of your life so far. Then choose three years to write about, as though you were writing for a history book.
Write about a historical event in the first person, as though you remember it.
Write about a memory of being in transit from one place to another.

Objects and photographs as creative writing prompts

Describe the first object you see in the room. What importance does it have in your life? What memories do you have with this object? What might it symbolize?
Pick up an object, and spend some time holding it/examining it. Write about how it looks, feels, and smells. Write about the material that it’s made from.
Choose a favorite family photograph. What could someone know just by looking at the photograph? What’s secretly happening in the photograph?
Choose a photograph and tell the story of this photograph from the perspective of someone or something in it.
Write about a color by describing three objects that are that color.
Tell the story of a piece of trash.
Tell the story of a pair of shoes.
Tell the story of your oldest piece of clothing.

Senses and observations as creative writing prompts

Describe a sound you hear in the room or outside. Choose the first sound you notice. What are its qualities? It’s rhythms? What other sounds does it remind you of?
Describe a physical sensation you feel right now, in as much detail as possible.
Listen to a conversation and write down a phrase that you hear someone say. Start a free-write with this phrase.
Write about a food by describing its qualities, but don’t say what it is.
Describe a flavor (salty, sweet, bitter, etc.) to someone who has never tasted it before.
Narrate your day through tastes you tasted.
Narrate your day through sounds you heard.
Narrate your day through physical sensations you felt.
Describe in detail the physical process of doing an action you consider simple or mundane, like walking or lying down or chopping vegetables.
Write about the sensation of doing an action you consider physically demanding or tiring, like running or lifting heavy boxes.
Describe something that gives you goosebumps.
Write a story that involves drinking a cold glass of water on a hot day.
Write a story that involves entering a warm house from a cold snowy day.
Describe someone’s facial features in as much detail as possible.

Songs, books, and other art

Choose a song quote, write it down, and free-write from there.
Choose a song, and write a story in which that song is playing in the car.
Choose a song, and write to the rhythm of that song.
Choose a character from a book, and describe an event in your life from the perspective of that character.
Go to a library and write down 10 book titles that catch your eye. Free-write for 5 minutes beginning with each one.
Go to a library and open to random book pages, and write down 5 sentences that catch your attention. Use those sentences as prompts and free-write for 5-minutes with each.
Choose a piece of abstract artwork. Jot down 10 words that come to mind from the painting or drawing, and free-write for 2 minutes based on each word.
Find a picture of a dramatic Renaissance painting online. Tell a story about what’s going on in the painting that has nothing to do with what the artist intended.
Write about your day in five acts, like a Shakespearean play. If your day were a play, what would be the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution?
Narrate a complicated book or film plot using only short sentences.
Read a short poem. Then write a poem that could be a “sister” or “cousin” of that poem.

Abstract ideas as creative writing prompts

Write about an experience that demonstrates an abstract idea, such as “love” or “home” or “freedom” or “loss” without ever using the word itself.
Write a list of ways to say “hello” without actually saying “hello.”
Write a list of ways to say “I love you” without actually saying “I love you.”
Do you believe in ghosts? Describe a ghost.
Invent a mode of time travel.
Glass half-full/half-empty: Write about an event or situation with a positive outlook. Then write about it with a miserable outlook.
Free-write beginning with “my religion is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with organized religion as you’d like).
Free-write beginning with “my gender is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with common ideas of gender as you’d like).
Write about a person or character that is “good” and one that is “evil.” Then write about the “evil” in the good character and the “good” in the evil character.
Write like you’re telling a secret.
Describe a moment of beauty you witnessed. What makes something beautiful?

Prompts for playing with narrative and character

Begin writing with the phrase, “It all started when…”
Tell a story from the middle of the most dramatic part.
Write a story that begins with the ending.
Begin a story but give it 5 possible endings.
Write a list of ways to dramatically quit a terrible job.
Write about a character breaking a social rule or ritual (i.e., walking backwards, sitting on the floor of a restaurant, wearing a ballgown to the grocery store). What are the ramifications?
You are sent to the principal’s office. Justify your bad behavior.
Re-write a well-known fairytale but set it in your school.
Write your own version of the TV show trope where someone gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger, or a secret love interest, or a nemesis.
Imagine a day where you said everything you were thinking, and write about it.
Write about a scenario in which you have too much of a good thing.
Write about a scenario in which money can buy happiness.
Invent a bank or museum heist.
Invent a superhero, including an origin story.
Write using the form of the scientific method (question, hypothesis, test, analyze data conclusion).
Write using the form of a recipe.

Middle School & High School Creative writing prompts for playing with fact vs. fiction

Write something you know for sure is true, and then, “but maybe it isn’t.” Then explain why that thing may not be true.
Write a statement and contradict that statement. Then do it again.
Draft an email with an outlandish excuse as to why you didn’t do your homework or why you need an extension.
Write about your morning routine, and make it sound extravagant/luxurious (even if it isn’t).
You’ve just won an award for doing a very mundane and simple task. Write your acceptance speech.
Write about a non-athletic event as though it were a sports game.
Write about the most complicated way to complete a simple task.
Write a brief history of your life, and exaggerate everything.
Write about your day, but lie about some things.
Tell the story of your birth.
Choose a historical event and write an alternative outcome.
Write about a day in the life of a famous person in history.
Read an instructional manual, and change three instructions to include some kind of magical or otherwise impossible element.

Prompts for starting with dialogue

Write a texting conversation between two friends who haven’t spoken in years.
Write a texting conversation between two friends who speak every day and know each other better than anyone.
Watch two people on the street having a conversation, and imagine the conversation they’re having. Write it down.
Write an overheard conversation behind a closed door that you shouldn’t be listening to.
Write a conversation between two characters arguing about contradicting memories of what happened.
You have a difficult decision to make. Write a conversation about it with yourself.
Write a conversation with a total lack of communication.
Write a job interview gone badly.

Final Thoughts – Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School

Hopefully you have found several of these creative writing prompts helpful. Remember that when writing creatively, especially on your own, you can mix, match, and change prompts. For more on writing for high school students, check out the following articles:

College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics
150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
Good Transition Words for Essays
High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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Creative Aging: Memoir Writing at 58th Street Library

Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 2 - 4 PM
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 2 - 4 PM
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 2 - 4 PM

Continue where we left off at the end of our Memoir Writing workshops for adults 50 and older.

This program will be held in person at 58th Street Library and online.

Teaching artist Frank Ingrasciotta will continue to guide participants through the art of writing over 5 extra sessions.

Storytelling is our most ancient art form and everyone has a story in us that wants to be told. When powerful storytelling resonates, it creates shared experiences of commonality that bonds us as a community. In this eight-session memoir writing class, we will examine various aspects of storytelling. Through writing exercises, we will explore the tools of your personal expression that bring writing to life.

Materials will be provided for this program.

Attendance at all sessions is recommended as this is a series of classes and those who miss the first few may be lost. Space is limited and priority will be given to those who attended the first 8 sessions last year.

Registration is mandatory. Register for April and May events above with your email address.

About the Artist

Frank Ingrasciotta (Actor/Playwright/Director/Educator) is the writer/performer of the award winning Off-Broadway solo play Blood Type: RAGU, performing over 1,000 shows nationally and internationally. As an actor, Frank has appeared in numerous stage productions, daytime dramas, and episodic TV shows. He has also directed many theatrical productions for numerous theatre companies. As an arts educator, he conducts workshops in acting, and creative writing with diverse populations and students of all ages. He holds a Theatre Arts in Education degree from SUNY Empire State College.

Class Format: Hands on
Skill prerequisites: No prior experience required. This program is perfect for all skill levels.
Audience: Adults, 50+

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2024 duke english creative writing scholarship awards, april 23, 2024.

Quantá Holden | Duke English | Digital Communication Specialist

Duke English is delighted to share the 2024 Creative Writing Scholarships honorees. Each year, Duke English faculty members nominate undergraduate students for one of the Creative Writing Scholarships based on the exceptional work they submitted in one or more of their creative writing courses. The Creative Writing Committee selects the winners of the prestigious William M. Blackburn, Francis Pemberton, and Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarships. Students nominated must be eligible for financial aid to receive these scholarships.

2024 Creative Writing Scholarship Recipients:

Frances Pemberton Scholarship Awarded to a junior or senior pursuing the study of creative writing. This scholarship was created by the Trustees of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in memory and in honor of Francis Pemberton's service to the Biddle Foundation.

Ryan Copeland , ‘25

Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarship Awarded to a female student who demonstrates particular promise in creative writing. This scholarship was established in recognition of the untiring efforts of Margaret Rose Knight Sanford on behalf of Duke University.

Ali Thursland , ‘24

William Blackburn Scholarship Recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of creative writing. Established in 1962 by students and friends of Professor William Blackburn (1899-1969) who first began teaching creative writing at Duke.

Jocelyn Chin , ‘24 Sage Cooley , ‘25 Joshua Lee , ‘26 Rani Teddy , ‘26

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UW Institute for Creative Writing Fellows present work with Wisconsin Book Festival

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The Wisconsin Book Festival hosted the 2023-24 Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellows Wednesday evening, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Creative Writing.

The Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellows are a group of writers who are provided resources and community while working on their first book of poetry and fiction, according to the UW Creative Writing website . Not only is UW’s environment intended to improve the fellows’ writing skills, but it also provides them opportunities to develop as instructors, the website says.

UW creative writing professor Amy Quan Barry introduced the presenters, touching on the institute’s history — beginning with its founding in 1986 — and how it has developed numerous authors of acclaim.

The 2023-24 Ronald Wallace Poetry Fellow Elijah Bean presented first, reading from several poems, many of which concern ideas of home and reflection on the past. Bean’s poems are linked to memories such as a cramped living room, lawnmowers, dogs and writing alongside someone close to death and aware of their own mortality.

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Following Bean was 2023-24 Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow Gothataone Moeng, who read an excerpt from the middle of the first chapter of her upcoming novel. Moeng’s work centered deeply around the meaning of human conversation and explored themes such as why people are drawn to certain others, becoming less ignorant of the world and the idea of possessing a great gift.

The 2023-24 Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow Sadia Hassan presented next, with works heavily focused on the utilization of art as advocacy, and how poems can be written to represent one’s beliefs. The poems Hassan read involved themes such as dreaming, speaking out amongst a crowd and how to best confront the self-obsession that so heavily impacts American society.

Next was Ada Zhang, the 2023-24 James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow, who read from a larger project in progress. Zhang’s work, which revolved around the life of a Chinese congregation moving into Texas and its subsequent role as a safe haven for immigrants, concerned the themes of religion, familial history and matching one’s identity with their family.

Lastly, 2023-24 Hoffman-Halls Emerging Artist Fellow in Poetry Mandy Moe Pwint Tu read from two poems and an excerpt from her novel’s prologue. All three concerned the international student experience, from feeling like an outsider to managing the familial struggle across oceans.

All five of the Creative Writing Fellows showcased their unique styles of writing that earned their positions and will continue to develop their work in Wisconsin and beyond.

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Middle, High School Students Invited to Participate in Summer Writing Camps Presented by UCM's Greater Kansas City Writing Project

By Janice Phelan, April 26, 2024

The Greater Kansas City Writing Project (GKCWP) and the University of Central Missouri (UCM) will present two four-day summer camps focusing on creative writing, sharing and friendship. Designed for students in middle and high school, the 2024 Young Writers Camps will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 9-12 at UCM’s Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16-19 at the Anita Gorman Discovery Center in Kauffman Legacy Park in Kansas City. The unique camps, offered since 1983 by GKCWP and UCM, provide a creative and supportive environment for young people. Each session is developed and led by experienced teachers of writing. The camps are created for students who already love writing and want to enjoy writing more. At the end of each session, young writers will share their favorite pieces with friends and families at an open mic celebration. Summer Writing Camp participants include a diverse group of young people ranging from students working on their first novel to aspiring poets to writers seeking motivation and encouragement for a variety of projects. Students enrolling by May 1 will qualify for the $225 early-bird registration fee. Cost is $275 for registration after May 1. For more information and to register, visit this webpage .

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