What are Writing Prompts?

A Simple Guide for Beginners

Writing can sometimes feel like a daunting task, especially when you don’t know where to start. This is where a writing prompt comes into play. But what exactly is a writing prompt? Let’s break it down in simple terms.

Definition of writing prompts

A writing prompt is a statement or a question that helps inspire you to write something. It can be a single word, a phrase, or even a picture. The main goal of a writing prompt is to spark your creativity and give you a starting point for your writing.

Why Use Writing Prompts?

Overcome Writer’s Block: We all have moments where we can’t think of anything to write. A writing prompt can help you overcome this by giving you a fresh idea to work with.

Improve Writing Skills: Regularly using writing prompts can help you become a better writer. It encourages you to think creatively and write more.

Fun and Exciting: Writing prompts can be fun and exciting. They can take you on unexpected journeys and help you explore new ideas.

Types of Writing Prompts

Writing prompts come in various forms. Here are some popular types:

1. Descriptive Prompts: These prompts ask you to describe something in detail. For example, “Describe your favourite place.” or “Describe your happy space”
2. Narrative Prompts: Prompts that give you inspiration for imagining a fictional place or incident. For instance, “Write a story about a magical garden.”
3. Expository Prompts: These prompts ask you to explain something. For example, “Explain how to bake a cake.”
4. Persuasive Prompts: These prompts ask you to persuade the reader about something. For instance, “Convince your reader to recycle more.

Curious about other types of writing prompts? Explore 9 types of writing prompts that inspire creativity and skill.

How to Use a Writing Prompts?

Using a writing prompt is easy. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Choose a Prompt: Start by choosing a prompt that interests you.
2. Think About the Prompt: Before you start writing, take some time to think about the idea. What does it mean to you? What ideas does it spark? 
3. Write: Once you have some ideas, start writing. Don’t worry about making it perfect; just write.
4. Review and Edit: After you have written your piece, go back and review it. Make any necessary edits to improve it. You can develop your story as you want.

Tips for Using Writing Prompts

To make the most of writing prompts, here are some tips:

1. Be Open to New Ideas: Don’t limit yourself to the obvious answers. Be open to exploring new ideas and perspectives.
2. Set a Timer: If you’re struggling to get started, set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write non-stop during that time.
3. Use Prompts Regularly: Make a habit of using writing prompts regularly to improve your writing skills.

How to find Writing Prompts?

Finding writing prompts is easier than you might think, as they are available in a variety of places both online and offline. Here is a guide to help you find the best sources:

Online Sources

• Websites and Blogs
  • Reddit: Subreddits like r/WritingPrompts offer a plethora of writing prompts.
  • Tumblr: Search for writing prompt blogs where users share a wide range of prompts.
• Social Media
  • Twitter: Follow accounts or hashtags such as #WritingPrompt for daily inspiration.
  • Instagram: Use hashtags like #WritingPrompts to find visual and textual prompts.
• Writing Apps
  • Reedsy: Offers a collection of over 500 writing prompts.
  • The Brainstormer: An app that generates random prompts to spark your creativity.
• Online Forums and Communities
  • NaNoWriMo Forums: A great place to find prompts, especially during National Novel Writing Month.
  • Absolute Write Water Cooler: A forum where writers share and discuss various prompts.

Offline Sources

• Books and Magazines
  • Prompt Books: Books like “642 Things to Write About” offer a wide array of prompts.
  • Literary Magazines: Sometimes feature prompt-based writing challenges.
• Libraries and Bookstores
  • Workshops: Many libraries and bookstores offer workshops where you can get prompts and feedback.
  • Resource Books: Find books dedicated to writing prompts in the writing resource section.
• Educational Institutions
  • Creative Writing Classes: Teachers often provide prompts to inspire students.
  • Writing Clubs: Join a club to receive prompts and share your work with others.
• Personal Sources
  • Daily Life: Sometimes, the best prompts come from your daily experiences and observations.
  • Dreams: Your dreams can be a rich source of inspiration for writing prompts.

If you do not use the Internet often, we have some tips for Finding Writing Prompts:

• News Articles: Sometimes, news stories can inspire a prompt.
• Historical Events: Look into historical

In Your School

• Library
  • Books: Many books contain writing prompts or can inspire you to come up with your own.
  • Magazines: Sometimes, magazines contain short stories that can inspire your writing.
• Teachers
  • Assignments: Teachers often provide writing prompts as part of writing assignments.
  • Extra Help: Don’t hesitate to ask your teachers for additional writing prompts.
• Writing Clubs
  • Meetings: If your school has a writing club, they likely offer writing prompts during their meetings.
  • Peer Suggestions: Your peers can be a great source of writing prompts.

Outside Your School

• Community Centers
  • Workshops: Some community centres offer writing workshops where you can get prompts and feedback.
  • Bulletin Boards: Community bulletin boards sometimes offer writing challenges and prompts.
• Local Libraries
  • Resource Books: Find books dedicated to writing prompts in the writing resource section.
  • Workshops: Many libraries offer workshops where you can get prompts and feedback.

Create Your Own

• Observations
  • Nature: Take a walk and use your observations of nature as a writing prompt.
  • People-watching: Observing people and imagining their stories can be a great writing prompt.
• Personal Experiences
  • Diary: Use entries from your own diary or journal as a starting point for a story.
  • Dreams: Your dreams can be a rich source of inspiration for writing prompts.
• Books and Textbooks
  • Illustrations: Use illustrations in your textbooks as a starting point for a story.
  • Historical Events: Use historical events you learn about in your textbooks as writing prompts.

Tips

• Collaborate: Collaborate with your classmates to come up with writing prompts for each other.
• Creative Thinking: Use your creativity to come up with prompts. It could be based on a “what if” scenario or an interesting word you come across.
• Daily Events: Everyday events and conversations can be turned into writing prompts.

Remember, writing prompts are all around you; it just takes a little imagination and creativity to find them.

Examples of writing prompts

Here are five simple writing prompts tailored for kids aged 12-18:

• Alien Exchange Student: An alien has just joined your school as an exchange student for a week. Describe their first day and the reactions of the students and teachers.
• Time-Traveling Field Trip: Your history class has a new device that allows you to take field trips to any historical event. Where do you choose to go, and what do you experience?
• Island Adventure: You find a mysterious map in an old book at the library, leading to a hidden island. With your friends, you decide to explore it during the summer break. What do you discover?
• Superpower for a Day: You wake up one morning with the ability to read minds. How does your day at school go?
• The Magical Pet: You stumble upon a magical creature that has the power to grant one wish. However, it also needs your help. Describe your adventures together and the choices you make.

Here are five simple writing prompts tailored for young adults aged 18 and above:

• The Unexpected Inheritance: You receive a letter stating that a distant relative has left you an old mansion in a town you’ve never heard of. When you visit, you discover a diary that hints at family secrets. What do you uncover?
• Post-Apocalyptic World: You wake up to find that technology has suddenly stopped working worldwide. How do you navigate this new world, and what challenges do you face?
• The Job Interview: You’re interviewing for your dream job, and the interviewer asks you to recount the most transformative experience of your life. What story do you tell?
• Parallel Universe: While travelling abroad, you stumble upon a portal that leads to a parallel universe where one key event in history never happened. What is different, and how does it affect your understanding of your own world?
• The Mysterious App: You download an app on your phone that predicts seemingly random events in your life with eerie accuracy. As you follow its predictions, you’re led on an unexpected journey. Where does it take you?

These prompts cater to the transitional phase young adults often experience, touching on themes of self-discovery, adventure, and the challenges and opportunities that come with adulthood.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a writing prompt is a tool that can help you start writing by giving you a specific topic or idea to write about. It can help you overcome writer’s block, improve your writing skills, and make writing more fun and exciting. So, the next time you find yourself stuck, try using a writing prompt to get those creative juices flowing.

Chandra S