Daily horror writing prompts . These daily horror writing prompts range from directional to introductory. We have a little of everything for everyone. We hope you enjoy them. Please leave your writings in the comments below. If you leave a horror story of 500 words or less written in response to one of the prompts below, and we like it, we will contact you and ask you to … [Read more...] about Daily horror writing prompts
Writing Prompts
Writing Prompts are the anomaly of the writing world. When first faced with the idea of a writing prompt, many writers turn their noses up at them. The writer feels they can make it without the gimmick or doesn’t need help. Raymond Carver once wrote, “Writing is hard, and writers need help.” Prompts are kind of like that. Once the writer runs into their first snag, they look for a solution. Sometimes you need a little help, and writing prompts can help if you open yourself up to possibilities. There is also the situation where people don’t want to write or feel they can’t write, like high school students, and these writing prompts are also for them.
It’s hard to tell, though, which writing prompts will help and which prompts will fizzle. I give prompts to my writers every day. I have given and received writing prompts for 25 years in workshops, courses, and writer’s groups. I’ve found a few characteristics that a good writing prompt needs to reach down into the writer and get them writing. Here are ten things to look for when you are looking for a good prompt.
1. The prompt has the right tone and voice. You can’t have a horror prompt that sounds like a joke. You can’t have a romance prompt that lectures. The technique of the prompt is essential. You are probably on the right track if the prompt matches the tone.
2. The prompt is high interest. Boring prompts are the worst. You can tell when the instructor, prof. Or the workshop leader just didn’t put any time into the prompt—Frost’s “No tears in the writer…” quote. If a prompt doesn’t move you or get you excited to write, it will not inspire anyone else to write.
3. Cliché prompts, much like needing to be high interest, a prompt needs to be original. If you make a prompt the exact old same, I think it makes it harder to create. For instance, write a prompt about being a rebel. I was given this prompt in a workshop one time. I can’t take watching a tv show I don’t like; there is no way I will be able to hold my interest through writing a boring story cliché story. It’s just not going to happen.
4. Story starters can be inspiring. I’ve found that prompts that write the first paragraph or a couple of sections of a story seem to inspire me to write if they are done well. Suppose the first paragraph of writing is excellent if it has a good tone. If writing is exciting and pulls me in, I want to write like that. I think it’s like a writer. Generally, we want to be writers because of something we read. When I read something extraordinary, it makes me want to write.
5. Oddly, the more moving parts, the better. Prompts are the opposite of excellent writing in many cases. The more complicated they are, the more they get me thinking and writing. They need good descriptions to get me pointed in the right direction. It’s a little hard to explain, but examples might help:
Example 1: Write about two characters who meet and fall in love.
Example 2: Write about two characters in a hurricane who meet and fall in love as the eye of the storm passes above them.
The first one, I’ve got nothing. I’m moving on. The second example gives me enough to want to try it. It presents me with an exciting idea.
6. An element of writing involves the best prompts I have ever written. I have written several goods (later published) short stories based on prompts. Both of those prompts had story elements involved—the best way to write a story where there is a juxtaposition between 2 characters and their situations. I wrote a story about an agoraphobia falling in love with an exhibitionist at a meteor show. I love that story. A writing prompt with a literary element explicitly stated generally inspires the writer in me. It seems like a challenge.
We may add more pointers in the future. For now, these six will get you started. We also have a wide range of writing prompts here on the site. The writing prompts below are for many different kinds of writers in different situations. Writing prompts could be fun if you left them. We will post a new one every week! We want you to have fun with these! So enjoy and keep writing!
Daily writing prompts for high school
Daily writing prompts for high school High School students are usually just getting started in their writing. They need help but only sometimes want a creative prompt. Sometimes you want to write about real things in the world. High school students are also usually more excited when a topic relates to them or their emotions. The writing prompts below are designed for high … [Read more...] about Daily writing prompts for high school
Daily Writing Prompts every writer should try
Daily Writing Prompts every writer should try Daily writing prompts are essential to the creative writer. They can serve several purposes. They can help you if you have writer's block Writing prompts can introduce you to new structures and conventions They keep your Writing flow fresh Writing prompts help with writer's block. It happens to every writer. You … [Read more...] about Daily Writing Prompts every writer should try
50 Poetry Prompts Every Writer Should Try
50 Poetry Prompts Every Writer Should Try Everyone gets stuck in their writing from time to time. On occasion, that little bit of being stuck turns into terrifying writer's block, and sometimes it's just a day's wait, a hiccup in creativity. If you have ever suffered from these, you might need a little push to get going again. The best way to get going in my writing is to … [Read more...] about 50 Poetry Prompts Every Writer Should Try
10 Horrifying Horror Story Prompts
10 Horrifying Horror Story Prompts Here are 10 horror story prompts that should give you the chills and get you writing something scary. Warning if these don't scare you, you are most likely a zombie, vampire, werewolf, or ghost. If you are unaware of being one of the undead, seek medical attention immediately. You have had a strange feeling for a few days now. … [Read more...] about 10 Horrifying Horror Story Prompts
Weekly Writing Prompt: Halloween is Over
A stalker hunted you this weekend. He was a faceless murder with a large knife. He killed your friends across the street while you were babysitting. He escaped a mental hospital, and ended up in your small town again. You saw all your friends killed on Halloween night. He then tried to kill you, but a psychologist stopped him. After a bit of shock, you took a ride to the … [Read more...] about Weekly Writing Prompt: Halloween is Over
Daily Writing Prompts
Welcome to our daily writing prompts page. These were started in our writers group over at Discord, and Kimberlee @Urania_theMuse, one of our members, took over the responsibilities and has been doing a great job. We will be adding new prompts each day. Please follow Kimberlee on Twitter and leave a comment below. If you want to leave a sample of the writing these prompts … [Read more...] about Daily Writing Prompts
Writing Prompt: Space Runner
You are running drugs from Alpha Centauri A to Alpha Centauri B. If the alliance catches you, they will kill you. Your ship is a 40 year old freighter with minimal weapons. You are trying to get through a blockade when you pick up an organism that attaches itself to the outside of your ship. You are also being chased through the solar system by a warship. The alien on the … [Read more...] about Writing Prompt: Space Runner
Writing Prompt: Werewolf on a Cruise Ship
You were bitten by a werewolf a year ago. You have just gotten used to having to lock yourself up every full moon. You are on vacation with your family. Your cruise ship has gone from Nassau to Coco Kay, but on its way to Key West you have had engine trouble. Everything on the ship in fine, but the unthinkable has happened, the cruise will last 3 extra days. You are stuck in … [Read more...] about Writing Prompt: Werewolf on a Cruise Ship
Writing Prompt: You Meet a Dragon
You are on vacation, driving across country. You are a couple days into the journey when you stop in the small desert town of Ever Springs. The town was named after a magic spring that no longer flows through downtown. Ever Springs is a quiet town of about 5000 people. It has a downtown area built in the 1850s with a general store, a post office, hotel, mom and pop … [Read more...] about Writing Prompt: You Meet a Dragon