Tag Archives: writing prompt

Friday Writing Prompt- Bullied

With this week’s theme, I have no doubt that you could have guessed today’s writing prompt: being bullied.  Write about a time that you (or your character) were bullied (or the bully).  How did you (or your character) handle it?  If you could go back in time, would you do it differently?  Was it a valuable experience, or a damaging one?

When I was in 10th grade, I had a boyfriend who I’d been with for about 6 months.  He went on a band trip to Florida, and when he came back, seemed a little different, but I didn’t think much of it.  I later found out from a mutual friend that he had been kissing and holding hands with another girl!  Well, I was hurt and angry.  I confronted him about it, and just ask that he not be friends with that other girl anymore.  He agreed.  She started spreading rumors that I wasn’t speaking to her and that I was being mean to her.  We weren’t friends, and I had never spoken one word to her before… why would I speak to her afterward?  When I found out about the rumors (which seem very silly from my adult viewpoint), I was hurt and angry all over again.  Well, she and I got into a confrontation (I don’t remember who confronted who) with her telling me that she didn’t understand why he wanted me and not her, because, “All you have is a brain!”

Suddenly, all the silliness of the whole thing struck me, and I couldn’t help but laugh.  From then on, my friends and I trashed her behind her back, and I wore a sign to school one day saying “All I have is a brain.”  I’m honestly not sure if I ended up being bullied, the bully, or just a ridiculous girl in a ridiculous situation.  In any case, I definitely learned from that situation that any situation can be what you make it.

There were other times when people tried bullying me, but I didn’t care enough about them to let it upset me, and it’s true what they say… they gave up when they found I wasn’t an easy target.

Friday Writing Prompt: Soundtrack for Life

For most of us, music is a quintessential part of life.  Most of us have certain songs that trigger certain feelings, remind us of certain people or events.  For today’s writing prompt, I’m going to list a series of questions about the songs or albums that define your (or your character’s) life.  Remember, if you’re writing fiction, knowing silly little details like this can help you define your character and make him or her more rich and real.

Favorite childhood song?  We’re Off to See the Wizard

Song that you always have to sing along to?  You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette or Bitch by Meredith Brooks

Song you’re most likely to spontaneously burst into?  Wild World by Cat Stevens

Favorite song as a teenager?  Hey Jude by the Beatles

Song that reminds you of your first love?  It’s More than a Feeling by Boston

Song that you listen to when you’re sad?  Tomorrow by Avril Lavigne

Song that makes you happy?  Paperback Writer by the Beatles

Song that reminds of you of an ex (and not in a good way)?  I Alone by Live

Song that reminds you of someone you love?  Thank You by Dido

Song you sing with others?  Ironic by Alanis Morrisette and probably anything from the 80s

Song you always turn off?  Michelle and the Long and Winding Road by the Beatles

Hope you enjoyed this writing prompt!  Have fun.

Friday Writing Prompt: Fortune Cookie

I’ve always wondered who writes fortune cookies.  I wonder if there’s some big database, or if the person running the restaurant orders specific ones.  I’ve had all sorts of fortunes in my cookies ranging from the trite to the profound.  It seems like a lot of effort for something most people throw away.

It got me to thinking about fortune cookies in general.  Have you ever kept one of the fortunes?  As a matter of fact, I carry two around with me in my wallet.  They’re looking a little worse for wear, but they’re important to me.  I don’t remember how long I’ve had them or how I got them.

These are the fortune cookies in my wallet. I think they make a good reminder.

Today’s writing prompt:  Have you (or your character) ever kept a fortune from one of those cookies?  Why or why not?  Do you (or your character) even read them?  As an added bonus, here’s a website where you can generate a random fortune.  Mine was “You can open doors with your charm and patience.”  Patience yes.  Charm?  Apparently they haven’t met me!

Have a great Friday!

Friday Writing Prompt- Travel

I love to go new places and see new things.  I’m more of an adventure type vacationer than a relaxing type vacationer.  That’s not surprising, considering that I don’t relax well.  Trying to relax can actually be stressful for me.

I have so many places I want to see.  So, for today’s writing prompt… imagine you had an all expenses paid vacation for one week, and could go anywhere in the world.  Where would you (or your character) go?  What would you (or your character) do?

If I had to pick one thing, I think the first place I’d want to go is Hawaii.  I’d love to hike the forests and see the waterfalls.  I’d love to sit on the beaches and snorkel off the coast.  Of course, maybe I should pick Alaska.  Or Ireland…  I could go on and on.

If you’re interested in hearing more about places I’ve been and things I’ve seen, just click here!

Friday Writing Prompt: 5 Senses

We use our 5 senses every day to perceive the world: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. In writing, most writers struggle to engage all their senses. As writers, we show or tell about sight and sound but miss some of the other things we register without much thought. Is the room hot, cold, or comfortable? Are there any odors in the air, pleasant or unpleasant? Less common, but still a legitimate question: does the air have a flavor?

So, for today’s writing prompt. Write about what a day would be like for your (or your character) if you lacked one of these senses. Don’t go for one of the easy ones like sight or sound, but try to imagine lack of taste, touch, or smell. What would the absence of these things mean for you (or your character)? Then, if you’re up for an extra challenge, write about a day or scene paying extra close attention to one or more sense. Instead of talking about what you or your character see or hear, pay attention to smell, taste, or touch, and how these things change as you (or your character) move through the day.

Friday Writing Prompt- Never Say Never

I’ve recently started running for exercise.  I always said I’d never run unless someone was chasing me.  With a chainsaw.  Probably a bloody chainsaw.  But I hate exercise, and I determined that running is the most efficient form of exercise.  I tried it awhile ago, stopped, and restarted.

Is there anything you’ve ever done that you said you’d never do, either positive or negative?  That’s today’s writing prompt.  Write about a time you (or your character) did something you (or the character) said you’d never do.  How did you (or your character) feel about doing it?  Why did you (or your character) say you’d never do it and why did you (or they) change your (their) mind?

Friday Writing Prompt: Wayback Machine

For today’s writing prompt, we’re going to do something a little different.  We’re going to take a little trip in the Wayback machine.  Think back to around the time you were 16, and answer the following questions.  If you’re working on a character, put that character in the machine.

1.  What was your favorite band/ music?

2.  Who was your big crush (either celebrity, real, or both)?

3.  Favorite book and/ or TV show?

4.  Favorite beverage?

5.  Best Memory?

I’m going to answer for me, just in case anyone was curious.

1.  The Beatles

2.  I honestly don’t remember having a big crush, but I was dating a great guy named Richard at the time.

3.  Watchers by Dean Koontz, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (yeah, these are still on my list).  Show?  Cheers, maybe.

4.  Iced tea.  I loved iced tea.

5.  My best memory was my 16th birthday party.  We had a pool party at my house, and between snacks, being surrounded by my friends, and acting silly, it was a really good time.

Friday Writing Prompt- I’m Getting Around To That!

How many of us have said, “I’ll get to that tomorrow.  Or Monday.  Or when X happens.”?  I suspect every one of us has done this, with the best of intentions.  The thing is that tomorrow or Monday or X comes and goes and we don’t get around to it.

Last week, I wrote a post about goal setting, and I know I’m not the only one who deals with this.  I recently read a great article on why, when we mess up on our diet goals, we shouldn’t wait until Monday to get back on the wagon.

With that being said, it put me in mind of a perfect writing prompt.  Write about a time that you (or your character) put off something important.  It doesn’t have to be earth shattering, just something important to you (or the character).  Diet, exercise, writing, a new hobby, getting a dog, volunteering.

On a related topic, why do you suppose most of us put things off that are important to us?  In part, I blame our busy schedules and the Internet.  But it has to go deeper than that.  Theories, anyone?

Friday Writing Prompt: The Blahs

How’d you like to go for a swim in this? That would cure the blahs, for sure!

Have you ever had the blahs?  I had them earlier this week, where I just didn’t feel like doing anything.  It wasn’t really laziness or not feeling well.  The best way to describe it was that I felt… blah.

So, onward to our writing prompt.  Write about a time that you (or your character) had a case of the blahs.  How long did it last?  What did you (or your character) do about it?  How did you (or your character) eventually snap out of it?

For me, I ended up taking some Ibuprofen and a hot bath.  With a good night’s sleep, it cured the blahs completely and set me up to face another day!