Prompting the Use of Prompts
by Rusty LaGrange, High Desert Branch
At a writers conference years ago, attendees were given writing prompts to complete at the meeting. In one prompt, people went around the table introducing themselves with a single statement, then each suggested what one book or tool another person would bring to Mars.
Another prompt asked attendees to describe what kind of art form they would be and why. In addition, each attendee was given a handout of prompts to take home. Here is a sampling:
Given three objects, what would you make?
water, leaves, a pot
rocks, wire, branches
twine, small stones, feathers
burlap, wooden slats, paint
shoelaces, buttons, empty wooden spools
Choose a landscape, then:
Choose one word to describe the dominant color of the landscape. Now describe that color in as many variations as you can see.
Fill in the blanks based on the setting or someone you see in the landscape: “The ____ was discovered behind the ____ by __.” Example: The treasure was discovered behind the redwood sapling by Maria, the camp cook’s daughter.”
Some novels use setting as a character. Choose one aspect of this landscape and turn it into a character for a story.
Prompts are just a quick way to kick-start your creative juices into overdrive. Some writers appreciate the help; others don’t care for the exercise and never suffer writers block.
Some of my best works have been generated by writing prompts and went on to become entries in poetry contests and essays.
I usually just grab four words out of thin air unless there’s a thesaurus handy. But that’s a whole other story.
This article first appeared in the March 2017 edition
of the High Desert Branch newsletter of which Rusty is editor.
She also serves as editor of the CWCBulletin.