Writing Prompts

I love writing prompts. They are one of the most versatile tools for writers. They can create entire stories, add that little bit of needed color to an existing story, be used as simple writing practice, or anything in between. What's more, writers of any genre and age group can look at the same prompt and come up with widely different pieces.

For example, if a group of writers were given a single-word prompt, such as "sunset," the end result would be so varied that the reader likely wouldn't have a clue they all started from the same place. A writer of dark fiction or dystopia may have a town living in fear of sunset because of the horrors which the night brings. A romance writer might have sunset be the time when two lovers can meet. A science fiction writer could have sunset mark the beginning of a long period of absolute darkness on a distant world. A writer of any genre can come up with a plethora of ideas with that simple prompt. Even writers of the same genre will pen vastly different tales.

Whether you use them as a warm-up exercise or craft a complete plot around them, writing prompts are a useful tool. Put it to practice now. Use that single word, Sunset, to spark something creative. Feel free to borrow an idea I put forth above and flesh it out to your heart's content, or take it in an entirely new direction. No need to give me any credit for the prompt when you use it. Have fun with it, and happy writing!