We all have days when we can’t write. It can be a form of torture. Writer’s block can come out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s down to burnout or fatigue, but more times than not, it’s a lack of inspiration. You’re at your desk, in front of a blank screen, with nothing holding you back, but you don’t ‘feel’ it. You can’t find that spark or enthusiasm to spread the words onto the page.
Writing is the best cure, whether you are hitting writer’s block on a current project or struggling to find a new story idea. That’s where writing prompts come in. A writing prompt is an exercise, or a starting point, which jump-starts your creativity and gets your writing. I’ve used a lot of different writing prompts over the years. Often it will allow me to switch over to continue another project, but sometimes it will spark a new idea.
Here are my favourite prompts and exercises to get myself writing:
The eulogy
Write a eulogy or obituary for one of your favourite fictional characters. Don’t write about the stories everyone has read or seen; tell two or three news anecdotes about their life.
This exercise allows you to explore a character you already know. It gets your thinking outside of the box, sparking your imagination to explore the unwritten side of a famous fictional character. You can take it seriously and explore the gaps in their past, or you can have fun and put a more absurd spin on what a character is really like.
The eavesdrop
Go to a busy cafe for the morning or take a ride on a bus/train and listen in on other conversations. Try to take notes and use the most interesting conversation as your opening scene.
I like this prompt as it not only gets a lot of interesting and surprising material but also gets me away from my desk and feels like an adventure. You have to be careful and not make it obvious you are listening and transcribing overheard conversations, but you don’t have to be true to every word; the idea is to spark your imagination. You can even do it out of earshot; watch people talking from a distance and create dialogue based on their actions and expressions. Just don’t get caught!
Write to your 13-year-old self
Carefully choose three stories from your life to tell your younger self. Tell them as colourfully as possible and try to find the lesson you want to teach.
This prompt wants you to think carefully about three stories from your life that would teach your younger self valuable lessons. Not only do you need to pick the most appropriate three stories, but you also need to choose the right style to tell them. It’s an interesting and fun way to write something biographical and spark your creativity.
The story behind the song
Turn on the radio and write the story behind the first song you hear. If you don’t like the song, even better. Find the lyrics, listen to the song a few times, and start a short story/play/film.
I like this prompt, as the story, tone, and style can be completely random. You have to be honest and go with the first song you hear. If the song already tells a straightforward story, your challenge is to give it a unique spin and find the secret meaning and metaphors. This can be a great way to develop short film/play ideas.
Write a spec script
Choose your favourite TV series or sitcom and write a spec script. Some shows will have spec script guidelines, but pick a show where you know the world and characters well.
This isn’t just an excellent prompt to spark creativity; being able to write spec scripts is a valuable skill. Having 1 or 2 completed spec scripts in your portfolio proves you can adapt and write to existing formats and structures. You can also have fun and go against the expectations of the show, giving it a whole new twist.
Rewrite an ending
Ever watched a movie and felt disappointed by the ending? Let’s do something about that. Rewrite the last scene of a memorable movie, and give it a new twist.
This prompt allows you to use an entire movie as a jumping-off point. You can rewrite the last scene of an existing movie and completely change the story. Or, continue a film, sticking with the ending but writing the following few scenes to see what happens next. Maybe there are more troubles on the other side of that sunset.
