Creative Writing Prompts

Web Sites with Creative Writing Prompts

The Internet is full of Web sites with creative writing prompts. Some are published by English teachers and creative writing instructors, while others are simply the result of a writer seeking to share his/her experience with others.

If you're looking for writing prompts online, check out our Free Writing Prompts slideshow. LoveToKnow Freelance Writing also recommends visiting the following helpful Web sites:

• Language is a Virus: This amazing site for writers is full of inspiration for anyone suffering from writer's block. You'll find a variety of writing prompts, as well as writing-related articles and tools like a character name generator, poetry engine, and sentence builder.
• Writer's Digest: As a leading publication for both novice and experienced freelance writers, it should come as no surprise that Writer's Digest offers a number of free online writing prompts. If you're feeling brave, you can even post your response to a particular prompt in the site's forum for an open critique.
• Pumping Your Muse Prompts: This helpful blog by writer Donna Sundblad features a number of writing prompts to help inspire your creative projects. If you enjoy the blog, consider purchasing the Pumping Your Muse book.
• Creative Writing Prompts: Point your mouse on a random number for a writing prompt to boost your creativity.
• Buzzle: This list of short story writing prompts contains several suggestions for fiction writers.
• First 50 Words: This interesting blog for writers offers a nice assortment of photo writing prompts that may help you find the inspiration you need.
• Creativity Portal: This site has a short list of writing prompts for nonfiction work, but some of the ideas might inspire you in your fiction writing as well.

Books with Writing Prompts

Although there are many Web sites that have useful writing prompts, some writers believe that too much Web surfing is an unnecessary distraction when they're trying to work. In this case, you may find a book of writing prompts to be a more helpful resource. Check out the following titles on Amazon.com:

• A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words: Image-Driven Story Prompts and Exercises for Writers: This fascinating reference book for writers features 110 unusual images paired with corresponding writing prompts. This book promises to improve your observational skills as you learn to create intriguing stories on demand.
• Dream Writing Assignments: 600+ Prompts for Creative Writing: This guide for writers features thought-provoking questions such as "How are violence and intelligence related?" and "If greed is an addiction, how can it be cured?"
• 501 Writing Prompt Questions: This book is actually written for high school students looking for help acing the writing portion of college entrance exams. However, many of the prompts are useful for other types of writers as well.

Additional Tips for Coping with Writer's Block

Although writing prompts are often a good way to deal with writer's block, there are plenty of other techniques you can use to get yourself back on track. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Go for a walk. Sometimes, a change in scenery is all it takes to boost your creativity.
• Go to your local park or shopping mall with a small notebook and spend some time observing the people around you.
• Call a friend to talk about the project you're working on.
• Write in your blog or personal journal.
• Read a good book by an author with a writing style you admire.
• If you suspect your writer's block is caused by a fear of failure, remind yourself that your first draft doesn't need to be perfect. Get the words down on the page and you can revise your work at a later date.
• Set a timer and simply force yourself to write for 15 minutes, regardless of whether or not you feel inspired. The best writers are those who are disciplined. If you wait all day for inspiration to strike, you may never finish your work!