Writing Prompts

PROMPT ONE: Without Words

Let’s play a game. It’s called Without Words. You’ve never heard of it before, because we made it up. But if you’ve been using our Writerscape prompts, you may have seen it before. 

The idea behind Without Words is that by removing crutch words, the obvious words a writer might use to describe something, it forces the brain to look differently. 

Let’s start with Fire. 

What are five words to describe fire? How about hot, smoke, burn, orange, spark. 

Okay. Let’s see. Can we describe fire without using any of those words? 

I threw another log onto the smouldering coals and waited for it to catch. Soon the flame danced high again. 

See? We haven’t even used the word fire, but it’s obvious to any reader what is being described. Even if we removed 10 words, or 20, we’d still be able to find ways to write descriptively about fire. It just takes a little more of our creative juices. 

Here is your prompt. 

Don’t want to write about FEAR? 

Choose : 

LOVE 

JOY 

WATER 

or FIRE!

PROMPT TWO: Five Senses

TOUCH TASTE SMELL SIGHT SOUND 

Here’s your task. Pick an object you have on hand. Some options: 

An apple or any piece of fruit or vegetable. 

A flower, plant, tree. 

A rock, a bottle. 

The object should be inanimate and it should not have any deep significance to you that’s going to sway your objectivity. What we mean is, don’t choose the collar of your beloved pet who died a decade ago. Too many memories, you know? Stick with something simple. 

Now describe it for us using your senses! Go!

PROMPT THREE: Show & Tell

Let’s write objectively AND let’s show instead of telling. 

Here is your task: 

Find a photograph. Of anything, anyone. Could be you, your family, a building, a sunset. 

Describe for us the contents of the photograph. Do it as objectively as you can. SHOW us what’s happening in the photograph instead of telling us. 

Just give it a try... no pressure!