Favorite Writing Prompts

I’m very particular about writing prompts. The kind of prompts that inspire people in my WMD group, get them writing furiously and leave me cold.  Likewise, the kind of prompts that get me going leave them stranded.  Whatever works, right?  I tend to like prompts that ask you to do something random or almost mechanical that cause you to trip over a stool backwards and fall into something brilliant. So here are some of my favorites, with credit ascribed where possible.

Natalie Goldberg’s Visual Verb Exercise

Using the Random to Write

Metaphor Prompt 2 from Discovering the Writer Within

Group Writing Prompt

Characterization Through Setting Writing Prompt

Poetry Template: Facing it By Yusef Komunyakaa