Writing Prompts

“I took a wrong turn the other day. A mistake, but it led me to the shop where I found the very thing I’d been searching for.” —Luci Shaw, “Wrong Turn” Tell me about a wrong turn you took and where it led you.

“Give up all other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.” —David Whyte Tell me about a time you felt completely alive.

“In order to do creative work in any of the arts and sciences you must go through long or short spells of not knowing what is going on, of being irritated, and not being able to find the cause, of being willing to work as hard as you can and what happens isn’t valuable enough,

“There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say, ‘Watch me.’”—Unknown Tell me about a time you said, “Watch me.”

“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” —E.L. Doctorow Write a piece that takes place in the rain. Make the rain a crucial component of the story.

“Our listening creates a sanctuary for the homeless parts within another person.” —Rachel Naomi Remen Tell me about a time when truly listening to someone else—or having someone listen deeply to you—was life-changing and profound.

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts.” —Soren Kierkegaard Tell me about a habit you cherish that helps you find your center, as walking did for Kierkegaard.

“Ships are safe inside the harbor, but is that what ships are for?” —John A. Shedd Tell me about a time you limited your life, your integrity or your future by choosing safety.

“Too many people, too many demands, too much to do; competent, busy, hurrying people—it just isn’t living at all.” —Anne Morrow Lindberg What becomes available to me when I rest? Begin with the words, “When I rest . . .”.

“Don’t write what you know—what you know may bore you, and thus bore your readers. Write about what interests you—and interests you deeply—and your readers will catch fire at your words.” —Valerie Sherwood Make a list of things that passionately interest you. Choose one thing from your list and tell us about it.

“Silence never brought us anything.” —Audre Lorde Tell me about a time you were silent. Then tell me about a time you broke the silence about something taboo or forbidden.

“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.” —Anne Sexton Tell me your father’s story, as you remember it, by describing his hands. Begin each paragraph with the words, “My father’s hands . . . ”.

“It always comes back to the same necessity: go deep enough and there is a bedrock of truth, however hard.” —May Sarton What’s the bedrock of truth in your life right now?

“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophies.” —Friedrich Nietzche Tell me about a time your body gave you something you didn’t expect.

“Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head.” —From the movie Finding Forrester Can you describe your own writing process? What is your relationship to your own deep creativity and your internal editor?