Writing Prompts

“I wanted only to try to live in accord with the promptings that came from my true self. Why was that so very difficult?” —Herman Hesse, Demian Tell us about your journey in trying to follow the promptings from your truest self. What got in your way? When have you succeeded? Failed to do so?

“When we honestly ask ourselves which people in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.” —Henri Nouwen Tell me about a time this

“Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one identity, and the end of safety. It is only when one is able, without bitterness or self-pity, to surrender a dream one has long cherished, or a privilege one has long possessed, that

“There’s still something to be said, when you want to really understand something, for slowing way down.” —Luke Dittrich, “Walking the Border,” from Esquire Tell me about the benefits of slowing down in your life—and the obstacles you face to do so.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —Mary Oliver This seemed like a good New Year’s prompt: Make a bucket list of things you want to do before you die. When you’re done, go back and rank them in order of importance.

“Beautiful things are vanishing each day. There has never been a more crucial time to believe your creativity and your gifts. Trust me when I say that art creates hope, it connects, it heals. So please—write the damn book. Paint the picture. Take the trip. Stay inspired, stay hungry. Put your work into the world,

“Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.” –Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister Tell us the story of a time that you changed the course you might have followed because you made a choice, a decision, an act of

“We give thanks for the invention of the handle. Without it there would be many things we couldn’t hold on to. As for the things we can’t hold on to anyway, let us gracefully accept their ungraspable nature and celebrate all things elusive, fleeting, and intangible. They mystify us and make us receptive to truth

“Every single day, I get emails from aspiring writers asking my advice about how to become a writer, and here is the only advice I can give: Don’t make stuff because you want to make money — it will never make you enough money. And don’t make stuff because you want to get famous —

“The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family far too small.” —Mother Teresa Share an experience in which you found this statement to be true—or false.

“Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression.” —Isaac Bashevis Singer Tell me how you get past the disappointment when you don’t yet have the skills to manifest your creative vision. Or a time you gave up because you weren’t good enough to actualize the thing you wanted to

“To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the times comes to let it go, to let it go.” —Mary Oliver Tell me about a time this was true in your

“When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his death bed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.” – Winston Churchill Tell me about your relationship with worry.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay Tell me about a time you invented your own future.