creative writing prompts to do while you’re stuck inside

While you’re staying indoors and relying on Netflix, social media, walks, and baking bread to fill your time, try out these creative writing prompts to let your imagination loose.

how to begin your book

Many of us share a similar dream of writing a book; there’s a dignity and feeling of immortality in publishing your work, whether it’s a memoir, an informational text, or a novel. I’ve been setting my focus on writing a fiction story, a task which seems overwhelming and impossible without breaking it down.

7 ‘finish the story’ writing prompts

1. I woke up, began my morning routine per usual. While grabbing for a mug to pour myself a cup of coffee, I noticed my favorite teal mug with the etched mountain landscape is now a lavender color. Looking around, I noticed more details of my home had been altered, like __________________

a simple writing prompt to wrap up the decade

And just like that, a decade has passed. When I think about the year 2020 approaching, I think back to New Year’s Eve, 2000. My family decided to put together a time capsule, to be opened in exactly 20 years. In my 6 year old mind, this concept was incredible. I would be 26 when we opened up the time capsule. What would my life be like? Would I still be on the coast of Maine? Would I have gone to college, gotten married? 2020 bounced in my mind every New Year’s Eve since then.

4 writing prompts for big life changes

In the midst of making a big change, it’s hard to remember to stop and think about your emotions or the places and people you’re leaving behind. Use these writing prompts to reflect and appreciate your life changes.

creepy writing prompts for spooky season

Dive into that October feeling by exploring your creepy side with these writing prompts.

first pages: how to best start a fresh journal

New journal, unknown possibilities, fresh start. You ever flip through your blank journal, wondering what stories, lists, and scribbles will land there? Where will your life take you while you are filling these 120 pages?
How do I best start off this new phase? For some reason, the integrity of these bound pages depends entirely on how I choose to fill the first few pages. Here are the best ways to start a fresh journal.

final pages: how to finish your journal

When I finish a journal, it signifies the end of a life chapter; whatever happened within those pages is now in the past. A fresh journal is a fresh start. Because of this, I often visualize specific periods of my life with what journal I used at the time. My year in Scotland? Ahhh, the red hardcover. My tiny apartment Portland, Maine; teaching, getting married, and preparing for Germany? That’s the era of the turquoise lined soft cover. My life fizzles down into a bunch of Moleskines.

5 ‘Harry Potter’ themed writing prompts

For the lover of all things ‘Harry Potter’, find inspiration in these 5 magical writing prompts to get you motivated.

writing prompts to do with a group

Part of a writing group or class and need ideas? Look no further!
Many prompts and exercises we do in my writing group depend on the participation of the other group members. I realized that the most engaging sessions, the greatest group memories, and funniest stories come from ideas generated within the group.

4 life writing prompts to change how you see the world

Throughout life, each person we come across can be a teacher. Not necessarily a school teacher, but a teacher brought to us to impart a meaningful lesson. List people you would consider your personal teachers and jot what lessons you’ve learned from them along the way.

10 minute writing for your night routine

Journaling at night takes a different tone than journaling in the morning, often a more knowing tone, one that has grown and seen more. It’s strange how 15 hours can alter a person’s mindset, then reset the following sunrise.

10 minute writing for your morning routine

Every day, I notice new videos and blogs popping up about people’s morning routines. I think the part of ourselves that is desperate answers, for productivity, to create a life we’re not living, is attracted to these seemingly perfect people suggesting how we can start our day.

what to write for 10 minutes when you’re feeling stressed

Stress manifests in our lives in different ways. You can spend 10 minutes pouring back into yourself to find your center of balance and refocus on your goals. If you’re feeling stressed and have a bit of spare time, sit down, take a breather, and write.

7 quick life writing exercises

Get your thoughts flowing and your memoir started with these life writing exercises that only take a few minutes.

Creative Writing Practice: relationship pairings

Look into the bonds your characters share with others by following these exercises and prompts.

List of Relationship Pairings for Creative Writing

Choose a relationship pairing on this list. Write your character through interactions within this pairing.

tips for your travel journal

Traveling can be life changing. A single trip can alter the course of your life and give you your most memorable experiences. It can also be stressful, mundane, and make you want to go home. Your journal should show every angle of traveling, the highs and the lows. It should not look perfect, because traveling is not perfect.

4 creative writing prompts to stress out your characters

One of my worst writing habits is the inclination to write happy and descriptive scenes, rather than action filled, stressful ones. In my head, it seems to all fall into place so neatly, though when I take the time to write, I realize how unrealistic it feels. People, and characters, experience pain in their lives. How they confront these stressful experiences is what molds them, and ultimately, what makes them interesting to read. Check out these prompts to give depth to your characters.

3 writing prompts that use books around your house

Sitting down with a notebook or a laptop and immediately feeling inspired to write is a huge expectation we put on ourselves, and not one that is easily achievable. I’ve found that focusing on my physical environment can kickstart the flow of ideas. Do you have a book lying around? How about a whole library? Here are three ways to use the literature existing around you to write your own.

Creative Writing Practice: adding a new character to the mix

While drafting a timeline of chapters for your creative writing story, create another character with the help of a few random idea-generating lists. Will this character belong in your story?

Creative Writing Practice: putting the pieces together

Today we’re zoning in on an exercise and a prompt that will begin the process of putting together the pieces you’ve been building. We started at creating a character, now we’re filling in the gaps.

Stream of Consciousness

Starting a creative writing session with a stream of consciousness can empty out any personal thoughts or details that are lingering in your mind. You might be surprised by the gems that you write during this “zone out” time. Since I’ve started this routine, I have a difficult time beginning my creative writing time without emptying my thoughts and starting with a clean slate.

Creative Writing Practice: facing fears head on

We can learn a lot about each other by discovering our fears. The same can be said when developing a fictional character. You’ll be creating a list (rooted in their history), then creating a confrontational situation for your character.

Creative Writing Practice: feeling all the feels

Struggling to write your character through an emotional experience? Follow this series of writing exercises and prompts to open your character up to emotional experiences.

List of Emotions for Creative Writing

Choose emotions on this list to have your character experience. Try writing your character through multiple emotions, either due to an external circumstance or an internal realization.

Creative Writing Practice: dig deeper into your character

Dig deeper into your character by following these writing prompts. To create a well-rounded character, you must include a range of traits, positive and negative. Choosing their zodiac sign can be a great tool for this, along with writing them through a stressful situation.

Creative Writing Practice: bringing your character to life

Let’s continue creative writing by putting your newfound character into situations and see how they respond. Follow these quick exercises and prompts to get the most out of your character writing.

Creative Writing Practice: creating a character

If you’re like me, you love the idea of writing stories. Having your words be read by others. Publishing your work. If you’re like me, you’ve figured out how difficult that can be, especially if you’re creating characters and a story line from scratch. Today can be the very start of this journey – the seed that will grow into something beyond you. Let’s start with a character.

Life Writing Practice: intrinsic and extrinsic character traits

Ahhhh, another Wednesday writing session. This is a time where you shut off the white noise in your life, reflect, and hopefully end up with writing you’re proud of. Since we are focusing on life writing still, we’re now honing in on intrinsic and extrinsic qualities of character building. The twist is, you’ll be writing about someone you intimately know.

Life Writing Practice: memory and sensory details

We’re officially in another week of life writing practice, this time focusing in on including those key sensory detail that make your writing come alive.

List of Life Writing Prompts

Feeling blocked? Pick one of the following prompts at random and get those creative juices flowing again. If you have suggestions for more, or want to share your writing, do so below!

Life Writing Practice: exercises and prompts to energize you

Need ideas to unblock your creativity? Interested in writing but you don’t know where to get started? You can follow this life writing playbook with a friend, a group, or by yourself.