Writing Prompt #16
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
First line of a scene: The very idea was like a pebble in my shoe.
They’re Back! Writing Prompt #15
After a little hiatus, the weekly writing prompts are back.
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
Sex. Some writers shy away from letting their characters enjoy pleasures of the body. Write a close third-person scene in which your protagonist has sex. Writing YA with characters not yet having sex? Let the protagonist make out with someone. Strive to avoid cliches and to bring real pleasure to your character.
Let me know how the prompt works for you!
Creative Writing Prompt #14: NaNoWriMo
Throughout the month of November, the ORW prompts will be designed to help writers participating in NaNoWriMo build up their word count.
Create a scene in which your character experiments with something new. This scene should not necesarily be about learning a new skill. Instead, imagine an activity in which your character would normally never dream of engaging. Write 500 words in anticipation of the activity, 1,000 words in which the activity is occurring, and another 500 words about the character’s reaction to his/her daring.
Let me know how it works for you! Here’s to 15,000 words by the end of day Monday.
Creative Writing Prompt #13: NaNoWriMo
Throughout the month of November, the ORW prompts will be designed to help writers participating in NaNoWriMo build up their word count. Please leave a comment about how the prompt works for you!
Create a scene in which your character sees something s/he should not have. Write 1,000 words describing the act of seeing and what was seen. Write another 1,000 words in which your character reacts to what s/he has seen.
Creative Writing Prompt #12
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
First line of a scene: He thought he had made himself clear.
Creative Writing Prompt #11
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
Prompt #11
A character’s food choices can reveal a lot. Find out what your character likes to eat. Write a scene with at least two characters, close third-person to the one who is doing the cooking. Put the characters in a pressure cooker: despite the great care the cook has taken, the second character detests the meal.
Creative Writing Prompt #10
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
Instead of an original prompt, this week’s prompt comes from literary journal The First Line.
Waiting for change always seems to take longer than you would expect.
Be sure to visit The First Line site to learn more about their submission process. Submissions (opening with the above first line, of course) are accepted until November 1, 2009.
Thank you to all who entered the ORW 100-words contest. The winner will be announced soon!
Creative Writing Prompt #9
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
First line of a scene: She heard the thunk of the lock.
There is still time to enter the Open Road Writing 100-Words Contest! Submit your entry by Sunday, September 20th for a chance to win a free manuscript review (up to 20 pages).
Creative Writing Prompt #8
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
What is your character’s favorite way to travel? Write a scene in third person p.o.v. in which your character is taking a journey via a favorite mode (car, plane, train, horseback, etc.) that s/he has anticipated with delight . Unfortunately, a fellow traveler is intruding on the pleasures of the journey for your character. What happens?
There is still time to enter the Open Road Writing 100-Words Contest! Submit your entry by Sunday, September 20th for a chance to win a free manuscript review (up to 20 pages).
Creative Writing Prompt #7
Each week, ORW will feature a new writing prompt meant to spark your creative juices. Use it to generate new fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry, or apply the prompt to a current project. Even if you don’t create a scene that fits with your project, you may find that you’ve learned more about your story.
Consider setting this week. Write a scene with only two characters, third-person point of view. Your characters are visiting the house in which one of them grew up. Go overboard with description. Use all senses: what does the air smell like? What sounds do the characters hear? How do things feel? Does the tap water have a particular taste? Re-write the same scene from the first-person point of view of each character. How does the description differ between the character who lived there and the one who did not? What details does each notice? What details are not noticed by each character?
I study and practice the craft of writing for multiple audiences and purposes. Through my experience in public relations, grant writing, and academia, I have acquired the ability to create text that garners results. I hold a MA in English literature and a MFA in Creative Writing. Having taught nearly 900 students in classes ranging from business writing to creative writing, I believe in writer-centered instruction as the most effective way to empower my clients. 
