Writing prompt – dealing with illness
No Comments »6th July, 2013; Category: Writing prompts
My family visiting the leprosy hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Most people suffer from a variety of illnesses during their lives. I’ve certainly had my fair share of them over the last twenty years especially. Some people experience multiple illnesses and at different stages of life. Other people have a severe disability of some sort. Coping with prolonged illness or a lifelong disability can have many challenges, disappointments and frustrations.
On our visit to Ethiopia a few years ago we took the opportunity to visit the craft shop in the grounds of the leprosy hospital. All the craft work on sale was produced by leprosy victims as a part of their therapy and rehabilitation. These ladies in particular were proud to show off their wonderful handiwork. I wrote about our visit here on my travel site.
How do you cope with illness? Or a disability?
Writing prompts:
- Write about a time you were very ill.
- Write about caring for a loved one with a serious illness.
- Write about how you would cope with a disability?
- Write about a friend or family member suffering a severe illness.
- Imagine dying from a serious illness. Write your own eulogy or obituary.
Good writing.
Writing prompt – what’s their story?
No Comments »25th February, 2013; Category: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Short Story Starters, Writing prompts
Moroccan women at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco
During our visit to the capital of Morocco we stopped briefly at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat. This was one of many beautiful buildings we saw during our tour.
Just before we went inside, I took several photos of some Moroccan women talking. They were attired in what I assume was the standard of dress in that area.
Writing prompts:
- What is their story?
- Why have they come to visit the mausoleum?
- What did Mohammed V mean to them?
- Why is the little boy fascinated by me taking a photo of them?
- Write a poem from the point of view of the curious little boy.
- Write a short story from your point of view with a focus on the death of someone you admire, triggered by visiting this memorial.
- Let your imagination fly in any direction as a result of seeing these photos.
Good writing.
Moroccan women at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco
Writing prompt #8
It has been quite a few months since I gave my last writing prompt, so it’s time for another one.
This time I thought I’d do something different. Instead of just one idea, I’m going to give a list of writing ideas. Use these ideas however you want. You might get an idea for a story, or a magazine article or a blog post. Or you might just use it as a warmup activity before the main writing project for the day.
20 Writing Prompts:
- Write about the Teddy Bears’ Picnic from the ant’s point of view.
- Write a list of things that are white.
- Explain why your character is afraid to go into the shadows.
- Write about a librarian who discourages people from borrowing books.
- Describe the most vivid dream you ever had.
- Make a list of things that make you laugh.
- Describe the last time you had a really good cry.
- Write about the joys of moving house.
- Write a conversation between a tree and a bird.
- Describe the most exotic place you’ve ever visited.
- Write the transcript of an interview you did with the character of a book.
- Make a list of the ten major events in your life.
- Write about the worst smell you have ever experienced.
- List the attributes of the most evil character you can imagine.
- Tell your life story in 50 words or less.
- Write a story about a cat in exactly 50 words. It must have a beginning, middle and end.
- What would you most like to change about your life – either in the past or the present.
- Imagine what it would be like living in a palace and write about it.
- Write a list of the ten things you would never do.
- Imagine being in your mother’s womb. Write about your feelings.
Related articles:
- Writing prompts – an archives of articles in this series of articles.
Writing prompt #6: Crossroads
No Comments »17th March, 2008; Category: Writing prompts
Time for another writing prompt to help you with your writing.
Crossroads:
Imagine you are out in the country. You are standing where two dirt roads intersect. There are no trees, no shelter of any kind and you cannot even hear a bird calling – except for a lonely, mournful raven in the distance. You cannot see a house or any sort of building.
In the distance you see a cloud of dust. Eventually a bus comes into view. It hisses to a stop right at the intersection. One person alights, and the bus heads off down the road and disappears from view.
Writing idea:
Describe the person:
- Is the person a male or female?
- What ethnicity?
- How old?
- How is the person dressed?
- What is the person carrying?
- Are there any special or noticeable features about the person?
What happens next?
- Does the person start walking?
- Or does she or he wait for someone else?
- Is this person relaxed, confident, anxious or confused?
- What is their story?
Now let the character tell his story.
Good writing.
More writing prompts can be found here.
And you can find dozens of short story starters here.
Or you might like to read some of my short stories here.
Writing Hints
18 Comments »16th August, 2006; Category:
I have compiled a list of useful writing hints.
Below is a list of the topics.
To access each hint, just click on the title.
- Proof read your writing
- Avoid repetition
- Prepositions and Conjunctions
- Don’t waffle
- Use apostrophes correctly
- Sentences
- Use words correctly
- The power of punctuation
- The problem of using cliches
- Verbs
- Metaphors
- Write what you love
- Use these writing prompts
- Write, rite or right
- More about metaphors
- Eight steps to getting published
- Keeping fit
- Write every day
- Practice every day
- Get rid of clutter
- Check your spelling
- Strategies to keep you writing
- Take a nap
- Overcoming writer’s block
- Keep a word count
- Set a minimum target each day
- Use your memories
- Try free writing
- Unplug from the internet
- Make a list
- Write a character sketch
- Change your writing environment
- Write first drafts quickly
- Schedule your writing day
- Let your characters loose
- Write with music
- Take a break
- Collaborate
- Take up a hobby
- Use a dictionary
- Plan, plan, plan
- Write, write, write
- Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite – until you get it right
- Edit, edit, edit
- [coming soon]
- [coming soon]
For even more articles go to the Writing Hints category on the sidebar or click here.
Page updated in August 2015.