Last week I told my writing group that prompts were useless. Then a guy in Denver proved me wrong.

Been writing for about 10 years now. Always thought writing prompts were for beginners who couldn't come up with their own ideas. Last Tuesday at a meetup in Denver, this older dude named Frank handed me a prompt that said 'write a scene where someone finds a key that doesn't fit anything.' I rolled my eyes but gave it a shot during the 15 minute timer. Ended up with a story about a janitor in a hospital who finds a skeleton key in a supply closet. Finished it that night, first complete short story I've written in over a year. Frank told me prompts aren't crutches, they're starting points. Makes sense now. Anyone else here changed their mind about something like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

sean_barnes2411d ago

Hear me out... I think this applies to way more than just writing. Like, I notice people get stuck in their ways about how things should be done all the time. My brother refused to use a dishwasher for years because he thought hand washing was the only real way to clean dishes. Then his hands got all cracked up one winter and he tried the dishwasher... now he swears by it. It's like we build these walls around stuff that just hold us back. Frank sounds like a good guy for pushing you out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you gotta admit your own brain is getting in the way of something good.

lee68911d ago

Start small. Swap one thing this week.