Writing workshop prompts

1. Write about a quest you'veWrite about a quest you've
undertaken, involving a physicalundertaken, involving a physical
journey. What were you in searchjourney. What were you in search
of--family connection, relaxation,of--family connection, relaxation,
adventure? What did you find?adventure? What did you find?
Was it what you expected?Was it what you expected?

2. Put a character in Hell.Put a character in Hell.

3. Write about something that happenedWrite about something that happened
near a body of water.near a body of water.

4. Navigating the DarknessNavigating the Darkness
 "...I would raise animals and plants and"...I would raise animals and plants and
find joy in their thriving. I would surroundfind joy in their thriving. I would surround
myself with beauty--no matter howmyself with beauty--no matter how
primitive and artless--objects, colors,primitive and artless--objects, colors,
sounds. I would eat and drink well.sounds. I would eat and drink well.
...When the darkness grows denser, I...When the darkness grows denser, I
would penetrate to the very core andwould penetrate to the very core and
ground, and would not rest until a lightground, and would not rest until a light
appeared to me.” Jungappeared to me.” Jung

5. Write about planting a seed.

6.  Write a scene about a specific experienceWrite a scene about a specific experience
using only sensory imagery to describeusing only sensory imagery to describe
what happened. For instance, if you'rewhat happened. For instance, if you're
writing about being in a car accident,writing about being in a car accident,
describe the sounds of the glassdescribe the sounds of the glass
shattering and the crunching metal, theshattering and the crunching metal, the
smell of smoke as the airbag deploys…smell of smoke as the airbag deploys…
Focus on the moment itself, and on whatFocus on the moment itself, and on what
you see, smell, hear, and feel.you see, smell, hear, and feel.

7. Write about a tribal or group quest that you (or yourWrite about a tribal or group quest that you (or your
character) have undergone.character) have undergone.

8. InheritanceInheritance
Write about something that has beenWrite about something that has been
passed down through your family forpassed down through your family for
generations. It can be anything from angenerations. It can be anything from an
appreciation for music to a healthyappreciation for music to a healthy
appetite, or even a political bias.appetite, or even a political bias.
Explore both the positive and negativeExplore both the positive and negative
implications, exploring how thisimplications, exploring how this
inheritance has shaped you.inheritance has shaped you.

9. Write about a change in perspective.Write about a change in perspective.

10.  Think of a story that you know by heart--Think of a story that you know by heart--
maybe a memory from your childhood, ofmaybe a memory from your childhood, of
finding first love, or of the birth of a child--finding first love, or of the birth of a child--
and try to retell it without using typicaland try to retell it without using typical
chronologically. Start from the end andchronologically. Start from the end and
work your way back, or alternate betweenwork your way back, or alternate between
scenes of present and past.scenes of present and past.

11. ““For the soul, each instant is always a minute short of judgment. ”For the soul, each instant is always a minute short of judgment. ”
― Gregory Maguire,― Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the WestWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

12. My Little TownMy Little Town
 List 10 details about the town or city inList 10 details about the town or city in
which you grew up: the people, the places,which you grew up: the people, the places,
the landscape, the memories surroundingthe landscape, the memories surrounding
them. Where was your favorite place tothem. Where was your favorite place to
eat? Who were the most interestingeat? Who were the most interesting
characters? What did you do with yourcharacters? What did you do with your
family and friends? What did the schoolfamily and friends? What did the school
look like? Where did you go when youlook like? Where did you go when you
wanted to run away? Write from the detailwanted to run away? Write from the detail
that you find most compelling.that you find most compelling.

13. If Only…If Only…
When I was a teen, IWhen I was a teen, I
wanted more thanwanted more than
anything to join theanything to join the
Roller Derby. Instead,Roller Derby. Instead,
I went to college andI went to college and
did drugs. Whatdid drugs. What
desires did you (ordesires did you (or
your character) fail toyour character) fail to
explore?explore?

14. Showing UpShowing Up
 Write about a time, place or situation inWrite about a time, place or situation in
which you had perfect attendance.which you had perfect attendance.

15. Write about falling into something.Write about falling into something.
Illustrations fromIllustrations from Struwwelpeter: Merry Tales and Funny PicturesStruwwelpeter: Merry Tales and Funny Pictures, by Heinrich Hoffman, by Heinrich Hoffman

16. An ApologyAn Apology
 This Is Just To SayThis Is Just To Say
 byby William Carlos WilliamsWilliam Carlos Williams
I have eatenI have eaten
the plumsthe plums
that were inthat were in
the iceboxthe icebox
and whichand which
you were probablyyou were probably
savingsaving
for breakfastfor breakfast
Forgive meForgive me
they were deliciousthey were delicious
so sweetso sweet
and so coldand so cold

17. SummertimeSummertime
 In "Once More to the Lake," E.B. White's classicIn "Once More to the Lake," E.B. White's classic
coming-of-age essay about the August when hecoming-of-age essay about the August when he
was twelve, the author writes: "Summertime, ohwas twelve, the author writes: "Summertime, oh
summertime, pattern of life indelible, the fadesummertime, pattern of life indelible, the fade
proof lake, the woods unshatterable, the pastureproof lake, the woods unshatterable, the pasture
with the sweet fern and the juniper forever andwith the sweet fern and the juniper forever and
ever, summer without end." Write about being aever, summer without end." Write about being a
child in the summertime. It may be about onechild in the summertime. It may be about one
particular moment or one particular summer, orparticular moment or one particular summer, or
about the season as a whole.about the season as a whole.

18. Write about a time when you wereWrite about a time when you were
naked--literal or metaphorical.naked--literal or metaphorical.

19. In TransitIn Transit
Some of the most interesting reflection takes place inSome of the most interesting reflection takes place in
transit. Write about a time when you were in transit oftransit. Write about a time when you were in transit of
some kind--on a train, plane, bus, or bike, in a car orsome kind--on a train, plane, bus, or bike, in a car or
even on foot. Write about where you were going andeven on foot. Write about where you were going and
why, and focus on what you were thinking, seeing, andwhy, and focus on what you were thinking, seeing, and
feeling as you moved.feeling as you moved.

21. Describe a place you know.Describe a place you know.
 "Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a"Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a
poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light,poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light,
a habit, a nostalgia, a dream. Cannery Row isa habit, a nostalgia, a dream. Cannery Row is
the gathered and scattered, tin and iron and rustthe gathered and scattered, tin and iron and rust
and splintered wood, chipped pavement andand splintered wood, chipped pavement and
weedy lots and junk heaps, sardine canneries ofweedy lots and junk heaps, sardine canneries of
corrugated iron, honky tonks, restaurants andcorrugated iron, honky tonks, restaurants and
whore houses, and little crowded groceries, andwhore houses, and little crowded groceries, and
laboratories and flophouses."laboratories and flophouses."

22. Write about …Write about …
Sculpture by Andy GoldsworthySculpture by Andy Goldsworthy

23. TemptationTemptation
 "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to
yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick withyield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with
longing for the things it has forbidden to itself,longing for the things it has forbidden to itself,
with desire for what its monstrous laws havewith desire for what its monstrous laws have
made monstrous and unlawful. It hasmade monstrous and unlawful. It has
been said that the great events of the world takebeen said that the great events of the world take
place in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brainplace in the brain. It is in the brain, and the brain
only, that the great sins of the world take placeonly, that the great sins of the world take place
also."also."
 -- Oscar Wilde,-- Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian GrayThe Picture of Dorian Gray

24. EXTREMEEXTREME
 Write an essay about a time when youWrite an essay about a time when you
faced a near-death experience, orfaced a near-death experience, or
believed you were in danger. Consider thebelieved you were in danger. Consider the
following questions: How did you reactfollowing questions: How did you react
immediately? How did you respond later?immediately? How did you respond later?
Do you wish you'd reacted differently?Do you wish you'd reacted differently?
What from the experience do you stillWhat from the experience do you still
carry with you?carry with you?