Writing Prompts

Sometimes when I’m given a writing prompt, immediately something comes to mind and I’m off and running…er.. I mean writing! Other times, I can sit and stare at it forever  (well, actually, hours or days) and draw a blank.

I belong to Faithwriters and love their weekly Writing Challenge.  I have learned so much from doing these little ditties every week. We’re given a topic and then have a week to write 150-750 words on this topic. Usually something comes to me within a day or two, occasionally an idea will formulate right away, and other times, it’ll be a day or two before submissions are due and I’m still clueless about what to write.

Usually I draw from the filing cabinets in my brain of Useless and Useful Information. Some of these are my own experiences, or something I’ve read, seen or been told by a third party.  Sometimes my writing comes out of nowhere. I mean…hello…where did this come from? I even astound myself as my fingers clack across keys pouring out words from a reservoir from whence I know not!

My friend and author, Jan Christiansen, has a book “Wake Up Your Muse” that has 1001 writing prompts. If you ever feel your writing juices clogged, I highly recommend this. It’s an easy read and out of 1001 choices, I’m sure you’ll find something to get your creativity flowing again.

I must admit that when I finally decided to become a writer, I found the whole thing a little daunting.  I always wanted to write, had a passion to write, and did write in the vein of clever and creative memos at work, letters to friends and family, posts on Facebook and My Space, and emails and what-not. But now, NOW, I was going to be devoted to writing, become a published author, because with this driving passion, the world must be yearning to hear from me.

Hm! Well, apparently not. So it has been a journey. I started at point A and haven’t arrived at point B yet.

But I press on!