Writing Prompts Novels & Stories

Predictably, silence engulfs the room and all eyes fall on me. Up front, Professor Adams slowly lowers his dry-erase marker. “Ah, Miss Thompson. So glad you finally decided to join us. What’s the excuse this time? Let’s see… we’ve had the broken elevator, the library doors being mysteriously locked from the outside, and the classic 'my alarm clock suffered a localized power outage.' Which creative writing prompt are we exploring today?” Oh c’mon, those were totally real! But trying to explain that to a man who looks like he eats syllabus guidelines for breakfast is a losing battle.

He walks to the front of his desk, leaning against it casually, just as he'd done on Monday before he. He crosses his arms, head tilted to the side. "I could help you. Privately. We could meet at a time that works for you. I think you'd benefit from an extra assignment or two. I really do," he says sincerely. "And, of course, you still owe me an eight-page-paper, so perhaps that could be thrown into the mix. You can work on your writing, I will help you through a few drafts, tell you what's not working and why. And keep you on track."

Her voice was thick with emotion. “Not just any journal,” he clarified, his gaze intent. “It’s filled with prompts. Things that made me think of you. Places we’ve been, conversations we’ve had, little moments I remember. And pages for you to fill in your own thoughts, your own dreams.” He opened it to a random page. “See? ‘Describe the feeling of standing under the summer rain after a long, hot day.’ Or, ‘If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?’ Just things to make you smile.

"Something you want but cannot have." Mr. Vance wrote it on the board in clean, unhurried letters, then set the marker down and turned to face us like he had just said something completely ordinary. He had not said something completely ordinary. "That is your prompt for the next two weeks," he said. "Two pages minimum. No genre restrictions. Fiction, personal essay, prose poetry — the form is yours. What I am looking for is honesty. Specifically the kind most people spend their whole lives learning to avoid."

With each stroke of my pen, I breathe life into characters who dance across the pages, their stories unfolding before my very eyes. The anticipation builds, like a crescendo in a symphony, as I eagerly await the moment when Professor Steven's prompt will be revealed. Will it be a challenge to create a fantastical world filled with mythical creatures? Or perhaps a prompt that delves into the depths of human emotions, exploring the complexities of the human psyche? Whatever it may be, I am ready to embrace it wholeheartedly, to immerse myself in the depths of my imagination and let the words flow freely.

“That’s why it will work.” He glances at the window as if it contains a blackboard where he can write outcomes until they obey. “Lesson two after lunch?” “What’s lesson two?” “How to end a question before you answer it,” he says. “Useful at reporters and dinner with my board.” I pick up my abandoned mug and take a sip of cold coffee like penance. “What’s the homework?” “Practice saying That’s generous—next one like you mean it,” he says, smiling for real this time—quick, precise, unfair. “And text your sister your schedule so she knows when you’re not alone. I can… tolerate being useful if it keeps her off the page.”

**Create a Writing Space:** Establish a dedicated area for your writing. 22. **Read Craft Books:** Learn from experienced authors through instructional books. 23. **Stay Persistent:** Rejections are part of the journey; don’t be discouraged. 24. **Observe the World:** Draw inspiration from your surroundings. 25. **Balance Description and Action:** Find the right mix to keep your story dynamic. 26. **Manage Time Effectively:** Allocate dedicated time for writing amid your other responsibilities. 27. **Keep a Writing Journal:** Capture ideas, observations, and snippets of dialogue.

All of our hard work can down to this one singular moment. We had spent the last ten days trying to craft up the winnning piece. The prompt for this project was reflection. We were meant to come up with a piece that showed who we were to our very core amd mold the two together. From the moment I had read the prompt, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Jane Ann showed Grace how questions could be far worse than letting it go. “Good grief, are you one of my professors from university? That sounds like one of their writing practice prompts.” Now she was getting angrier still from the lack of information. “Well, maybe it’s a good writing prompt. Think about it. You don’t have to say werewolves or where. But write about a what if. What if the public discovered a creature from mythology? But they weren’t ravening monsters, and they’ve existed peacefully with us the entire time? Fighting for our rights and defending the land and people. Would they have earned the right to human rights even though they aren’t human? Think about it. People talking