I used to think writing prompts were just for beginners

For years, I saw those 'write about a door that shouldn't be opened' prompts as a crutch. My view shifted completely after a workshop in Austin last month. The instructor made us use a single prompt about 'a character who finds their own obituary' for ten minutes. My first draft was flat. Then she had us rewrite it from the perspective of the person who placed the obituary. The difference in tone and tension was immediate, like flipping a switch. That one exercise over an hour showed me prompts aren't about giving you a story, they're tools to force a specific angle you'd never try on your own. Now I use them to break out of my usual first-person rut. Has anyone else had a single prompt completely change how you approach a character?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade_young861mo ago

That Austin workshop story hits home. I had a similar moment with a prompt about writing a goodbye scene without using the word "goodbye". It forced me into describing physical details and awkward silences I would have skipped over. It made the whole scene feel more real and sad. Now I look for prompts that lock me out of my usual habits. That obituary switch is a perfect example of how a simple change in viewpoint can unlock a better story.

kevin_roberts411mo ago

It's like putting a physical constraint on a problem to find a better solution. You see it in design all the time, limiting materials or space forces more creativity.