Winter-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for a wintery day or night

Writers and artists have always been inspired by the seasons. Winter, spring, summer, and fall have functioned as metaphors, backdrops, and even characters in literature.

Like all artists, writers are constantly hunting for inspiration. But inspiration is fleeting. Sometimes, we need a little help.

When inspiration isn’t coming from within us, all we need to do is look out the window or step outside, where nature offers an abundance of ideas.

That’s where these writing prompts come in. These prompts are designed to generate imagery that will inspire a writing session. Use these writing prompts to create a poem, a short story, or just spend about twenty minutes freewriting.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts to write anything you want. Change them or mix them up. Choose the prompts that seem most vivid to you. Just have fun with them.

1. The sky is laden with dark clouds and the land is buried under a blanket of pale, gray snow. The ground, the streams, and the lakes are frozen and the whole world is eerily quiet and still. It’s the perfect day for . . .
2. You have decided that this year, you’re going to take up a winter sport. Now that winter is here, you . . .
3. There’s an old man out on the lake. He’s sitting in a rickety wooden chair and fishing through a hole in the ice. A loud cracking suddenly reverberates and he feels the ice shift beneath him. He scurries, but the hole expands too quickly and he goes into the icy water before he can get away. What happens next?
4. It’s the season of snowmen and sleigh rides. Children are out galavanting on snowy slopes and making snow angels in their backyards. One little boy longs to join them, but he cannot, so he watches from his lonely upstairs window. (Why can’t he go play outside?)
5. It’s the end of the fall semester and two college students are tackling an unusual project. They’re building an igloo. First, they choose an isolated spot on the crest of a small mountain that borders the university town in which they live. Then, they start digging. It’s freezing cold and the work is tough. They’re exhausted. But they are awakened and warmed with excitement when they dig up something unexpected  . . .

Do you ever use writing prompts to initiate your writing sessions? Have you found them useful? Do you have any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!

People-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for people inspired by people

There are many sources of inspiration in the universe, but perhaps none as potent or pervasive as the people who inhabit it.

Naturally, we’re all greatly impacted by other people, so it stands to reason that they would inspire, inform, and ultimately, appear in our writing.

The people with whom we have relationships affect us emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Whether it’s a lover, child, friend, stranger, or enemy, people can provide compelling and meaningful inspiration for our writing.

Writing Prompts

Today’s writing prompts are designed to help you think about the people who have impacted your life. You can use these prompts in any way that feels comfortable for you. Write a poem, a story, an essay, or a private journal entry. Let the words flow, and try to connect emotionally with whatever you’re writing.

1. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Who have you loved and lost?
2. Too often, writers are more motivated by heartache than by joy (all those broken-hearted poems and love songs!). Write about a love that is not stained by pain, betrayal, or heartbreak — one that is happy and healthy.
3. Then again, heartbreak is part of life and often full of many lessons. It is worth writing about.
4. Some relationships aren’t simple enough to be classified as painful or joyous. Writing about a complex relationship is… well, complex. Give it a shot.
5. It’s possible to have a relationship with someone you’ve never met — a historical figure or hero. Many people these days also have relationships (of sorts) with celebrities they admire (political, entertainment, charitable, or otherwise).
6. Most of us have had an enemy of some kind, whether it was a bully on the playground, a nasty co-worker, or someone who caused us or our loved ones great pain and suffering. These people make great models for villains in our stories.
7. Have you ever encountered a stranger who roused your curiosity? Not someone you found attractive, just a person who drew your attention. If you never had the chance to get to know that stranger, you’ll have to use your imagination.

Did you find these writing prompts helpful? Which did you choose? What did you write? Have you used writing prompts to inspire writing sessions before? Leave a comment, and keep on writing!

Philosophy-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for deep thinkers

Writing provides a way to express one’s thoughts, feelings, or ideas. It’s a communication tool.

But writing can also be a tool for self-discovery and critical thinking.

Many authors have stated that they write stories so they can find out what happens to the characters they’ve created. Essayists explain that writing helps them organize their thoughts and ideas, and as a result they gain understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Today’s writing prompts encourage you to dig deeper into yourself and discover what you think about the big, unanswered questions. Even if you’ve already contemplated questions like these, writing out your answers may help you uncover ideas and beliefs you never knew you had.

What is Philosophy?

There are three branches of philosophy: natural, moral, and metaphysical. The term “philosophy” can refer to the study, analysis, and exploration of any of these branches.

Philosophy largely involves asking questions to which there is no known, absolute answer. Investigating these questions rationally helps us develop principles of existence, knowledge, and ethics or acceptable behavior. Belief systems, including spiritual paths, political systems, and religious organizations, are built on philosophical ideas and conclusions.

These philosophy-inspired writing prompts are designed to promote the exploration of philosophical questions from a personal perspective.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts in number of ways. You can simply sit down and start writing out your own answers to these questions in an essay format, which is the best way to truly explore your own thoughts. If you write fiction, then try answering these questions from the perspectives of your characters. This will help you better understand your characters’ personas. You can also use these writing prompts to inspire a poem, story, or freewrite.

• Humankind has been searching for the meaning of life for millenia. Is there any meaning or purpose to life? Why are we here?
• They say two things are certain: death and taxes. I disagree. Plenty of people live and die without ever paying taxes (for a number of different reasons). But everybody dies. Why? Is eternal life possible? Is there life after death?
• Have you ever had deja vu, the strange sense that you’ve experienced something before? Have you ever felt like you were meant for something, that some event or moment in your life was fated? Do you think that there is always a choice? In other words: do you believe in destiny or free will?
• Do you believe in a higher power or deity? Can the existence of a higher power ever be proven or disproven?
• Where does it all come from — the earth, the stars, the universe, us?
• Do good and evil truly exist? What determines an action or person as good or evil? Who gets to decide what or who is good or evil?

Did you find these writing prompts interesting? Which did you choose? Did you learn anything from your writing session? Leave a comment, and keep on writing!

Holiday-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts to get you through the holiday season

What I love best about the holiday season is that there are so many holidays to choose from.

Here in the U.S., most people consider the holidays officially underway at Thanksgiving. From Thanksgiving weekend through the first day of the new year, people are busy celebrating every holiday from Winter Solstice and Hanukkah to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, just to name a few.

I know that the holidays are a difficult time for many people. Those of us who have lost someone special in recent months or years tend to miss them most during this time. All the good cheer and festivities can be a sharp reminder of what’s missing from our lives.

That’s why it’s a good time of year for reflection. Instead of aching for those who are not here, let’s be filled with gratitude for the memories they left behind. Instead of obsessing over the goals we didn’t reach, mourning the jobs we lost, or sitting around wishing we had more, we can choose to embrace all of the positive things that the holiday season has to offer: good food, the company of friends and family, the spirit of giving, and the lights (I love the holiday lights!).

It’s not hard to find inspiration with all that’s happening. Today’s writing prompts honor the holidays and all that they represent.

Writing Prompts

Use these writing prompts to kick-start a writing session. There are no rules, so you can write anything you want from a piece of fiction to a poem to an entry in your journal or a post on your blog. Just pick a prompt that inspires you, then sit down and start writing.

1. If you are one of the many people who celebrate or honor a holiday at this time of year, think about what it means to you. Do you enjoy it? Why do you celebrate it? How does it shape or affect your life for the rest of the year?
2. The setting is a festive party honoring the holiday of your choosing. But something unexpected happens, and the guests are all drawn into the drama, adventure, or mystery.
3. Some of us don’t think much about the holidays other than the obligations they impose – presents, parties, appearances, contributions. But holidays exist to remind us of the meaning of something — usually something significant. What does your favorite holiday represent? How did it become a holiday and why do so many people recognize it?
4. If you are one of the many who are mourning the loss of someone dear, think about that person and the memories you have with them, especially your holiday memories. It’s hard to do, but there is joy in those memories and if you can embrace it (by writing about it), you may be able to honor your loved one’s life with joy rather than sorrow.
5. Although holidays have deeper meanings, we like to truss them up with a lot of decadence and nostalgia. All that food! All those presents! The folklore, the ornaments, and the lights! Oh what fun it is…

Which of these writing prompts did you choose? What did you write? Do you have any writing prompts to share? Leave a comment, and keep on writing!

Sunshine-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for a sunny day

Nothing inspires like a sunny day. When the sun is out in full force, people are happier and more relaxed. And for good reason. Fresh air and sunshine are proven to be packed with health benefits.

But sunny days are also just good, plain fun. We fire up our barbecues, wiggle into our swimsuits, peruse our summer reading lists. Okay, maybe only us bookworms peruse the reading lists. But just about everyone appreciates a good dose of natural warmth courtesy of the sun.

If it’s not sunny where you are, then stay inside and play make-believe. If the sun’s out wherever you are, then grab your journal and take your writing session outdoors. Just choose whichever writing prompts inspire you the most, and start writing.

Writing Prompts

There are no rules for these writing prompts. You can make a poem, draft a story, or jot down an entry in your journal.

• It’s been a hot, easy day. The first whispers of dusk are seeping into the sky. Bird calls can be heard in the distance. A car rolls up the drive and it’s none other than…
• The sunny side of the year is a popular time for vacationing. Some folks go to the lake or the seaside while others hit theme parks. Where’s the best place to soak up the sun?
• Almost everybody loves a sunny day, but there are probably a few people who prefer rainy, overcast days. Who are those people, and what do they have against the sun?
• You have one sunny day and an unlimited budget to host an outdoor extravaganza. It can be any kind of soiree you want and you can invite as many (or as few) guests as you’d like.
• A day can start out cold, gray, and damp but then bloom into a warm, blue afternoon. On days like that, sunshine is like a gift. We appreciate it a little more because it contrasts with the dismal morning hours. Is good weather worthy of appreciation? Who takes it for granted?

Which prompt did you choose? Did it spark a good writing session? Do you have any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!

Movie-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing tips for film buffs

There’s nothing quite like sitting in a darkened movie theater.

You’re in the dark with a room full of strangers. The air is filled with the smell of hot, buttered popcorn. Feet shuffle, chairs creak, and you can hear ice rattling around in plastic cups. The movie’s about to start.

Even though we have unlimited access to movies right from the comfort of our homes, theaters are still going strong, and for good reason. Seeing a movie in a theater is an experience.

Films have impassioned and inspired countless writers to craft poems, compose stories and songs, and write articles, essays, and even blogs. Today, let’s find out how the movies can inspire your writing.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts to write anything you want. Change them up or switch them around. Use one or use them all. Just have fun.

• It’s your all-time favorite movie. You know the one. You’ve seen it a million times and you can recite the dialogue by heart. You stop to watch it whenever it’s on, and just thinking about it makes you want to go watch it again right now. Now, imagine you are your favorite character in that movie.
• Indiana Jones carried a whip. Luke Skywalker had a lightsaber. Robin Hood — he had a crossbow. In your adventure story, what is the weapon of choice? How is it used? Who possesses these weapons?
• It all started in an old, abandoned movie theater…
• What if every moment of your life was on film, as seen from your own eyes? What if the camera’s perspective was pointed at you at all times?
• Some of the greatest books have been brought to life by filmmakers. But they say the book is always better than the movie. Is that true? Are there exceptions?

Choose the writing prompts that speak to you the most. Once you’re done, come back and tell us how it worked out for you.

Do you ever use writing prompts for your writing sessions? Have you found them helpful? Got any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!

Spring-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for springtime

The seasons have always been a source of inspiration for writers and artists. Spring, in particular, has inspired countless poems, stories, and scenes.

But inspiration is fleeting. As writers, we’re all chasing our respective muses, and sometimes, in order to catch them, we need a little help.

That’s where writing prompts come in. These prompts are designed to spark images that will inspire you to write. You can use these writing prompts to create a poem, a short story, or an entry in your journal.

Writing Prompts

There are no rules for how to use these writing prompts. You can use them to write anything you want. Change them or mix them up. Just have fun with them.

1. The sun is shining but there’s a chill in the air. The ground is slightly damp and the gardens are budding with new life. It’s the right kind of day to…
2. This year, you’re determined to plant a vegetable garden. Spring is the season for planting, so you head to your local nursery.
3. While getting ready to go visit some friends, a woman notices a baby bird that has fallen on the ground. She already has one foot in her car, and she’s ready to go. What does she do?
4. It’s the season of puppies and kittens. Millions are born every spring. While leaving the grocery store, a young, single father spots a couple of kids giving away puppies or kittens, and he wonders whether he should take one home to his kids.
5. Winter has passed and summer is coming. Every spring, people clean out their garages, attics, and closets. One young couple has recently purchased a vintage home, and they find something mysterious in the house’s attic.

Remember, choose the writing prompts that speak to you. Write anything you want and change the prompt, if you’re inclined to do so. When you’re done, come back and tell us how these writing prompts worked out for you.

Do you ever use writing prompts to spark writing sessions? Have you found them helpful? Got any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!

Music-Inspired Writing Prompts

Writing prompts for music lovers

At some point in their lives, all artistic people run into creative walls. Writers lose inspiration so frequently, they have their own special term for it: writer’s block.

Luckily, writing ideas don’t have to magically appear in order for creativity to start flowing. There are numerous tricks that we writers can use to lure the muse out of hiding.

Writing prompts are an ideal way to ignite a writing session when you’re feeling uninspired. Today’s writing prompts are all about music, and since pretty much everybody loves music, you should find at least one prompt among these that motivates you to write something.

Before you get started, you might want to go put a little of your favorite writing music on. You know, to set the mood.

Writing Prompts

You can use these writing prompts in any way you see fit. Compose a poem, a short story, a personal essay, or write a song (that would be rather fitting). Use the prompt as-is or change it to suit your needs. Most importantly, have fun!

• Almost every year, there’s a song that defines the time as an era, an anthem.
• If you had to learn how to play an instrument, which one would you choose and why?
• An old man who has been playing guitar all his life finds out he has severe arthritis.
• A young girl dreams of becoming a musician in an orchestra but her parents will not hear of it.
• Everybody wants to be a rock star. Or do they?
• Did you know that learning music at an early age promotes discipline and kids who study music get higher scores in math and language arts, among other things?
• While driving, you turn on the radio and that song comes on. The one that reminds you of you-know-who.
• Why do we get songs stuck in our heads? Does it mean something?
• There are many things one can do while music is playing – dance, drive, exercise, clean, make out, and…?
• Music has the power to…

Remember, choose the writing prompts that click for you. Write anything you want and change the prompt if you want to. Have fun and once you’re done, come back and tell us how it worked out for you.

Do you ever use writing prompts to spark writing sessions? Have you found them helpful? Got any writing prompts of your own to share? Leave a comment!