darren r hill

the creative minimalist

Tag: writing prompt

  • The postmark – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    I recognised the sender’s postmark. But why contact me now, and in this old, traditional way? Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    I recognised the sender’s postmark. But why contact me now, and in this old, traditional way?

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is all about the reveal. The narrator has received a letter. The postmark means they know or have a pretty good idea, who it is from. There is history between the narrator and the sender, but the reader obviously doesn’t know what this is.

    The writing prompt is about revealing that history. It could be anything, from a dark, frightening event that darkened their past to something more mysterious through to happier times that were somehow lost. The choice, as always is yours.

    The challenge, how you reveal that information, is also yours. Does it pour out immediately, or little by little as you read what has been written? The prompt uses a letter. This mode of communication slows things down, it is more deliberate than a text message or email. And, there might just be a prompt using digital communication on its way another day.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the creative learning process.

    Original envelope image by 2211438 from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

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  • Fresh air – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    I opened the doors and stepped out on the balcony. The view was amazing, but it was the air that took my breath away

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This week’s Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is all about comparison. It’s time to compare one thing to another.

    The prompt focuses on fresh air. Our narrator has arrived at a place where the air is different from what they are used to. This could be because they are from a smog-ridden city and they are now at the coast or out in the countryside, or the other way round. The choice, as always is yours.

    The aim is to stretch your descriptive powers by focussing on the differences between the two. Use…

    • simile
    • metaphor
    • exaggeration

    The bigger the difference between the two places, the more captivated your reader will be, and the more likely they might relate to one of your descriptions. Emphasise the difference between the narrator’s memory and their current experience.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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  • Loss – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt about loss to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    The word never is often used and frequently said in haste, but its real meaning was clear to me now - Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    The word never is often used and frequently said in haste, but its real meaning was clear to me now

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This week’s Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is about loss. We’ve looked at happiness and now it is time for a little sadness. The set-up is simple, something has been lost, something precious to your character. The thing lost is gone and it will never be with the character again. It is all about exploring the emotions that accompany absence.

    Depending on your circumstances, and what you feel safe writing about, you can ‘lose’ anything. The ability to write objectively about something that can subjectively be very emotional for us can be difficult but is a valuable skill for writers of all genres and professions. The prompt has been created in the first person, but do change if that makes it easier for you.

    The item lost can be anything. As mentioned above I want you to feel safe so be wary of your subject matter. Here are some ideas of items that can be lost.

    • a person – the most basic loss that we all face at some point
    • a love – for someone or something (or other emotion or feeling)
    • an item – something that holds sentimental value, or practical importance
    • an ability – explore the frustration that follows as you realise you can’t do something
    • a pet – a loyal companion now gone

    It’s possible that all of the above could be used simultaneously if you’re writing a disaster epic.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

    Original person imageby Anemone123 from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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  • Let’s do this – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    She took his hand and set a mischievous grin on her face. ‘Right, let’s do this!’ Friday Fiction Writing Prompt @darrenrhill

    She took his hand and set a mischievous grin on her face. ‘Right, let’s do this!’

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    A decision has been made. An activity has been suggested or planned. There is attitude in the air. What decision and what action is up to you. The writing challenge is to convey the determination over the previous uncertainty.

    • What were the doubts before?
    • What changed their minds?
    • How was the decision reached?
    • What physical and emotional changes have occurred?

    A change in perspective for this week’s Friday Fiction Writing Prompt. We’re in the third-person territory. Although you can always choose your perspective, I thought I’d make this one more explicit.

    Feel free to change things around. It doesn’t have to be a ‘she’ and ‘he’, it is your writing and that means your characters. The scenario can be anything as well:

    • A decision to love
    • Rule-breaking or lawbreaking
    • A practical joke
    • An escape from a situation
    • let your creativity run free

    Have fun and write. No word count or time rules, just take your pen or keyboard and do this.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

    Original hands image by Pexels from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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  • The Eureka Moment- Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    This was it, the breakthrough, the eureka moment. Nothing would be the same. Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    This was it, the breakthrough, the eureka moment. Nothing would be the same.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This week’s Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is about capturing the joy and celebration of discovery. The discovery can be anything, although I had in mind some scientific breakthrough, not a text message on a phone (Sorry, I can be a bit of a Sci-Fi geek). It can be something your protagonist has been working on for years or something they stumbled upon. The challenge here is to capture the dawning realisation that things will never be the same.

    And perhaps a bigger challenge will be to write without knowing the ‘science’ itself. The discovery can be medical, chemical, metaphysical, quantum, biological… the list is almost endless. But the choice of subject is yours. The only condition is that you write and hopefully have some fun. If you write regularly and often, your writing will improve, that is a scientific fact.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

    Original computer board image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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  • Be happy – Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    Be happy – A Fiction Writing Prompt to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

    It felt like every muscle on my face took part in producing my smile. My skin stretched like a supple yoga enthusiast. - Friday Fiction Writing Prompt

    It felt like every muscle on my face took part in producing my smile. My skin stretched like a supple yoga enthusiast.

    Writing Prompt Expanded

    This week’s Friday Fiction Writing Prompt is all about showing and describing but without telling. Let me explain. The challenge is to show that your character is happy without saying they are happy. It is very easy to say x or y was happy, but it isn’t very exciting and it doesn’t engage the reader on a deeper level. Saying someone is happy is plain and passive. It has its place but will not let your reader engage on a deep level with your character(s). Showing what your character feels, rather than telling, allows the reader to join in the experience. It brings the narrative much closer, and when you write, closeness is good.

    It is all about describing the change, from one state of being to happiness.

    • How does your character look?
    • Does their voice change?
    • What is different about them?

    Of course, you don’t need to use the prompt as it is. You can play with any emotion or feeling as long as you don’t say what it is, happy, sad, angry etc. No rules just write and enjoy.

    As always these writing prompts are optional and entirely open to your own interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story or something a little more grandiose. If you do write something, please share it or a link, in the comments or tag me. I’d love to read what you create. Write and enjoy the learning process.

    Background Image of the lady by Free-Photos from Pixabay

    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

    Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest