Sunday 3 February 2013

Writing Prompt Exercise


Sometimes we just can't come up with anything to write about, and if you are anything like me, then you find the usual writing prompts to be a bit mundane and broad. There is one way that you can prompt yourself with just a few magazines and a pair of scissors.

I find that the best magazines to use are National Geographic's. You can usually pick up a few pretty cheap at an opportunity shop, garage sale or even from the library. Cut out every interesting looking picture, or have someone else go through them for you. Even advertisements can be used.

Once you have all the pictures in a pile, in no particular order, take the first picture and write the first thing that comes to mind. It can be absolutely anything. Don't take too long, each picture should take you around 30 seconds and no longer.

After you have used all the pictures you should have a nice long nonsense poem. Each line can be used as a prompt for a story or poem. You could find the idea for your next short story, or an epic novel. The possibilities are endless.

A collection of images


Sheets of white, frightening ledge
Give him Rolex for Christmas
Reaching for escape; barren landscape
Shade of red framing a golden centre.
Old scars hide his cruel nature
Freedom of the ocean, happiness of a seal
Strange gelatinous goo excites me
Explosion, a million tiny shards of light
Men bring meat, women sustain life
A barren landscape, there is nothing left
Religion forces itself upon modern life
Pomegranate season is a good time for juice
Tiny beaded hats protect heads from nothing
My eyebrows itch, I need to sneeze.

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