![]() ![]() Those questions we talked about a moment ago? The ones generated by the first sentence? They’re in charge here. We’re parachuting into the middle of the action and it’s sink or swim. We’re not trying to come up with the best way to lay the scene for the coming action or set the stage for character development. It’s a convenient excuse, but it gets us nowhere.įor extreme planners like me, one-sentence writing prompts give us permission to write without a plan. Planners can feel like they can’t write a story unless they’ve done all the planning, and if they don’t have the time or inspiration for the planning, they don’t write. Planning is helpful, but sometimes it feels like a barrier too. (This level of planning is probably also a form of productive procrastination). I like to know everything before I ever write a single word. ( This is my go-to guide for novel planning.) The notes I make before writing a book usually come close to matching the book in length. ![]() You’re Not a Planner - Or You Need a Break from Being a Planner Or, conversely, if you’re used to creating complex fictional worlds and magic systems, a realistic setting with a main character who’s just gotten some bad news could be out-of-the-box for you. Or maybe you want a contemporary setting with just a touch of modern realism. If you’ve never explored science fiction or fantasy before, you might choose a story starter that offers an escape from reality. An occasional venture outside our comfort zones expands us as writers, exposes us to styles and storylines we might not normally pursue, and lets us play around with unfamiliar concepts. This can be great for meeting deadlines or selling stories, but it can also be limiting and boring. We find a formula that works for us and we repeat it. If a first line turns you into an interrogator, you know you’ve found an idea worth exploring. Pick the one that stands out to you the most, the one that creates a dozen questions in your mind instantly.įor example, if you read the first one-sentence writing prompt below, The message inside the fortune cookie, which contained only four words, has become my fate, you immediately wonder things like who ate the cookie? where did they get it? who was it intended for? what were the four words? how did they become his/her fate? Fifty people could take the exact same writing prompt and run with it in different directions, and we’d end up with fifty completely different short stories.Īs you read through the list of one-line writing prompts below, don’t overthink it. They are the kindle you use to start the fire, but tending it is up to you. Without forcing you into a certain direction, they give your story an interesting starting point. Perhaps you have a standard case of writer’s block.Ĭreative writing prompts with sentence starters or first lines help you overcome these challenges. Maybe you have an assignment due and you don’t know where to start or perhaps you’re looking to write a little at the end of a long day but you’re creative juices have dried up. Sometimes, coming up with short story ideas feels overwhelming. Why Use Story Starters in Your Creative Writing Process? You Need a Spark of Inspiration This commission is paid by the retailer, not by you. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |