I love randomized spam subject lines. Unfortunately, the spammers changed their algorithms some time ago and I get fewer subject lines that make my brain cells spin these days. Still, occasionally they do arrive, and yesterday’s was: “False Fruit Cake.” This left me thinking: why on earth would someone falsify a fruitcake? Driver’s licenses, passports, deeds, wills, expensive artwork–all these things have a lofty history of forgery in literature and life. But fruitcake? Uh-uh.

Today, pick an everyday item that it seems no one in their right mind would forge (use fruitcake if it gives you ideas!) and free-write or write a short story to delve into this mystery.

Two pages away from Greatness

Technorati Tags: free-writing, journaling, prompts, write, writers, writing

With Valentine’s day upcoming, it’s time to think about what the ultimate gift of love would be. Do one of the following:

• Free-write for 10-20 minutes about what the ultimate gift of love might be.

• Free-write about what the ultimate gift of love between you and your significant other would be.
• Write a story depicting two people in love and a special gift that passes between them.

Blame Cupid

Technorati Tags: free-writing, journaling, prompts, love, Valentine’s Day, write, writers, writing

Perhaps you’ve heard about today’s crop of helpless youngsters. Free-write for five to fifteen minutes exploring a character based on a prototypical member of this group. Then, drop him or her into a dangerous situation, and see how he or she grows–or fails to grow.

Technorati Tags: characterization, characters, fiction, free-writing, journaling, prompts, write, writers, writing

Writing is often about touching and exploring some of the deepest human emotions. One of those is loss.

Today, write about the loss of a loved one. If you’ve never lost someone dear to you, write about how you think you’d feel, or write about the loss of a fictional character’s loved one. Exploring these emotions in ourselves can be very difficult, but it can make us better able to touch those feelings in others.

Write with grace Journal

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Long ago there used to be many tales of people being stolen away by fairies. Sometimes fairies would steal little children and put shapeshifted fairies in their place. Sometimes adults who stumbled into fairy markets or celebrations would join them for the night, only to emerge years or decades later, typically unaged.

Imagine how such a tale might happen if it occurred today.

Technorati Tags: fantasy, fiction, free-writing, prompts, write, writers, writing

You’ve just won a chance to depart on the first commercial space flight to the first commercial moon base, but you have to leave tomorrow and you won’t be back for a month. Write a travelogue of your first few days or of occasional highlights of your trip.

Technorati Tags: journaling, prompts, write, writers, writing

Today I stumbled across an article about a sighting of a rare albino deer, complete with photograph. In many cultures, such creatures are subjects of legends, myth, or even prophecy. For your latest exercise, do one of the following:

• Imagine that this very deer is the subject of such a prophecy, right here in our modern-day world. Tell its story.

• Free-write about this topic and see where it takes you. Set a timer for 15 minutes and go.
• Write or brainstorm a short story about such a creature and the legendry surrounding it.

Love Hurts Women’s Dark T-Shirt

Technorati Tags: fiction, free-writing, journaling, prompts, mythology, write, writers, writing

I’ve seen a number of prompts that have you write about the end of the world. Today, free-write instead about the following:

The world ended yesterday. What is today like?

Technorati Tags: fiction, free-writing, journaling, prompts, write, writers, writing

Here’s an odd little exercise for the day: most folks should be familiar by now with video games that eventually come out with “expansion packs.” These expansions often provide new game areas, new player character races or classes, new items, abilities, and professions, and so on. They might provide a whole new aspect to the gaming experience, advance a plotline, and so on.

So today, set a timer for 20-30 minutes and free-write about the following:

What if an expansion came out for real life?

This could lead to a whole world of fascinating ideas!

Blame Cupid

Technorati Tags: free-writing, journaling, prompts, expansion pack, video games, what if, write, writers, writing

Today’s prompt comes from Kalbzayn’s World, involving a set of train tracks with a mysteriously malfunctioning warning light.

Why are the gates stuck?

Is the guy “fixing” the problem or contributing?

Was there a train that was supposed to have passed but didn’t?

Is society finally grinding to a halt?

Where does the driver need to go to so desperately that being 15 minutes late is going to drive him crazy?

Read the entire post for the context to these questions. Does one of these questions spark an idea for you? Does the tale make you think of other questions that could be answered? Free-write, brainstorm a story idea, or start writing your story.

Messy Genius Ornament (Oval)

Technorati Tags: fiction, free-writing, journaling, plots, prompts, write, writers, writing