As soon as I could write independently, I was creating characters and developing plotlines and establishing settings.
In seventh grade we learned how to write academic essays, including writing theses and citing quotations MLA-style and analyzing their significance. Suddenly writing was tedious, unrewarding work. I had to follow a formula, not my own inspiration.
Creative writing was the first thing I quit, but it’s also the first thing I’m going back to.
Last month I made a prompt box inspired by blogger Andrea Badgley. I cut up index cards, found a random word & phrase generator online, and filled the blank strips with words that enticed me.
My alarm now rings ten minutes earlier than it did before, and I find myself waking up excited to draw a prompt from the box and spend my day’s first minutes freewriting the world of a previously unknown character, based on that random word or phrase.
Wheel. Expedite. Imperfect. Ice. Unoccupied nutshell. Heebie-jeebies.
Creative writing, I have returned.
Victim to Charm 
What a fun way to get back into creative writing. I’ll have to try this myself.
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It’s excellent! Feel free to steal :)
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I’m not sure I’ll be able to do that, but it’s exciting that’s working for you ^_^
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You’d be surprised how you can push yourself!
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I love this idea!!!
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Yay! Welcome back to the Dark (writing) Side Mwahahahaha!
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Mwahahaha creativity!
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This is an awesome idea! I quickly gave up creative writing when I got to high school and I think something like this would be really good for me.
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It’s very low-pressure, which is why I like it. Feel free to steal the idea!
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I’ve made a prompt jar for myself in the past and as gifts for friends, as well. They are always well received…you can add a simple writing journal if giving as a gift.
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Ooh I like that as a gift idea!
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That’s a really fun idea, and you can get some great inspiration from free writing since your inner editor isn’t (normally) as busy criticising every word you write. I’ve been meaning to get back into free writing myself, maybe I’ll give the prompt box idea a whirl!
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You should, I highly recommend it! I’ve gotten a bunch of cool ideas from letting my mind go wherever during freewrites that I’ll probably return to (and criticize, but to improve them).
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Yo! Post them here! I’ll read(even though I should study for my finals) :/
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Go study!! I will be posting some of the written pieces here in the fall–I’m reworking my whole content schedule then.
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This definitely sounds like a great idea. I think that I’ll give it a try myself :)
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You should! Let me know how it goes.
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I will let you know ;)
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That’s a great idea. I think I may try it. How is it working for you?
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It’s been going really well. I’m currently on summer break so I don’t have much of a routine (namely, no alarm clock) so I’ve been slacking a bit more, but once I start working it’ll become part of the daily getting-ready motions.
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