Summary

Nia Simone McLeod presents five creative writing prompts to inspire writers and combat writer's block, encouraging character development and exploration of themes like fame, fear, optimism, and human relationships.

Abstract

The article by Nia Simone McLeod introduces a collection of five creative writing prompts designed to stimulate the imagination and help writers overcome writer's block. These prompts are drawn from her weekly newsletter, which aims to provide consistent creative inspiration. Each prompt is accompanied by thought-provoking questions to guide writers in crafting their stories. The prompts range from a character's unexpected involvement in a celebrity music video set to dealing with deep-seated fears, such as an aversion to ice skating. Other scenarios include a character's ambitious attempt to complete all New Year's resolutions in a single day, the aftermath of an Airbnb mix-up, and the interpersonal dynamics of being trapped in an elevator with a stranger. McLeod emphasizes the value of these prompts in developing a character's backstory, motivations, and relationships, as well as in experimenting with different genres.

Opinions

McLeod views creative writing prompts as essential tools for building stories and combating procrastination.
She believes that exploring a character's perspective on fame and their personal aspirations for fame can add depth to a narrative.
The author suggests that examining a character's fears can reveal much about their personality and past experiences.
McLeod sees New Year's resolutions as a manifestation of optimism and considers the idea of completing them in one day as an extreme yet revealing challenge for a character.
She presents the scenario of an incorrect Airbnb location as a versatile prompt that can be adapted to various genres, including horror, romance, thriller, and science fiction.
McLeod points out that being stuck in an elevator can serve as a microcosm for human behavior and relationships, highlighting how people react under stress and in close quarters with others.
The article conveys McLeod's enthusiasm for her weekly newsletter as a platform for sharing creative inspiration, particularly from people of color.

5 Creative Writing Prompts to Slay Writer’s Block

Looking for inspiration? These creative prompts are jam-packed with it.

Creative writing prompts are a lifesaver. They give me a strong foundation to build a story from — so I can slap procrastination in its stupid, little face.

That’s why I include three creative writing prompts in each issue of my weekly newsletter. I know how beneficial they can be, especially when you’re knee-deep in a creative rut.

The following are five of my favorite creative writing prompts from my newsletter. I’ve provided questions along with questions to get the creative wheels turning.

1. Somehow, your character ended up on the music video set of Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE”. How did they get there in the first place?

We all view fame and celebrities differently. This would be a great opportunity to explore your character’s connection to fame. What would your character do to become famous? Are they apathetic about celebrities?

Is there a celebrity that turns your character into a screaming, belligerent fan? Travis Scott could be replaced with any celebrity. Replace them with a celebrity your character loves to hate (or hates to love) and see how that story goes.

2. Your character is being forced to go ice skating. They’re deathly afraid of it. Write about the event that sparked their fear.

What we fear says a lot about who we are as people. Peeling back the layers of fear can help you better develop your overall character.

Did the initial event stem from childhood or has it happened semi-recently? Did they watch a television show or movie that emotionally scarred them? What aspect of ice skating scares them? (the possibility of falling, the blades on the ice skates, the coldness, etc.)

3. Write a story about a character trying to complete all of their New Year’s resolutions in one day.

New Year’s resolutions bring out the eternal optimist that’s lurking within us all. This prompt takes that “new year optimism” to an extreme. Whether they fail or succeed, your character is going to learn a lot by day’s end.

Why are they trying to complete it by the end of the day? Do their friends and family support them in this endeavor — or not?

4. Your character booked an Airbnb. After putting the address into their GPS and driving all day, they ended up here. This isn’t the place they showed online. What comes next?

It’s our greatest fear — someone on Airbnb pulling the ol’ okey-doke. This prompt could be pulled in a lot of ways genre-wise: horror, rom-com, thriller, science fiction (if you’re trying to go all-Black Mirror on your reader).

Is there a cast of characters that lives in/near the Airbnb a la The Haunted Mansion? Where was your character en route to?

5. Your character is stuck in an elevator with one other person for a few hours. They don’t know how long they’re going to be in there. How do they handle it? Do they wait it out, fight each other, or band together to try and get out?

We all say we like certain people. But, time can show our true colors. This prompt can peel back the layers of a relationship and show the true feelings between one character and another.

Is this character stuck with someone they know or a stranger? What building is the elevator in? Was this elevator incident due to a malfunction or did someone do it deliberately?

Nia Simone McLeod is a writer, content creator, and pop culture enthusiast from Richmond, Virginia. She has a weekly newsletter where she shares creative inspiration from people of color. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram for more dope digital content.