Writing prompts
Freewriting Friday: Calling All Readers
Four writing prompts for journaling, creative nonfiction, and fiction writers
“We read to know we’re not alone.” ― William Nicholson, Shadowlands
As I begin a new term in my MFA program, we are discussing the type of readers we are, which I thought would be an interesting prompt for this freewriting Friday exercise.
Readers have many options to read, compared to any other time before.
Digital and physical book options galore!
Pew Research Center conducted a Book Study in 2016, looking at how readers read. I was surprised, in our digital age, that a majority of readers still prefer a physical book to digital formats, like audio and e-books.
But I guess that is not too surprising.
As I look around at the readers in my life, we all still enjoy reading from a physical book. I read from a mixture of books on my Kindle and hardcover books. My teenage sons prefer to read from physical books as well.
There is something about holding a book curled up in a cozy chair, smelling the pages, and placing a physical bookmark (please don’t fold over the page! LOL).
Alright so let’s get to freewriting.
Instructions
Use this time to write something personal or write from the perspective of a character from a fictional story you are working on. Or write a poem.
Allow your mind to wander, not worrying about the final product.
- Allow yourself at least 15 minutes for a freewriting session.
- Write in a place with no distractions.
- Only allow yourself to write and use this exercise as a guide.
- Only use your phone for the timer and turn off notifications.
- Move from one prompt to the next or focus on one.
- Don’t stop writing for the time allowed.
- Don’t edit yourself
Today’s Music Selection
I like to listen to instrumental music when freewriting.
Freewrite in response to all the prompts or focus on one. Whichever calls out to you. Use these prompts as a springboard to your next article, flash fiction, or short story.
As a fiction writer, you can use any of these prompts from your character’s perspective to get to know them better, maybe a story will start to form through your freewriting.
First Prompt
Why do you read? Why don’t you like to read?
Set your timer for three minutes. Write from your perspective or from a fictionalized character.
Second Prompt
What kind of reader are you? What do you like to read and hate to read? Do you read digitally or via physical books? Or both?
Set your timer for three minutes and write.
Third Prompt
What is your reading ritual? Do you have one? Describe where you prefer to read, where you can’t read. What time of the day? Describe your reading ritual now compared to when you were a child.
Set your timer for three minutes and write.
Fourth Prompt
Describe your reading journey. From a child, as a teenager, to now. Are you parent reading to your children? Do you share the books of your childhood? What kind of readers are your children?
Set your timer for five minutes and write.
Revision
Let your words simmer after a freewriting session. Go back and decide if you want to turn your words into a story or article. Then start the revision process.
@2021 Ellie Jacobson
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