Writing prompts
Freewriting Friday: Fiction Edition
Photo prompts to inspire your next story
Photo prompts are a great way to spark your creativity, for both fiction and nonfiction writers.
For the month of December, I’ll be using photos for the Freewriting Friday articles (sorry I’m a day late for this post).
The photos below are a great starting point for a flash fiction piece or a short story. But if the photos inspire something else, go with it. Don’t stop yourself when freewriting.
“Play around. Dive into absurdity and write. Take chances. You will succeed if you are fearless of failure.” ― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
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.
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 form through your freewriting.
First Prompt
A person. Who is this woman? Why is she having her photo taken? What is she thinking about? What are her flaws? Her accomplishments? Does she know the photographer?
Set your timer for five minutes and write.
Second Prompt
A place. You can continue the story you started with the first prompt or start a new story. Describe this setting. Imagine all five senses. How does your character fit into this world?
Set your timer for five minutes and write.
Third Prompt
A situation. Again, you can continue writing the story you have already started or begin a new one. Where are we? What is happening? What is the conflict? How will the conflict be resolved?
Revision
When you freewrite, always allow your words to simmer before putting your editor hat on. When I write, I either only freewrite, with no editing or stopping. Or I edit and revise. Never at the same time.
Submit your work to Flint & Steel
You can submit your writing to any of the freewriting exercises found at Flint & Steel anytime. There are no deadlines to these prompts.
If you publish your article with another publication, tag me so I can stop by and comment on your piece.
Visit the submission guideline page to sign up to be a writer at Flint & Steel.
More of my freewriting exercises
✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2021 all rights reserved.
✨ I’m a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota, writing my first novel, a psychological suspense novel. Are you a writer? Check out Sparks, my newsletter filled with writing prompts to spark your creativity.
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