It’s January and Your First Monthly Theme of 2024 With Promptly Written!
Start your year with inspiration from Promptly Written
What an incredible year it has been here on PW. You have inundated us with writing of every kind and on every subject. You have made us laugh out loud, swept us away into your imaginations and taught us a thing or two as you’ve shared your perspectives and insights.
I’m definitely not used to the idea of it being 2024 yet, it still sounds so futuristic to me but I am keen to see where you lead us.
Casey Lawrence and Bella Smith ⭐ will be continuing to draw your pens eagerly to the page with their weekly prompt inspiration and inspiring you to fill your blank pages with essays, poetry, fiction and articles on every subject imaginable, and I will be offering you a main theme each month with additional sparks, quotes and questions to help you dig in to a new topic, starting right now.
The theme for January is ‘the future’
What is in your future?
We pick a word of the year and create a vision board, all with the aim of focusing on what we want and naming our desires. There is power in a name and there is power in getting specific, as knows anyone who wrote the bones of a book before diving in! What is your ideal future?
What world would you create for yourself and your loved ones, and what changes would you need to make to make it a reality?
Technological advances are everywhere we look but how are we using them and are they making your life better, or are you worried about the future?
Is your home full of appliances that save your time or do they just buy you time to spend on things you’d rather not be doing?
Does the idea of AI fill you with dread or are you already working hand in hand with technology to be more creative?
Looking back to look forward.
We are living in a time and space that was once only in our imaginations. We were all once ten years younger, aspiring to lead amazing lives. How does the present compare to the world you once dreamt of?
Would the younger you be excited or surprised by how things have unfolded?
Before I give you some writing sparks and a few quotes that might just help get the creativity flowing, here is how to use the monthly theme…
1. Write specific poems, fiction, essays, or articles related to the theme — try using the Writing Sparks.
2. Choose a Weekly prompt or select a Writing Spark, and center your piece around the theme.
3. Remember to tag your work appropriately (Poetry, Fiction, Essay, or Articles) and use ‘Monthly Theme’ if your work is centered around the theme.
Writing Sparks
1. What fears or uncertainties do you have about the future?
2. What would be on your bucket list for the future?
3. How do you feel about change? Do you shy away from it or embrace it?
4. Who is standing beside you in your vision of the future?
Bonus Prompt — Consider the following quotes:
‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ Eleanor Roosevelt
‘The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.’ John Schaar
‘Why didn’t I learn to treat everything like it was the last time. My greatest regret was how much I believed in the future.’ Jonathan Safran Foer
‘When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?” Chuck Palahniuk
Have a creative month, I can’t wait to see your responses!
Important Reminder
Write what comes to mind, don’t try to shape it or edit, let that first draft flow out of you like a stream of consciousness in direct response to wherever inspiration took you.
Only after that and perhaps a little time, should you reread and polish. We want to see your passion and excitement for your stories, and it’s what you write best.
Best Wishes & a very Happy New Year!
If you are new to Promptly Written and would like to know how to get started, please read our submission guidelines below.