WRITING PROMPTS | PROMPTLY WRITTEN
Prompt Yourself: Weekly Prompts January 22–28
Prompts to tempt your muses
Welcome to the 56th week of Weekly Prompts here at PW! It’s still January, and I know that many of you are still working on your New Year’s resolutions, so before I post the Valentine’s Day prompts next week, let’s continue with this week’s prompts on the advantages and disadvantages of ‘new.’ Let’s explore everything about ‘new.’
Last prompt post, responder:
What are we talking about? Technology, of course! For the joy of the possible contractors who will never hire me after reading this one. The Learning Curve I’ll Never Double by Cristina Cattai
Saying no wasn’t the option because the face-to-face connections meant a greater deal to her husband’s business. But, the crowd, the fashion, the chatters all made her go in knots over and over. Have I Lost Him Forever? By Sameera Zaidi
The room was filled with the scent of sterile cleanliness and the distant sounds of footsteps echoing down the hallway. The First Cry by izzibella Beau
We gave away food, coats, toys and clothes for kids, gift cards that parents could either use themselves to buy presents for their kids or that kids could use themselves to pick what they wanted. My New Job Seems Too Good to Be True by Alison Mitchell
The newness of it all can be intoxicating, making it easy to overlook potential challenges. Twosome by izzibella Beau
Connections sprout like flowers in the spring, A chance to dance to the songs new friendships bring. Harmonizing Connections by izzibella Beau
The townspeople welcomed the news of a new bakery, and the aroma of freshly baked goods drifted through the air, drawing them in like bees to honey. Sweet Beginnings by izzibella Beau
That night, as the Pattersons settled into their beds, strange occurrences began to unfold. The Haunting Of Hawthorne House by izzibella Beau
A crisis in life demands an exploration of our coping mechanisms, which include learning to ask for emotional and financial support when you desperately need it. A New Year Is Not Always About Resolutions but Adapting to the Unexpected by Caroline de Braganza
Connie imagined herself as one of those couples, a man holding her hand, leading as she followed. Heart's Desire by Amanda Gravely
If you responded but didn’t see your post here, please let me know in a comment or via private note. Sometimes, we miss things. 😊
Ok, back to prompts
Before we get started, here are a couple of quick reminders:
How This Works
- Use these prompts to write poetry, fiction, an essay, creative non-fiction, or an article. They are totally open to interpretation! Include a link to the prompt at the bottom of your post.
- If you use one of these prompts, you can submit the result here at PW, to any publication that accepts prompts from other publications, or self-publish. If you submit somewhere besides PW, make sure to include a link to the prompt and tag PW editors so that we do not miss reading your story!
- You don’t have to use PW’s prompts to submit work here. We are an open publication for established and new writers to submit their writing — usually based on writing prompts from here or elsewhere, but unprompted stories are also welcome!
- Please be sure to use the correct Reader Interest Tags when you submit your work to PW so it lands in the right place on the homepage. Please use ONE (not multiple) of the following tags: Poetry, Fiction, Essay, or Articles. Your other four tags can be whatever you wish them to be.
- Please ONLY submit drafts. To do this, once you have finished writing, instead of hitting the Publish button, click on the three dots (…), choose Add to Publication, click on Promptly Written, and then submit. This will put it into our queue, and we will publish it on our end.
- Each week, you will find prompts for Monday-Sunday. However, you do not have to use them in the order they are written. Browse them all and use only the ones that resonate with you. Submit your work any time during the week (or long after!).
- If you previously wrote for PW but haven’t in a while, you may need to go to the Submission Guidelines and ask to be a writer again. We went on hiatus a few months ago and stopped accepting submissions; if you were a writer with us before that time, you will need to sign up again.
- Have fun!
Are you ready? Great! Let’s get prompting!
Moody Monday
Write a ‘moody’ poem or story around any of the following:
1. The quiet of a room after a party
2. The mixed emotions of receiving a long-awaited package
3. Cooking a new recipe for the first time
4. The first day back at school or work after a long break
5. Adapting to a new routine
Tuesday Twosome
1. Conceptual Theme — New Parenting Styles
Twosome —Innovative Approaches vs. Traditional Expectations
2. Conceptual Theme — New Environmental Practices
Twosome — Contributing to Sustainability vs. Lifestyle Adjustments
3. Conceptual Theme —New Hobby
Twosome — Discovering Passion vs. Initial Frustrations
4. Conceptual Theme —New Fashion
Twosome — Refreshing Style vs. Comfort of the Familiar
5. Conceptual Theme — New Year’s Resolution
Twosome — Motivation for Change vs. Pressure of Commitment
Wednesday’s Either/Or
1. Either “Redecorating Your Space” or “Keeping Your Comfortable Setup”
2. Either “Changing Your Hairstyle” or “Keeping the Cut You Love”
3. Either “Picking Up a New Skill” or “Honing an Existing Talent”
4. Either “Trying New Recipes” or “Perfecting Your Signature Dish”
5. Either “Exploring New Music” or “Listening to Timeless Classics”
Thursday’s Thoughts
1. “Every new beginning comes with the promise of transformation, yet also bears the weight of uncertainty.” — Thomas Green
2.” The birth of a new idea can illuminate our path, though its journey from conception to reality is often fraught with challenges.” — Richard Kim
3. “The pursuit of a new dream fuels our spirit, but the road to achievement is paved with perseverance and doubt.” — Lisa Chang
4. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca
5. “Starting a new life chapter can be exhilarating, yet every page turn brings a mix of anticipation and apprehension.” — J.K. Rowling
Fiction Friday
Use any or all of the following concepts for a story:
1. A new smartphone app allows users to see their future, but with a surprising twist.
2. A pair of new sunglasses allows the wearer to hear people’s thoughts.
3. A new fashion trend has the strange ability to alter the wearer’s mood drastically.
4. A new form of transportation is invented, but it can travel through time.
5. A new ice cream flavor causes anyone who eats it to speak the truth.
Random Words Saturday
With 2 or more of these words, explore the big effects of starting over. Do some thinking about a time in your life when you started a new chapter? What changes did it make to your character, beliefs, or overall view? Did it make you wiser, stronger, or maybe more open to criticism? Express the core of change and self-discovery that comes with the “new” using these words.
- Evolution
- Revelation
- Metamorphosis
- Awakening
- Resilience
- Insight
- Rebirth
- Courage
- Reflection
- Breakthrough
- Vision
- Empowerment
- Reinvention
- Synchronicity
- Tranquility
- Acceptance
- Clarity
- Harmony
- Compassion
- Intuition
- Tranquility
Spiritual Sunday
1. Consider how adopting a new perspective can lead to personal enlightenment and confusion.
2. Examine the sense of accomplishment and pressure in achieving new milestones.
3. Analyze the sense of belonging and alienation in joining a new community or group.
4. Consider the thrill and potential disappointment in pursuing a long-held dream.
5. Explore the personal growth and fear of inadequacy in taking on a leadership role.
Bonus Prompt — Write a poem, flash fiction story (500 words or less), or essay about the nuanced feelings of a person who has just received a life-changing diagnosis.
There you have it. A week’s worth of prompts to tempt your muses. We look forward to reading your submissions. Don’t forget to mention me so I won’t miss reading your story.
Bella loves to write about life, psychology, and relationships. Click here to receive an email that guarantees you’ll get Bella’s newest stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Don’t forget, there are Writing Sparks available in the Monthly Theme by ADEOLA
And if you missed last week’s prompts by Dr. Casey, you can find them here.
