WRITING PROMPTS | PROMPTLY WRITTEN
Prompt Yourself: Weekly Prompts March 4–March 10
Prompts to tempt your muses
Welcome to the 62nd week of Weekly Prompts here at PW!
In my country, March is fire prevention month because summer has already started. So, this week’s prompts will be about fire and heat. I’ve put together a set of thought-provoking prompts to inspire your writing, whether you’re exploring the literal or metaphorical aspects of these powerful elements.
Let’s jump right in and see what these ideas bring to light!
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 scorching desert sun
2. The warmth of a cozy fireplace
3. The burn of jealousy
4. The sizzling summer heat
5. The searing pain of a burn
Tuesday Twosome
1. Conceptual Theme — Wildfire
Twosome — Depicting the Raging Flames AND Highlighting the Bravery of Firefighters
2. Conceptual Theme — Illuminating Moments
Twosome — The Bright Epiphanies AND The Flickering Uncertainties
3. Conceptual Theme — Searing Truths
Twosome — The Burning Honesty AND The Scorching Lies
4. Conceptual Theme — Burning Curiosity
Twosome — Seeking Answers AND Fueling Questions
5. Conceptual Theme — Campfire Tales
Twosome — Spooky Stories AND Roasting Marshmallows
Wednesday’s Either/Or
1. Either “Making S’mores” or “Roasting Hot Dogs”
2. Either “Heating Up the Kitchen” or “Outdoor Fire Pit”
3. Either “Summer Heat Wave” or “Winter’s Fireplace Glow”
4. Either “Flame Dances” or “Fire Breathing”
5. Either “Raging Wildfire” or “Controlled Burn”
Thursday’s Thoughts
1. “The fire that warms us can also consume us if we are not careful.” — James A. Watkins
2. “From the ashes, a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
3. “A little spark can start a great fire.” — Emilie Buchwald
4.”Sometimes, you have to burn yourself to the ground before you can rise like a phoenix from the ashes.” — Shonda Rhimes
5. “The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him.” — Chinese Proverb
Fiction Friday
Use any or all of the following concepts for a story:
1. A pyromaniac’s obsession with fire puts an entire city at risk.
2. A young blacksmith discovers a hidden talent for forging magical weapons.
3. A couple’s romantic evening by the fireplace takes an unexpected turn.
4. A candle maker’s enchanted creations hold the power to reveal hidden desires.
5. A young scientist’s quest to create a perpetual flame leads to a discovery that could change the world.
Random Words Saturday
With 2 or more of these words, describe a fire-related experience or memory that left a lasting impact on you
- Ember
- Kindling
- Spark
- Blaze
- Flame
- Flicker
- Ignite
- Singe
- Smolder
- Char
- Ash
- Smoke
- Soot
- Cinder
- Crackle
- Scorch
- Inferno
- Pyre
- Hearth
- Forge
Spiritual Sunday
1. Discuss the role of fire in ancient burial rituals and its significance in the cycle of life and death.
2. Explore the symbolic meaning of fire in various spiritual and religious traditions.
3. Discuss the role of fire in rituals and ceremonies across different cultures.
4. Examine the duality of fire as a force of both destruction and creation.
5. Contemplate the concept of eternal flames and their representation of undying faith.
Bonus Prompt — Write a poem, flash fiction story (500 words or less), or essay [depicting the destructive power of fire and the lessons learned from such devastating events].
My Last Prompts Post Responder:
“I know she’s the one,” Iris stated to her best friend, Chloe, as Chloe lifted a dart and aimed it. The Secret Life of a Mermaid by Seda Anbarcı
I grew up in a dysfunctional family. I can’t say in a dysfunctional home as home was a constantly shifting set of addresses across too many Canadian provinces. The Absence Of Love by Robert G. Longpré [he / him]
Liam hugged himself, pretending it was Selena giving him that hug. Suddenly, he felt a warm comfort, almost as if Selena was really there with him for a moment, sending him a hug from far away. A Hug To Remember by Izzibella Beau
The clock tower, once a backdrop to their youthful dreams, now marked the beginning of a new chapter. Love Lost by Izzibella Beau
I burst into tears on Sunday when I read the first prompt from Bella Smith for this week’s Moody Monday: The warmth of a hug you wish you could feel just once more. If I Could Wind Back the Clock and Just Once More Feel You in My Arms by Caroline de Braganza
Walking home, Titus no longer felt like a character in a game or a boy lost in the shadows of social anxiety. He felt like a protagonist in his own story, ready to face the next chapter. Beyond the Screen by Izzibella Beau
Tears glistened in Thomas and Eleanor’s eyes, not of sadness, but of fulfillment. For in their children’s achievements, they saw their own dreams realized, their sacrifices were not a burden but a bridge to a future they had dared to imagine. The Silent Echoes Of Love by Izzibella Beau
He let his hand drop to his side and stood. No matter how much he longed for it, he would never feel the warm embrace of his family again. A Painful Goodbye 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. 😊
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.