Ruby’s Weekly Writing Prompts

February 26 — March 3

That picture is not my typical brand for my prompt posts.

There might be a reason for that.

I guess we’ll see. First, I must do my preamble ramble because you know, it’s amusing that I keep finding slightly new ways to say the exact same thing.

Don’t deny it. You know.

Also, some people may be new here. If you are one of those people — welcome. My name is Ruby and I’m the Mistress of Mayhem in terms of prompt writing. Let me give you a guided tour through the twisted chasms of my brain.

Actually, no. That would be terrifying. For both of us. Let’s just talk about the prompts instead.

Each week, I provide you with three prompts. The first two are meant to provoke thought and are crafted through the use of psychology, philosophy, criminology, some kind of combo platter of those disciplines — or perhaps some random thing that I spend an unusual amount of time thinking about.

With me, you never know.

I never really know. I make this shit up as I go along.

These prompts do not have right answers. They do not have wrong answers. There are times that they may not have answers at all and my entire goal is to sit here and read you arguing without yourself in a stream of consciousness circle of mind-melting discomfort.

I never once said that I was a nice person. Not once. Just for the record.

Is there an official record of this somewhere?

Meh. Just in case… now it’s there. Moving on.

I do not give you time constraints or word counts. No minimums. No maximums. The point is to think. The point is actually to overthink. If a prompt is sitting there looking all innocent, easy, and delightful — it is probably a trap that will swallow your brain whole when you actually start to really ponder it.

Nothing I do is ever accidental and nothing is ever quite as it seems. So really ponder them. Let your gray matter marinate in them until they are soaked into every neuron and then… and only then… start writing.

Answer them in any genre that makes you feel warm, fuzzy, and delightful. If you must. I prefer that you challenge yourself. Some of my prompts are absolutely meant to be fictional because if I told you to literally experiment with murder — there would be reports filed and watch lists and flagged IP addresses and ain’t nobody got time for that.

But if you want to respond to them in a poem, a narrative, a freaking song — I don’t care — as long as there is thought behind them.

Sometimes, because I throw murder and kidnapping and pedophilia around like little toys for me to engage your mind with — I might actually offend you.

DEAR GOD NO!

Yeah… I really don’t care if they offend you so don’t complain to me about it. Mock and block is a way of life for me, I do not and will not listen to you whine.

If something truly offends you, there is the option to skip it (who’d have thought?) or… you could take the brave stance and write me a meaningful, thought-provoking, and intellectual response. That would be my preference. It doesn’t mean I will agree with you. But I’ll respect you.

At least, I’ll respect you more than I would if you whined at me.

So don’t.

Playtime in my sandbox often leaves you feeling dirty. You’ve been warned.

Prompt number three will always be in some way about animals because animals are life and way better than humans. Plus these are my prompts and nothing I do is complete without animals.

Except for that one time when it was completely without animals.

I like to mess with your heads. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Ruby.

The prompts live at Read or Die! and responses are welcome to be published there — as most people tend to do. However, you do not have to, this is not a legally binding contract attaching you to the publication I choose. At least not one that would stand up in any court. Though if you want to see it that way… maybe you should.

But should you decide not to — you may publish your responses in any publication that accepts outside prompts or you may self-publish them if making money isn’t something you actually care about.

I don’t tell you what to do.

Which is usually the thing I say — right before telling you what to do.

So pay attention!

The ONLY rules that apply to these prompts are to be sure to tag me in all responses and include a link to this post in all responses. That is how I get to judge you and analyze you for my own amusement (I don’t really do that… openly, that you’re aware of) and how we gather more minds to melt as the games continue.

My prompts exist at the top of the Read or Die! homepage for one week but they never expire. At the bottom of this post, at the bottom of all of my prompt responses, and on my Medium homepage — you will find a list that contains ALL of the prompts I have ever written since the beginning of humanity.

Or last April. However you want to look at it.

Any time you need a little writing inspiration with a twist of twisted — I got you covered. I’ve been fairly tame in 2024 as compared to 2023. But it’s early yet, I wouldn’t trust it.

Did I include everything? My regulars will tell me if I forgot something and I will edit it in later. Seriously, I do not sleep enough. I write these every week and I’m never sure that I remember all the things I’m supposed to say in ways just different enough to get you to read them.

Onto the prompts!

Prompt One

People with low self-esteem often find it extremely easy to see the good in other people. Conversely, cocky people — tend to find it easy to see flaws in others.

Which do you find easier to see in other humans? Good… or flaws? And what do you think that means about how you view yourself?

My love and I are very similar people. Extremely. It’s actually scary. Both of us have trouble believing in our own self-worth but we see nothing but good things in each other. Yet as I said… we’re very similar. What do you think that means? DO we actually have self-worth that we are just unsure of… or are we simply not seeing in ourselves what we see in each other?

While we’re on that topic — do you tend to be more drawn (whether romantically or as friends) to people who are similar to yourself or different? What do you think THAT says about you?

Examine the relationships in your life — all of them from the people closest to you to casual acquaintances and see if you can identify patterns. Then think about it and decide what you think that says about you.

This is a very difficult prompt if you do it correctly.

Challenge extended.

Prompt Two.

American society has always put a lot of emphasis on weight. Especially for women, but for men too.

Obesity is one of the few things that it’s still considered socially acceptable to openly mock someone for.

Overeating can be as much of an eating disorder as anorexia or bulimia and body dysmorphia is extremely common in society.

For this prompt — go look in a full-body mirror (preferably naked but it’s your choice) and examine your body. Bring a notebook and pen with you.

This prompt is going to require you to be brave.

List the things about yourself that you do not like. There are no minimums or maximums for your list but I do want you to stand in that mirror for at least 10 minutes and really look at your body. From head to toe, front and back (as much as possible without the need for a young priest and an old priest).

Once you have your list — using a full body picture of yourself (if you’re willing but obviously NOT naked…) as your article picture, please share that list. For each thing you do not like, explain why. And in explaining why — I want you to examine, in writing, where that idea comes from.

For example… I do not like my feet. They’re hideous after spending 20 years on my toes in ballet and I wish I could be like the girls who get pedicures but letting people see and touch my feet is an issue for me. My partner likes feet. I feel like a disappointment. I want regular feet that I get pedicured to look nice for him but these are my feet. They’re damaged. I can’t change that.

That was an example that has a personal connection but some of them may be societal. How many things on your list were you taught to dislike because you were made fun of for them? How many because models don’t have them? How many because they’re not the ”ideal” body type?

How many… if any… are just your own opinion? When it comes to how we view ourselves — do we really have our own opinions? Think. Hard. Here.

Lastly, please describe what the “ideal” body type actually is.

Please read each other’s responses — only leave positive comments or say nothing in terms of photos — but compare answers for the ideal body type.

Are they the same?

Where did that ideal come from?

Think hard. And support each other.

Animal Prompt.

Animals help humans far more than they harm them.

I usually do not allow Googling for my prompts but I want you to Google search “animal helps humans” and pick a story and write about it.

It could be a dog that saved their family. It could be a wild animal that stopped another wild animal from attacking someone. It could be a marine animal that helped a stranded person. These stories are real and they’re out there. Find them.

Be careful with photos and citing your research so you don’t get zapped by the Medium police but let’s litter this platform with stories of animals saving humans!!!!!!

They really are better than people.

If you have a personal story, you may use it — but all stories MUST be real and it must be an animal SAVING a human. That’s all you get to go on.

Go find it.

That’s it for this week.

This list will remain at the top of Read or Die! Until March 3rd but my prompts never expire. You can find ALL of my past prompts in the list below. I also include the list on all of my prompt responses and it can be found on my profile page. If you’re ever in need of writing inspiration — I’ve got you covered!

Until next week!

Copyright Ruby Noir 2024

Brett Jenae Tomlin, The Sturg, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Trisha Faye, Karen Schwartz, Michelle Jimerson Morris, Amy Frances, Julia A. Keirns, Tina, Pat Romito LaPointe, Brandon Ellrich, Misty Rae, Karen Hoffman, Susie Winfield, Vincent Pisano, Paari, Marlene Samuels, Ray Day, Michael Rhodes, Pluto Wolnosci, Paula Shablo, Bruce Coulter, Ellen Baker, Leigh-Anne Dennison, Carmen Ballesteros, Marlana, MSW, Patricia Timmermans, Teisha LeShea, Rachella Angel Page, Lynn L. Alexander, Adrian CDTPPW, Lisa Guard, Rampath, Sweet Honeylu, Zaq Cass, Deborah Joyce Goodwin (Red:The-Lady In Blue)