avatarAmy Shearn

Summary

The website content encourages writers to overcome resistance and fear by engaging with weekly writing prompts and participating in a community-driven writing initiative called "Write Here."

Abstract

This week's "Write Here" prompts on the website focus on addressing the resistance that writers often face when creating. The initiative, inspired by authors like Elizabeth Gilbert and Steven Pressfield, emphasizes the importance of creativity in expanding one's life. It acknowledges common fears that hinder writing, such as fear of producing poor work or fear of negative reception, and encourages writers to push past these fears. The website invites writers to publish their work on Medium with the tag #Writehere, offers an open writing hour with Harris Sockel, and provides specific prompts to help writers explore what holds them back, what they wish to write, and what actions their bravest selves might take. The site also directs readers to previous "Write Here" guidelines and prompts for further inspiration and engagement.

Opinions

  • Elizabeth Gilbert's perspective suggests that creativity is essential for a fulfilling life.
  • Steven Pressfield views resistance as a form of self-sabotage that creatives must overcome.
  • The website's authors believe that procrastination and excuses are common obstacles to writing that can be overcome by taking action and participating in the "Write Here" community.
  • The prompts are designed to help writers confront their personal resistances and aspirations, encouraging them to write fearlessly and authentically.
  • The inclusion of an open writing hour indicates the website's commitment to fostering a supportive environment for writers to engage with the prompts and each other.

WRITE HERE

Writing Prompts: Be a Little Brave

This week’s writing prompts are all about working through resistance

As Elizabeth Gilbert writes in Big Magic, without creativity our lives remain small. So why do we put off being creative? Too often, we resist because of our fear: Fear that we’ll write something crappy; fear that we’ll write something good and no one will read it; fear that we’ll write something great and everyone will read it but that they will hate it; the list goes on and on. But as Steven Pressfield writes in The War of Art, “Resistance by definition is self-sabotage.”

So listen. This week, we’re going to break through resistance. We’re going to stop procrastinating and making excuses, and start writing that thing. You know the thing. The thing you’ve been resisting.

To be featured in this week’s roundup, publish your work on Medium and tag it #Writehere so we can all find each others’ work on the Write Here page.

Plus, everyone is welcome to join me and my colleague Harris Sockel for an open writing hour, Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. ET (this week through March 31). Spend that time to write to these prompts or to work on a project of your own. You can use this meeting link to join (the passcode is: Medium). See you there!

THIS WEEK’S PROMPTS

What Keeps You From Writing?

When you get blocked, where does your resistance come from? Is it the voice of your 8th grade English teacher who said you weren’t a good writer? Is it the voice of your college professor who said you were a good writer, who you’re afraid of disappointing? As Pressfield puts it, our fear fuels our resistance. So tell us: What’s fueling your resistance?

What Do You Wish You Could Write?

The foundational text in your field. A great poem. A letter that says what you really need to say to the recipient (that you’d never actually send). The “brief bio” of yourself you wish was accurate. A love story you’d like to live. The résumé of your future self. What do you wish you could write?

What Would You Do If You Were Your Bravest Self?

Would you quit your job and move to the jungle? Run a marathon? Write the book that would really piss off your dad? Stop dieting? Shave your head? Start your own business?

QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITE HERE?

Leave them in the responses and we will try to address them all. Don’t forget to check back here every Monday for new prompts and tips.

Write Here guidelines and last week’s prompts:

Writehere
Writing Prompts
Writing
Medium
Creativity
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