Bonus Writing Prompts!
And some inspiration from Ocean Vuong.
Before we get to tonight's prompts, let's start with some inspiration. This is a poem by Ocean Vuong. I just think it’s an incredible poem.
Kissing in Vietnamese
by Ocean Vuong
My grandmother kisses
as if bombs are bursting in the backyard,
where mint and jasmine lace their perfumes
through the kitchen window,
as if somewhere, a body is falling apart
and flames are making their way back
through the intricacies of a young boy’s thigh,
as if to walk out the door, your torso
would dance from exit wounds.
When my grandmother kisses, there would be
no flashy smooching, no western music
of pursed lips, she kisses as if to breathe
you inside her, nose pressed to cheek
so that your scent is relearned
and your sweat pearls into drops of gold
inside her lungs, as if while she holds you
death also, is clutching your wrist.
My grandmother kisses as if history
never ended, as if somewhere
a body is still
falling apart.
And now for today's bonus prompts:
Prompt #1: As a warm-up, I want you to write about your routines. Let’s start with your morning routine. How has it changed through the years? What outside factors have caused it to change? In what ways is your morning routine healthy and in what ways could it be improved? If you want to move onto other routines, you can. What’s habitual in your life?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist’s morning routine is interrupted by startling news.
RANDOM ELEMENT: chaos
EXERCISE #2: What is your worst habit? Maybe you have lots of bad habits, you could start by making a list. Then pick one and look at this habit from all angles.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, start by free-writing about your protagonist’s worst habit, then write a scene where this habit gets them into trouble.
RANDOM ELEMENT: completion
EXERCISE #3: I want you to think about your friends and family, pick someone you have little in common with. What do you admire about this person? What have you learned from this person?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a love scene (however you want to define that) between your protagonist and someone who they have nothing in common with.
RANDOM ELEMENT: a bad taste in your mouth
EXERCISE #4: Write down the words “I’ve never said this to anyone before...” and then let’s spend the next 15 minutes finishing that thought.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue in your protagonist’s voice beginning with those words. “I’ve never said this to anyone before...”
RANDOM ELEMENT: a sad song
EXERCISE #5: Make a list of at least 20 metaphors about your life. “My life is like...” and then finish that statement as many times as you can. Find different tones for each metaphor. Whimsical. Sad. Joyous. Etc. Once you have your list of 20, pick one to write about in more detail.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write THREE “my life is like...” metaphors for your protagonist, then write a scene that incorporates one of those metaphors.
RANDOM ELEMENT: lust
EXERCISE #6: Write about the things in your life that bring you joy. Start with a list and then free-write about one or two of those sources of joy.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, do this in your protagonist’s voice.
RANDOM ELEMENT: SOMEONE SHOUTING
EXERCISE #7: Whether or not you believe in fate, I want you to write about a moment in your life when things came together in such a way that it FELT LIKE fate. And how would your life be different now if this thing hadn’t happened?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist encounters something UNEXPLAINABLE, maybe it’s a moment of MAGIC, or FATE. Something that CHANGES their life in a palpable way.
RANDOM ELEMENT: A fall
EXERCISE #8: Think about someone you owe an apology to, and I want you to write out that apology. Strip away any defensiveness, and try to connect with this person.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist apologizes to someone and the apology is not accepted.
RANDOM ELEMENT: a surprise
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