Your Daily Creative Inspiration
You might not want to hear what David Sedaris says here, but he’s right:
“Nine times out of 10, my only comment is you need to rewrite this, ah, 60 times. And most people don’t even want to hear that you need to rewrite it one time. But that’s what writing is—it’s rewriting. And sometimes something’s not worth rewriting. You think, oh, I’m just so bored with this . . . it’s not worth diving back into. And that’s fine because not everything is worth diving back into. But I would say, personally, I probably write something over 12-18 times before I give it to my editor.”
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie MOONSTRUCK.
EXERCISE #1: “When you love them they drive you crazy because they know they can.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about someone you love and all of the things about this person that drive you absolutely crazy.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your main character talks to a friend about someone they love and lists off all of the things they wish they could change about this person.
EXERCISE #2: “What am I going to tell him?” “Tell him the truth. They find out anyway.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Make a list of things you know to be absolutely true. Your deepest personal beliefs.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your main character confesses to another character – something big, something they’ve been hiding for a long time.
BONUS RANDOM ELEMENT: include something embarrassing
EXERCISE #3: “You’re as rich as Roosevelt, you’re just cheap.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about your relationship with money. Look at both a moment you’ve been good with money and a moment you’ve been bad with money.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist loses a large amount of money.
EXERCISE #4: “I looked the wrong way and I lost my hand.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about something or someone whose loss weighs on you.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where two of your characters compare losses and regrets.
BONUS RANDOM ELEMENT: include a moment of morbid humor
EXERCISE #5: “I put a curse on that plane. My sister is on that plane. I put a curse on that plane that it’s gonna explode, burn on fire, and fall into the sea.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Who do you want to put a curse on? Do it now. Be specific about why.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your main character vents about someone they absolutely detest.
EXERCISE #6: “In time you’ll drop dead and I’ll come to your funeral in a red dress!”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a terrible thing that you’re rooting for. Something you’re maybe ashamed to admit.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a fight scene between two of your characters. Let them say the absolute worst possible things they can. See how badly they can hurt each other.
BONUS RANDOM ELEMENT: don’t use any “swear” words
EXERCISE #7: “Love don’t make things nice. It ruins everything.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about something that love ruined for you.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, freewrite about how your main character was damaged or hurt by an ex. You could also write this as a monologue.
EXERCISE #8: “The past and the future is a joke to me now.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about what you are grateful for about this present moment we’re living through.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write in your main character’s voice as if they’re writing in a journal and see what they’re grateful for.
Thank You For Being Here
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