Titanic (writing prompts!)
And some writing inspiration from Miranda July.
Hello writers! What’s your current (healthy, non-writing) obsession? What have you done this week to feed this obsession? The more we live, the more fuel we have for our writing—so I encourage you to find a new way to indulge in your obsession this week.
Your Daily Creative Inspiration
Here’s Miranda July on what it felt like to write a book.
“At the beginning of a book it’s really hard, like your whole job is just not get up from that chair and keep moving your fingers. It didn’t feel creative to me. I would feel like a robot, like duh, duh, duh, you know? And it was bad writing. It was just like get through it. The story, write it, even if it’s bad. And once I had a draft, and by then it was already eight months, I was like warmed up. Then it’s a little easier. Plus: I had a book. It’s here, you know, this robot worte it for me! But: It exists and I am making it better everyday. And that part was a lot more enjoyable to me. I liked the kind of cosy nest of my thing, and knowing that I didn’t have to come up with kind of a new idea. With a short story you have to come up with a whole new idea. With a novel you just add little things here and there.”
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie Titanic.
EXERCISE #1: “Yes, ma’am...I got everything I need right here with me.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Imagine you had to pack all your things and move right now, make a list of at least 5 sentimental things you would want to pack. Then pick one of those things to write about more deeply.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your protagonist talks to another character about an object that is meaningful to them.
EXERCISE #2: “Don’t you do that, don’t say your good-byes.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of someone you didn’t have a chance to say a proper good-bye to. Write everything you wish you could have said to them.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a good-bye scene. Let’s say only one of the two characters knows that it’s a good-bye.
EXERCISE #3: “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about one of your secrets. Try to pull out something that you’ve buried so deep you’ve nearly forgotten it.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where one of your characters confesses a secret... And let’s say the reaction they get isn’t what they expected.
EXERCISE #4: “I don’t know about you, but I intend to write a strongly worded letter to the White Star Line about all of this.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: What do you want to complain about? Write a rant right now.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, brainstorm/freewrite about things (big and small) that bother your protagonist.
EXERCISE #5: “It’s been 84 years and I can still smell the fresh paint.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write you earliest memory. Be as descriptive as possible. Make up any details you can’t remember.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, do this exercise for your main character. If you have time, come up with multiple early memories for them.
EXERCISE #6: “But this ship can’t sink!”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about an argument you had where you later realized you were in the wrong. Try to think of an argument that was passionate and had some stakes and consequences. Maybe a “wrong” you’ve never admitted to before.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write an argument between two of your characters – think of something that they both have conflicting passionate opinions about and then have them GO AT EACH OTHER.
EXERCISE #7: “Step up on the railing. Hold on, hold on. Keep your eyes closed. Do you trust me?”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of someone you trust and write about three pivotal moments in your relationship.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, do some freewriting about the people who your protagonist is closest to.
EXERCISE #8: “I’m gonna dance with her now, all right?”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of a specific memory that involves dancing – whatever comes to you first – and write everything you can about that night.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene that either starts or ends with two of your characters dancing. Include a moment of connection and a moment of misunderstanding.
Your Daily Recommendation
When I was in middle school, there was this book that we were all obsessed with. We passed it around in secret, reading the same threadbare copy, talking about it in hushed voices, SO scandalized. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous claimed to be the real diary of a normal teenager who got lost in a world of drugs. We believed every word. I recently found out the book was a total lie, written by a 50-year-old woman. I’m reading Unmask Alice, which tells the truth behind Go Ask Alice, and it’s a fascinating book (even if you weren’t obsessed with Alice in middle school like me.)
Thank You For Being Here
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