Bridesmaids
Writing Prompts Inspired by Bridesmaids (2011)
Before we get to today’s writing prompts, I want to share this quote from Paula Vogel: "In every play, there are a couple of places where I send a message to my late brother Carl. Just a little something in the atmosphere of every play to try and change the homophobia in our world."
I love that. I want you to think of someone to send a secret message to in the next thing you write. Someone who you want to make the world better for. Have that person in the back of your head as you write tonight. Don’t tell anyone. This message is just for them.
Okay, let’s write. Tonight’s prompts were inspired by Bridesmaids:
EXERCISE #1: “You and I are on different rhythms I think.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Think about someone who you used to be close to but were fundamentally incompatible with. Either a romantic relationship or a friendship. What did you learn from this person?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a romantic scene between your protagonist and another character where they’re out of sync in some way. Where things don’t feel right.
EXERCISE #2: “I cracked a blanket in half.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Think about your life and jot down the crudest observations you can think of. Then pick one to expand on.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist tells someone their most embarrassing story.
EXERCISE #3: “You read my journal??”
JOURNALING PROMPT: When was the last time someone broke your confidence or betrayed you in some way?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist confronts another character about some sort of deception. See how far you can push their argument.
EXERCISE #4: “You got the ugly carrot.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: What are your superstitions?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a flirtatious scene between two of your characters where one of them admits to a superstition they’re embarrassed about.
EXERCISE #5: “No more baking, I’m done.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: What’s a decision you made in the past that you regret now? Something you wish you could go back and change? Maybe it’s something you quit that you shouldn’t have. Explore how your life might be different now if you’d made a different choice.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, pick one concrete fact about your protagonist (their job, their relationship status, a personality trait) and brainstorm what they would be like if you altered this fact (aka if you gave them a different job, different relationship status, different personality trait, etc).
EXERCISE #6: “Motherfucking Paris.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: Make a list of things you absolutely hate.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue for your protagonist where they talk about everything that pisses them off.
EXERCISE #7: “She’s been missing for like twelve hours.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: If you could disappear for twelve hours and do anything you wanted with no repercussions (no one would ever know what happened during these twelve missing hours), what would you do?
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, answer that same question for your protagonist.
EXERCISE #8: “Wilson Phillips.”
JOURNALING PROMPT: What band or singer has made the greatest impact on your life? Write about your relationship with their music.
FICTION PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, who is your protagonist’s favorite musician? Write a scene where they’re getting ready to go see this musician in concert, but another character asks them for help and now they can’t go.
What is your word count goal for this week?
Happy writing!
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