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- April 20, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
April 20, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
Happy Sunday! As we’re wrapping up one week and starting another, I have a question for you: How will this next one be different from your last one?
We get so used to going through the motions and crossing things off our To Do lists that our days and weeks end up looking like photocopies of each other. And then those weeks become months, become years.
And all it takes to shake things up is a little reflection and a little intention. And we can handle that, right?
Let’s get writing…
This Week’s Prompts*
To look back now, from several years' distance, on summer the birds disappeared, is to see through tainted lenses.
"But soft, what light through—nope, nope, nope, nope," Cal said, shuddering.
The wind swept dust up into her her eyes, wetting the edges of the bandana covering her nose and mouth.
Hotsy's was a little juke joint down by the river that served gin and whiskey cheap.
Write a scene in which a grandmother meets her adult grandson for the first time.
He explained to me that we leave parts of us behind, cells we can't even see, everywhere we go.
"Gotcha!" was Amir's first word to Paula, hand on her wrist and eyes wide in shock.
*How to Use These Prompts: The italicized prompts let you create your writing entirely from scratch; the non-italicized prompts are intended as your first line and jumping off point. But, at the same time, there are no rules. Write on!
Book(s) We’re Reading This Week
The Antidote by Karen Russell
A little bit historical fiction and a little bit magical realism, this one digs into life during the Dust Bowl and the citizens of a small town deal with it. One such citizen? The Antidote, a prairie witch who makes a living by wiping the memories of those who request it. Not what you expected, huh? Me neither, but so far, so good.
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
The scariest moment is always just before you start.
Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)
📕 Ever wonder how publishers decide on book cover art? Me too! Which is why I’m glad I came across this write up by Evelyn Skye about how her novel got its cover.
✒️ I hadn’t heard about “commonplace books” until after I found this article. Now, not only am I fascinated by the concept, but I’m creating one for myself. Let me know if you do, too!
🖍️ Take a break! And, even better, take a break with these two free, printable activity books from Kripalu. (Kripalu is a yoga and health center here in Massachusetts.) Think mandala coloring, word searches, and more. Yay for free fun!
Top (Published) First Line of the Week
“Is it a hanging?” an eager newspaper delivery boy asked no one in particular.
From Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
If you could win one award in your lifetime, which one would you want it to be? |
P.S.
If you’re someone who has trouble getting the things you need to get done, done…first of all, welcome to being human. We all do. If you find yourself fighting that uphill battle too often, here’s a podcast episode about getting the “un-fun” tasks DONE.
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