Write Starts
Posts
August 10, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week

August 10, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week

August 10, 2025

Happy Sunday! I don’t usually consider myself superstitious, but I have to say that this Mercury Retrograde astrological season seems to somehow really be hitting me.

And, of course, all of that might just be made up…but does that even really matter? Superstitions and stories sneak into our lives in all kinds of interesting ways. Why not try to use them for our benefit?

Maybe you write best after a cup of green tea. Or you’re more creative when you use blue pens. And, personally, after Mercury Retrograde is over…I’m going to be just fine.

In the meantime, here are some prompts:

This Week’s Prompts*

Describe what might make the sound: click, click-click-click, squeeeeeeak, click-click-click.
"Perish the thought and punish the deed," she whispered, slowly and distainfully shaking her head.
No swimming hole is entirely safe.
Günter lifted his head wearily, opened his eyes, and sneezed.
In retrospect, in point of fact, and all things considered, it might just be that I had been, in fact, wrong.
The coffee shop was exceptionally, offensively loud.
Bricks fell from the top of what remained of the wall every few days; more in windy or rainy weather.

*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

Time to Be in Earnest by P.D. James
After decades of writing mystery novels, James decided to try her hand at a memoir by way of a diary. She manages to weave in her daily life as an acclaimed (and busy!) novelist while reflecting on her life through tumultuous years in the UK and it’s an interesting view into both.

_{Grab it on Bookshop.org}_{(and support local bookstores!)}
_{Grab it on Amazon}

❝

A schedule defends from chaos and whim…Appealing workplaces are to be avoided. One wants a room with no view, so imagination can meet memory in the dark.

Anny Dillard

Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)

🎶 If you, too, like to listen to music while you write, but what kind of music changes from day to day, you might want to check out this AI playlist generator.

💌 I like book recommendations. Sure, it’s best to get them from people you know, but it’s also fun to get them from strangers who just give you a great vibe. Check out @ourlittleblackbookclub on Instagram for the latter.

🟢 🟢 LitHub has a column called “This Week’s News in Venn Diagrams” and I’m tickled by the concept. I think I want to try revving up my creativity with a bit of Venn-ing myself.

Top (Published) First Line of the Week

Two boys walk through the scant shade of an orchard, far from the house where they are staying.

From The South by Tash Aw

_{Grab it on Bookshop.org}_{(and support local bookstores!)}
_{Grab it on Amazon}

As someone who (years ago) used to work in a bookshop, I'm curious. Do you:

P.S.

Is ChatGPT (and all of AI) really something writers need to be afraid of? Here are some thoughts (in podcast form).

_{Some links in this email may be affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. And, should that happen, thank you!}