- Write Starts
- Posts
- February 23, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
February 23, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
Happy Sunday! If you, like me, are in the part of the world that’s wintery, good news: We’re almost through the worst of it.
But while it’s still dark and chilly, might I recommend leaning into the Danish hygge custom? Think: candles, blankets, tea/coffee, good books, and, while you’re at it, a little bit of writing.
Not a bad idea, don’t you think? So, grab a candle and some coffee, and let’s get going!
This Week’s Prompts*
"Leaving a manhole open should be a felony," I thought, gazing up at the perfect circle of light a dozen feet above me.
I was the sixth Spice Girl—or the fifth, depending on Scary's attitude toward fame and self-promotion that particular day.
There're some who'd say Jessie's story ended that April day, but I'd say it truly ended eight years earlier.
Write a scene in which a bear breaks into someone's home...and makes himself a sandwich.
The repeated "plink, plink, plink" of the tiny piano still breaks through my dreams and wakes me most nights.
"Well, might be Denver, might be Portland, might be Chicago for all I know," the bus driver said with a surprising nonchalance.
Andre had been feeling for a long time now that his manifesto, his Great Statement, needed an amendment.
*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!
Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.
Every day, 3.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a brief 5-minute email. Enjoy an impartial news experience.
Book(s) We’re Reading This Week
I’ll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman
The concept of this book—essentially, a year in the life of an extended family—isn’t anything radical, but I found myself, again and again, pausing to marvel at a turn of phrase or just how insightful a particular scene was. It’s one of those books that makes you want to read all of the other ones an author has written.
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)
🌳 Shake your creativity loose with a little fill-in-the-blank poetry. This prompt from Joseph Fasano is a fun way to give it a try. (Check out his book if you’d like more.)
🕰️ What if, instead of beating yourself up for not being creative all day long, you accepted that you only had a few good hours for your best thinking? Oliver Burkeman explores the idea and how it can help free us and use our time better.
🏁 “Just start” is easier said that done sometimes—especially when it comes to writing. This post explores a few ways to so that, you know, you actually do it.
Top (Published) First Line of the Week
A single ladybug lands featherlight on the teacher’s finger, clings there, a living gemstone.
From The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
What do you do when you realize you're reading a book you don't enjoy? |
P.S.
A friend was asking me about copywriting (marketing and advertising writing) and whether it was a good career choice for her right now. Granted, I’m a touch biased since I’ve been doing it for so long and enjoy it so much, but there are just facts I know about the industry that let me confidently tell her that it’s actually the best time to get into copywriting. If you’re interested, too, here’s a good article that digs in a bit more.
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!