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July 20, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week

July 20, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week

July 20, 2025

Happy Sunday! I don’t know about you, but this past week was a rough one. Maybe it was something in the stars, maybe it was something in the water, but things just felt hard.

That said, I don’t believe in giving up agency. So, even when things out of my control feel challenging, I refuse to let that sneak into what’s in my control. For all of those things, I’m going to lean into letting things be easy—even enjoyable.

Let’s start with our writing, shall we? On to the prompts!

This Week’s Prompts*

They couldn't detect where exactly what the smell was, but surmised it was something decaying under the porch.
After Ty whacked his hip on the side of the pool, it hurt to breathe ... but there was no way he could say that in front of her.
The phone was at 13% battery life as she scrambled for a charger.
Describe the circumstances that lead to a four-year-old child having a tantrum
She swore she'd heard "Abidjan." Or was it "Azerbaijan"?
Robbi squished the foam stress unicorn a little tighter, wondering who thought it was a good idea to squeeze the living daylights out of an innocent-looking unicorn.
IKEA meatballs were all his stomach seemed to keep down lately.

*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

Lost and Wanted by Nell Freudenberger
This novel lives at the intersection of science and grief and even a little sprinkling of metaphysics and, by and large, I enjoyed it. Helen Clapp is a physicist processing the death of her close friend from college, while reconnecting with and old (and unavailable) love. The physics went over my head and you’ll likely solve the mystery of the phone before Helen does (no spoilers!) but it’s still worth your time.

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

❝

If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.

Natalie Goldberg

Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)

📈 Wondering how Rebecca Yaros’ romantasies have become such big sellers? This video digs into how Entangled Publishing brought it about. It’s…interesting.

🤯 Is listening to all of these podcasts, reading all of these books, watching all of these shows adding kindling to your creativity…or hindering it? Here are some thoughts on creativity and digital overstimulation.

🧑‍🎨 The World Illustration Awards just released its shortlist of nominees for 2025 and it is an absolute feast for the eyes. Click on each one to pull up info about the artist and how they created the work.

Top (Published) First Line of the Week

Things were falling apart at the nursing home in Pondville, a small town in the armpit of Massachusetts.

From The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

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

Books into movies: Do you see the movie first, read the book first, or do you have a different way of doing it?

P.S.

If you’ve been wondering about how your writing could be your career, I might just have a workshop for you. Check out “Make an Amazing Living Writing,” a free, live, virtual event that kicks off this week. Sign up right here.

_{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!}