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June 1, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
Nicki Krawczyk
June 01, 2025
Happy Sunday! My mom is in town visiting this week and it’s made me think about how the books she loved have shaped me. (Working my way through Agatha Christie mysteries every summer vacation definitely came from her!)
Are there books your parents loved that are worth reading now that you’re an adult, too? Or are there books from your childhood—even picture books—that would be nice to revisit?
Writing inspiration can come from all kinds of different places. Speaking of which…
This Week’s Prompts*
"Clover don't grow on this side of the creek."
(BTW, I initially misread this as “Clever don’t grow on this side of the creek.” which would make for an equally interesting first line!)
Write a scene in which a father confronts his son's bully.
Personally, I suspect that just a reboot—a good old off-and-on—would do the trick, but I doubt she's in a mood to hear my opinion.
The blemish started to grow in size, a tiny red pinprick now the size of a quarter.
Fastidious wasn't even the word for my mother, so I was surprised to see the porch light on this far past midnight.
"I'm a dog," thought the Elmer; "I sleep, I eat, I try not to drool."
Describe what happens when someone attends a party they were deliberately not invited to.
*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
Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau
I was delighted by Blau’s previous novel, Mary Jane, and I’m just as delighted by this one. The characters are quirky and interesting, but it’s written with a kind of…I think the best word is “kindness” toward everyone in it. Zippy, the main character is navigating being the newest salesperson at the swanky local department store while also figuring out how to make her way in the world after moving out of her mother’s home. I’m not doing it justice; just read it. 😉
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
A word after a word after a word is power.
Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)
👫 Writing can be lonely, sure, but could you write a book with a friend? Here how two authors made it happen (without ruining their friendship).
🧑⚖️ It seems the US Supreme Court has a publishing problem. Recently five of the justices had to recuse themselves from a case involving a publisher (Penguin) because they all had book deals with them. Which means, of course, that no one could get a case tried against Penguin in the highest court in the land. Problematic, no?
📔 Yes, it’s what’s inside that counts…but it’s also fun to judge a book by its cover. Here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting book covers published in May.
Top (Published) First Line of the Week
Cora's mother always used to say children were whipped up by the wind, that even the quiet ones would come in after playtime made wild by it.
From The Names by Florence Knapp
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
What's your favorite method of self care? |
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