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- September 7, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
September 7, 2025 Writing Prompts for the Week
Happy Sunday! I’m putting my house on the market and, while it’s, effectively a part-time job, it’s also been great for one thing: Clearing out the clutter.
It’s amazing how much we can accumulate in a short period of time. Things we fully intended to use but never did, things we use a bit but no longer do, things that represent a version of ourselves we no longer are.
This week, I invite me in purging these things from your home and life, too. And, hey, maybe it’s not just physical items. What beliefs, habits, or even people don’t reflect the life you want to be leading? It might just be time to let them go.
Either way, it’s definitely time for some prompts:
This Week’s Prompts*
Each jar of candy gleamed, not yet marred by the fingerprints of dozens of ravenous children.
Discovery starts with being willing to notice; eyes open when they'd otherwise be closed.
The fact was, Abba just spoke to her.
Describe the smell of your favorite breakfast meal without using any food terms.
"Clogs!" she hissed, "My heavens, they're all in clogs!"
Benny flipped his hood up and walked out into the night.
Sore wasn't nearly strong enough a word for how her legs felt right now.
*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 Hole We’re In by Gabrielle Zevin
I realized enjoyed Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and wanted to dig into more of her work. This one is about a family of people trying to improve their lives and, largely, making terribly decisions in that pursuit. Sounds like a bit of a downer, but her writing style is so enjoyable that it makes it an interesting series of character studies instead.
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
Easy reading is damn hard writing.
Links We Like (And Think You Will, Too)
🎲 I love quizzes and games and probably spend way too much time during the workday completing them. But if it’s about words, it’s beneficial right? Check out Mental Floss’ quiz to guess the meanings of obscure words.
🛌 Lately I’ve noticed myself being inspired to write immediately before putting my head down at night. And, of course, I wondered, “Is this a thing?” Turns out it is. Here’s what Psychology Today has to say about why creativity comes at bedtime.
📬 William Faulkner: Gifted writer, terrible postman. Not only that, but we get the chance to learn just how terrible, read his performance review, and enjoy his unrepentant resignation letter.
Top (Published) First Line of the Week
In the cities, buildings still stood whole.
From Endling by Maria Reva
Grab it on Bookshop.org (and support local bookstores!)
Grab it on Amazon
Well, now I'm curious: How often do you do a thorough purging of all of the stuff you've accumulated? |
P.S.
Why do we humans keep digging holes that aren’t getting us anywhere? It’s call the Sunk Cost Fallacy and it might be playing a bigger role in your life decisions than you realize. Here’s more about it—and how to overcome it.
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