Establishing a rhythm is the secret to success as a writer. When you make a habit of writing weekly, you stop waiting for inspiration and start commanding it.
Still, we’ve all had those moments where the cursor just blinks from the screen.
I find that flash fiction prompts are the perfect cure for writer’s block. Here are this week’s invitations to jump-start your creative process. Just pick your length and roll with the prompt to get your creative process started. And if you publish your fiction online, please link back to this page. Thanks!
100-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 100 words or less and includes the following three words: cloud, bounce, slowly
Advanced Challenge: Make your story drabble. Drabble is exactly 100 words, including the title.
500-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 500 words or less and includes the following elements:
Location: Somewhere high up
Item: A fraying silk ribbon
Character: Someone who can hear what others are thinking but chooses to ignore it
Feel free to get creative with how you include the elements. The story doesn’t have to be trapped in the location, for example. The way you interpret the character summary can be as unconventional as you like.
Just make sure you touch on each.
Advanced Challenge: Make your story microfiction. Microfiction is 300 words or less.
1,200-word prompt
Write a short story in any genre that’s 1,200 words or less and uses the following situation as a starting point:
The day begins with your character receiving a message intended for someone else, containing information they were never supposed to possess. What do they do next?
Advanced Challenge: Include the three words from the 100-word prompt.
Happy writing!