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Your Prompts and Tips

Some free resources to help you write better and achieve the success you deserve

This is a selection we've harvested from our archives, RELOAD THE PAGE for more!

Prompts:

1. Imagine you are scuba diving on the ocean floor and discover a shipwreck. Is it the Titanic? A sunken pirate ship? Write a few pages about a character's exploration.

2. Write a few pages in which a family checks into a hotel to begin a vacation and immediately notices something off—whether it be the room, the staff, or the guests.

3. Write a few pages from the point of view of a potted herb. What are your hopes and dreams? To be utilized in a delicious salad or sauce, perhaps? Or to be dried and placed in a tulle sachet for a soon-to-be bride's trousseau?

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Tips:

1. Almost every story has some unexpected aspect, ranging from a small moment with a sudden turn of phrase all the way to a sweeping plot twist. When you read, think about what surprises you and how. Is it a pleasant or unpleasant surprise? Do you wish the story surprised you more?

2. Whether it’s a long-winded passage or a complicated plot point, we all scratch our heads while reading from time to time. In these cases, we recommend first pausing and taking a breath before slowly rereading. Walking away and coming back to it later is a good idea if you are feeling particularly lost.

3. Whether an outright romance novel or a story in which a character reminisces on a romantic memory for a moment, loving relationships can play a varying role in many stories. When you read such a story, ask yourself: Does it show the reader a character in a different light? Does it expose a character’s driving force? Or, is it part of a conflict that drives the plot forward entirely?

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