I lead a writing workshop today, in which we discussed some of our sources for inspiration as well as exchanged ideas and tips related to overcoming writer’s block.  I also distributed a list of writing prompt exercises, to help get the creative juices flowing.  There are many fantastic writing exercise resources available online.  You can also try selecting a book at random from your shelf, open it to any page, and choose a line from the book as a prompt.  Here are the prompts that I used in today’s workshop:

a.       My Mother’s house (This week’s creativity contest prompt from the Creative Construction blog – http://creativeconstruction.wordpress.com)

b.      You and a friend are having a meal at a restaurant, but things take a turn when you notice that the waiter has scribbled an unexpected – and startling – message on your bill.  Write this scene.  (From Writer’s Digest’s online writing prompts – http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts)

c.       You’ve just had one of the most grueling days of your life when you stumble upon a wishing well.  While you don’t typically believe in such things, you need a pick-me-up, so you toss a penny down the well and make a wish.  Lo and behold, it comes true.  (From Writer’s Digest’s online writing prompts – http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts)

d.      Write an American Sentence, which is similar to a haiku in the fact that it has 17 syllables total, but it is not broken up into three lines. It is a poetic sentence that captures the shadow of a moment.  (From Allen Ginsberg’s American Sentences)

e.      Choose a song title and use it as a theme for, title of, or line from a scene.  (From the Writing Companion blog – http://writingcompanion.wordpress.com)

f.        Far away, in the dripping woods, something bright and fiery flickered among the trees.  (From Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett)

g.       Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this practice; there is no other way of life than this way of life.  (From Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind  by Shunryu Suzuki)