Plugged

PROMPT: Launch from the sentence-starter, “Im plugged into…,” and keep your pen moving for 6 minutes.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt.

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.

Specialize

PROMPT: Launch from the sentence-starter, “I specialize in…,” and keep your pen moving for 6 minutes.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt.

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.

School

PROMPT: Make a list: Things I didn’t Learn in School. Stay curious and keep your pen moving. Don’t think. Just list. 6 minutes or more.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt.

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.

What to Do about Mother’s Day

Below is a set of prompts that always works for me when I want to turn my mom into a teary, smiley goo-ball  of love. I post this prompt set every year, but I’ve added a few, just to keep it fresh. Ditch your plan to scramble for a last-minute spa voucher  or exotic tea subscription. Just do the prompts, harvest the good stuff for a poem or love letter, snip a few daisies from your yard and make the delivery. Your mom wants words. Your words. She wants to know, in no uncertain terms, that she’s needed, enjoyed, appreciated and that she occupies space in your thoughts and heart.

Note: Because relationships are complicated, these prompts may pull some negative or snarly stuff through. Don’t worry about this. It’s all of possible interest, so don’t stop to think about what it means or get all judgey. Just keep your pen moving and stay curious. After the timer sounds, you can go through and sort the pretty stuff and sparkly surprises from the gunk and mud. And hey, the gunk is out of you and on the page. Nice.

Do any or all of these for 5 minutes or more:

1. “Everything I know about mother’s” and “Everything I know about my mother” (See if you know more than you think you know.)
2. The Blooper Reel – “My Mom’s all Time Hilarious Moments.”
3. Finish the sentence, “Before me…” or “Before you were a mom…,” as many different ways as you can.
4. Always fun – write the piece entitled, “My Mom Could Take your Mom in a Fair Fight”
5. Finish the sentence, “I think I inherited your…”
6. List: “Things I Learned from you”
7. Finish the sentence, “In ten years, you and I…” or just, “You and I…”  as many different ways as you can.
8. Finish the sentence, “You comfort me with…”
9. Write the, “Step by Step, Easy to Follow Instructions for How to be as Awesome as my Mom.”

Comfort

PROMPT: Launch from the sentence-starter, “Comfort me with…,” and keep your pen moving for 6 minutes.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt.

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.

Responsible

PROMPT: Launch from the sentence-starter, “I’m responsible for…,” and keep your pen moving for 6 minutes.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt.

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.

Measuring Time

PROMPT: Make a list entitled “All the Ways I Measure Time.” By meals, by projects, by trips to the farmer’s market, by emergence of wild peonies on hiking trails and the dropping of oak leaves in my yard. List everything that wants to come out of your pen. Don’t concern yourself with whether it’s true or meaningful. Stay curious and keep your pen moving. Don’t stop to think. 6 minutes.

Peek into the hidden corners of your characters by having them do this prompt. How do they note the passage of a day, a week, a month, a year?

As always, you’re encouraged to post your unedited response(s) to the prompt in the comments section of this post. By doing so, you stand up for this important, but oft-neglected, wild and wooly part of the creative process.