Trying something new
A new format for my monthly writing prompts
Hi, readers of the intangibles! I’m Allison Kirkland, and this publication was created to celebrate and explore the world of creative nonfiction and the writing life. I’m so glad you’re here.
Hi writers and readers,
This month I had a new idea — the result of some thinking I’ve been doing about this newsletter. I love coming up with creative writing prompts each month. But I also want them to be useful for the writers subscribed to this publication.
As many of you know, each month I offer a writing prompt and a reading recommendation or writing exercise as an extra for my paid subscribers.
Sometimes writing at home by yourself, even with the guidance of a prompt, is not as effective as writing with others. If it were me reading these newsletters, I might just skim the prompt, make a mental note to use it later, and then never get around to it. Life happens. Things get in the way.
BUT … in these cases the surprise of the prompt is ruined! Which is sort of a key element of a prompt. (Getting that element of surprise is what makes our creative brains move out of their normal patterns and into something new. So if you’ve been reading the prompts and saving them for later … don’t do that! Make use of them in the moment.)
So I’m trying a new format: I’m delivering the prompts in video form now, complete with the pre-writing prep work. That way you can write alongside me … virtually!
Writing Prompt:
A writing prompt is not meant to produce a finished essay or poem or piece of fiction. It’s meant to be a start. It’s meant to be a little writing sprint, a little writing muscle workout. Maybe it’ll become an essay or the start of a bigger project. But most likely it’ll be writing for the sake of writing, to connect to yourself and your imagination.
You won’t necessarily connect with every prompt, but remember to sit with the blank page, breathe through the discomfort of not knowing what to say, and use the whole 15 minutes to write. At the end of the 15 minutes you can pat yourself on the back because you committed to your writing practice today. That’s always enough.
(A quick note: Unless I note otherwise, these prompts are always Allison originals. Please don’t share them without giving credit!)
Before you click this video:
