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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

Writing Prompts

Looking for creative writing prompts to get your next book, short story, screenplay, or school essay going? Or maybe you need inspiration to get your muse back on board in general.

The How to Write Shop has a number of articles in its Writing Prompts section. These free and informative articles provide tips on finding inspiration from the world around you and your everyday life. You will also find ready-made creative prompts and some mix and match lists for you to play with.

Whether an author, student, teacher, or just a creative person looking for a creative outlet, The How to Write Shop has creative writing prompts to inspire you.

And, while you are here, don’t forget to check out all of the other free articles at The How to Write Shop on the craft and business of writing.

How to Find Writing Inspiration in Your Garden

May 21, 2018 by Kathy Steffen Leave a Comment
how to find writing inspiration garden

Creating a garden (or even being in one) is wonderful inspiration for writing. Keeping a garden journal is the perfect way to enjoy both. If you are a gardener, you can use your journal to make notes, develop to-do lists, plan your space, keep planting records and include photos of your garden as it begins … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Craft, Writing Life, Writing Prompts Tagged: writing inspiration, writing prompts

Story Setting Ideas List of Writing Prompts

February 8, 2017 by Kathy Steffen 16 Comments

Setting can make or break a story. Setting can be so important to story, in fact, that the setting can almost become a character itself.  So when looking for story inspiration why not start with setting? The DaVinci Code begins with a murder in the Louvre. The story of Sarah’s Key had to take place in … [Read more…]

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: brainstorming ideas, creative writing ideas, muse

Jump-Start Your Imagination with Story Starter First Lines

February 5, 2017 by Kathy Steffen 22 Comments

One way to fire up your imagination? Creative writing exercises focused on the first line of a story. Below is a list of first lines for you to use to hone your storytelling and writing skills.

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: amwriting, creative writing exercises, ideas, inspiration, muse, writing prompts

Creative Writing Exercises: Cross Train for Story Ideas

November 8, 2013 by Kathy Steffen 4 Comments
creative writing exercises

Use cross thinking to get you to think differently and allow a story idea to come literally from nowhere. A great idea may hit you during these creative writing exercises, or more likely, a few hours later when you are eating, running, taking a shower, while sleeping, the next morning…Why not wake up your muse … [Read more…]

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Prompts Tagged: creative writing exercises, creative writing prompts, story ideas

World Building Writing Prompts for Young Adult Novels

November 1, 2013 by KristiCook 2 Comments
world building writing prompts for young adult novels

When we talk about “world building” in young adult novels, people often think it only applies to fantasy/paranormal/urban fantasy genres, but world building is just as important in realistic fiction novels. Many times contemporary fiction writers forget that or need a few writing prompts to get their world building going. What exactly is world building? … [Read more…]

Posted in: By Genre, Worldbuilding, Writing Craft, Writing Prompts, Young Adult Teen Tagged: how to build a world, worldbuilding, writing prompts, young adult novels
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