The Time Is Now: Writing Prompts and Exercises
Write a poem dedicated to a single person, a story about a key life experience without explicitly naming that experience, and an essay inspired by the landscape of Mars.
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Write a poem dedicated to a single person, a story about a key life experience without explicitly naming that experience, and an essay inspired by the landscape of Mars.
The author of Martha Moody recalls the challenge of finding language to describe her body.
Write a poem with instructions for removing self-imposed roadblocks, a story that begins in an unconventional setting, and an essay that catalogues the history of your physical injuries.
Write a poem considering what you see without focusing on its meaning, a short story based on a mysterious occurrence, or an essay about your New Year’s traditions.
Write a poem considering the beauty of a vestigial organ, a story in which the main character is reflected in the setting, or a lyric essay on memories of intimacy from the past.
Write a series of poems that acts as a family album, a short story with an apocalyptic premise, or a personal essay about a time when a dramatic event caused a shift in your life.
Write a poem with the help of Merriam-Webster’s Time Traveler tool, a short story split into parts by the passing of a decade, and an essay that describes memorable photos.
Write a poem that celebrates the everyday people in your life, a short story about a character coming face-to-face with an old friend, and an essay about a time you experienced a stroke of luck.
A new initiative from the organizers of National Novel Writing Month invites writers to find comfort in their creativity and stay inside while the battle with COVID-19 continues.
Emma Copley Eisenberg borrows a creative exercise from beloved writer and comics artist Lynda Barry.