Switched from paragraph prompts to single-word prompts and got way better results

I used to write out these long detailed prompts for my writing group, like 3-4 sentences setting up a scene. Then someone in the group suggested we try just one word like "lighthouse" or "broken watch" and write for 10 minutes. After about 2 weeks of this, I noticed my stories had way more variety and surprise endings. Has anyone else tried cutting down their prompts and seen a difference in what people write?

2 comments

2 Comments

jessica3317d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly that would just make MY brain freeze up instead.

the_john7d ago

I still remember getting lost on a back road in Vermont three years ago because a GPS rerouted me through a dirt path that wasn't even on the map. @jessica331 you hit on something real there though. The thing is, sometimes the mental freeze is actually your brain protecting you from making a bad decision on the spot. When I'm driving and the GPS says turn left but my gut says that doesn't look right, I've learned to just pull over and check the map myself. That second of hesitation can save you from ending up in a ditch or a dead end. So yeah, freezing up might feel dumb in the moment, but it might be smarter than blindly following a voice that could be wrong.