That $30 writing prompt deck I bought on a whim actually helped me finish a short story this week

I was stuck on a character introduction for three days straight, so I grabbed this prompt deck from a local store in Austin for about $30. It had a simple prompt about a locked drawer and a letter that changed everything, and suddenly I wrote 2,000 words in one sitting. Has anyone else found a specific prompt tool that actually broke a block for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_lucas2d ago

Dude that locked drawer prompt sounds legit. I grabbed a random writing deck off Amazon called "Plot Twist" for like 18 bucks and it had this one that said "your character finds a Polaroid of themselves from 20 years ago but they weren't there." I sat there staring at my laptop for an hour then just started typing and didnt stop until I hit 3k words. It was like the deck unlocked something in my brain, you know? Happy you found that thing in Austin, those local store finds hit way different than stuff online.

sandra_moore302d ago

Oh man, that Polaroid prompt is next level! @the_lucas I feel you on that 3k words thing, once your brain hooks onto a good twist it's like the story writes itself. I've had that happen where I'm cooking dinner and a line just pops in my head and I have to dash to my phone to type it before I forget. Those Amazon decks are solid but honestly I think the real magic is in your own weird ideas. Like you said about the Austin find, something about stumbling on it in person makes it feel more special, like it was meant for you.

david_walker972d ago

Ngl that kinda freaks me out a bit. A Polaroid from 20 years ago when you weren't even there? That's the kind of thing that would have me checking my closets and double locking my doors for a week. But honestly those random prompts that hit you out of nowhere are the best, they just grab something in your brain and won't let go.