You’ll find ninety-nine prompt themes in this book, each one comprised of four timed prompts: 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 20 minutes. When using the 1-minute prompts you’ll be able to get down two to three cleverly crafted sentences. With the 5 and 10-minute prompts you can spend more time with the concept of the prompt theme, resulting in one paragraph to several paragraphs of wild musings. The 20-minute prompts are slightly more complex than the others and are designed to be more of a deep dive. Even if you pause to think for a few moments along the way, you’re still likely to end up with a solid page of writing when using these. Of course more important than word count or page count is the sense of heartwarming accomplishment and spine-tingling satisfaction that comes with doing any amount of creative work. Am I right? (Insert you nodding your head here.)
Since everyone’s creative impetus is unique, I’ve separated the ninety-nine prompt themes into three sections: Observation, Imagination, and Memory. Each of these sections has thirty-three prompt themes that offer up different starting points to spark your creativity. The Observation Prompts call on you to observe what’s around you and what’s within you. The Imagination Prompts rely purely on your mind to conjure a variety of scenarios. The Memory Prompts help you recall past events, interactions, and experiences to mine for creative possibility. All of the sections have prompts that may appeal to both fiction and nonfiction writers of every kind. Some prompts might task you with writing a breaking news report, while others nudge you to come up with lyrics for a silly children’s song. Of course feel free to mix and match. If a prompt calls on you to write a eulogy, but you’d rather frame it as a college admissions acceptance letter, go for it. Once you pry it open, your creative mind is truly limitless. If it leads you down a different path than the prompt seems to suggest, follow it with abandon.
An obvious way to choose prompts is to consider the time you have available. Certain days you may have only a few minutes to write, while other days you have half an hour. In that regard you can pick whatever prompt or prompts fit your schedule. Another option, particularly if you’re a beginner writer or lapsed writer, is to do all of the 1-minute prompts first, then work your way up incrementally from there. Last, if you want to use the prompts as a starting point for a larger or longer creative work, you may find added benefit in consecutively completing all four prompts in a theme in order to explore an idea from multiple angles.
If you’re serious about kick-starting or maintaining a writing practice you should keep this book nearby throughout the day to take full advantage of the spare moments that arise. If carrying the book is too cumbersome or not an option, you can take photographs of various pages with your smartphone then refer to them later. In terms of the actual writing there are several apps you can get for your phone that will allow you to physically type or use voice dictation. These are especially helpful if you’re on the go and have only a short period of time to work. Of course you could also opt for the classic bound journal or pocket notepad to handwrite the exercises.
Whatever modes or methods you choose, make sure they easily fit into your lifestyle. The intention is that you can do these prompts anywhere. Break them out while you’re standing in line at the bank, as you’re waiting for the pasta water to boil, or during your ride to work on the Number 58 bus. The short increments of time involved, especially the 1-minute prompts, will truly eliminate the all too familiar “I don’t have time to write” excuse while also giving you a sustainable way to build creative muscle.
Practically speaking, when it comes to timing the prompts keep it as simple as possible. If there’s a clock on the office wall or on your car dashboard, use it. If you have a smartphone, pull up the timer application. Not only will it give you an accurate countdown, it will also chime aloud when complete. (Pavlov would certainly approve.) You can also purchase a kitchen timer for less than $10. If at any point all of that feels like too much to handle, just guesstimate the time in your mind. Do what works. Don’t overthink it.
Last, my intention has been to make these prompts as inclusive and universal as possible, even while not knowing the specific circumstances of readers. For any prompts that don’t quite work for you, for whatever reason, I humbly request that you use your awesome creative power to adjust them as you see fit.