In a post on DIY MFA, Disha Walia suggests some journaling exercises from which you can create your own writing prompts. “Here are 4 ways you can manifest writing prompts out of thin air,” she says. “Remember, the only skill you need is learning to let your mind roam free.”
- Spotify Playlist. Put a Spotify playlist on shuffle and make a note of the first four songs in the list. The first song is your main character. The second is what they want. The third is their obstacle. Then write a “what if” question inspired by the fourth song.
- What’s on the News Today? Open a news website or your local paper. Find a story that stands out and add one or more of your favorite spec fic elements: Alien invasion, abandoned cities, ghost stories, super-heroes, contagions, etc.
- People Watching. Go watch people. Observe what they’re doing and what they’re saying. Spend some time watching just their shadows, and see what information your head fills in.
- Redo the Past. Take an event from your past that you regret and re-write it so that it turns out how you wished it could have. How different would your life be?
