Embers ~ September 2022
A monthly collection of writing prompts
Hi, everyone.
I hope your reading and writing ventures are going well.
The month of October is an important one for me here on Substack because it will mark two years of my fiction appearing on this platform. Though I had stepped away for some time in 2021, this milestone is still symbolic for me in many ways.
Once we hit October, I’m going to begin a paid option for any subscriber who would like to support me and my writing. The tiers will be $5 monthly, $30 annually, or $50 annually. If you select the $50 option, I will send you a copy of my self-published book, Birdsong and Other Stories from Along the Hudson upon completion.
In addition, as a way of expressing my thanks, I also plan on sending out monthly Embers to all paying subscribers. Embers will consist of at least ten quality fiction writing prompts to help jumpstart some stories of your own, to be used in any way you wish.
If you decide to remain a free subscriber, nothing will change — no stress! You will still have access to all of my stories and posts. The only post exclusive to paying subscribers will be Embers.
Below is a small collection of twelve different writing prompts. This first send-out will be available to everyone to get a sense of what Embers will look like. For my early subscribers, you may recognize these prompts. I wanted to recycle them due to the new subscribers who have joined over the past few months.
I hope you are able to use some of these prompts to get the ball rolling with some writing of your own.
Thank you so much for being here at Along the Hudson. I have a blast writing my fiction in this space and sharing it with you all. Have a great week!
Oh, and be sure to tune back in on Friday for our first Fifties by the Fire writing challenge!
Prompt 1: Write a scene primarily consisting of dialogue. In the scene, two close friends or lovers are in some sort of entanglement. Perhaps it’s a dispute over monthly bills — or maybe one has been caught up in something he/she wasn’t supposed to be caught up in. You decide. The important parts: scene, dialogue, entanglement…go!
Prompt 2: Write a story that involves shadows. Perhaps the shadows are malevolent spirits, or maybe their presence is simply a technique used to build suspense. Whatever you decide, include them!
Prompt 3: Write about someone carrying or hauling a heavy burden. The burden can be physical, emotional, or mental. Try to focus your story or “piece” on this specific element — let it drive the action.
Prompt 4: Write a story or scene that centers around a fire. This fire can be of any variety: campfire, forest fire, wood stove/fireplace fire, you name it. Some questions to consider: who started the fire? Was it accidental or intentional? Romantic? A deadly blaze? You get the idea.
Prompt 5: Write a scene or a short story that involves tears: tears of happiness, heartache, sorrow, — of utter jubilation. Some questions to consider: who do the tears belong to? What caused them? Will there be a resolution?
Prompt 6: Write a scene or story that occurs at a park bench. Maybe the scene centers on a conversation held by complete strangers who talk about something trivial or lighthearted; maybe it’s a serious discussion between a married couple about an inevitable decision they have made. Or could the scene/story show a discreet exchange between drug dealers? You decide. Have fun with it!
Prompt 7: Write about someone being lost. Think of all of the different ways the word could be used. Is this person/character physically lost, or has this individual simply lost his/her way? Are they directionless? Another question to consider: will they ever find their way out of this predicament?
Prompt 8: Write about something that went wrong. Here are some ideas:
A missed shot.
A wrong turn.
Being late.
Miscommunication.
Overindulging.
An accident of some sort.
A broken window.
Getting arrested.
Write freely! Don’t box yourself in.
Prompt 9: Find a way to integrate the words razor, pool, and basement into a story or scene.
Prompt 10: Write about someone who has experienced a setback. What was it, exactly? A job loss, or loss of a loved one? Perhaps it was something less severe: the car ran out of gas, or maybe a parent is butting heads with their child again? (I really hope the dog hasn’t gone missing…but hey, it’s fair game.)
Prompt 11: Write about a gathering of some kind. The catch: throw a heavy dose of conflict into the mix. Make it a dysfunctional family get-together, an awkward class reunion, a Thanksgiving day parade gone to hell. One way to approach this is to think of the picture-perfect setting, the ideal scenario…and then flip it on its head. Make this gathering play out the way it’s not supposed to go. (Or don’t — you’re always allowed to break the rules.)
Prompt 12: Write a scene or story about a character taking a gamble, or gambling. Maybe this individual is in dire straits due to his/her gambling habits, or he/she is playing a round of poker in a smoky parlor. Perhaps this person is taking a chance on something: rekindling an old love, chasing a dream, or making a spontaneous decision. Take this in any direction you’d like!
Congratulations on two years! 🎉
Happy almost two year anniversary! That's a great milestone! These prompts are great and will be very helpful to me! I almost exclusively use prompts to write, so this post is a goldmine.