Category Archives: writing prompt

Blog, writing prompt

Writing Prompt – Floating Opposites

Because my students have such a wide variety of tastes, I’ve started developing either/or prompts for them. Some like gore and action. Others like world-building. Then, others of my students delight in closely observed personal interactions.

Open notebook on classic, rustic, wooden table waiting for your story ideas inspired by a writing prompt from Gail Owen writer.

Writing that Pulls in Two Directions – By Design!

Following on from my last blog post, on the subject of ‘Floating Opposites’, (see Can Creative Writing Be Taught? Part 2,) whichever of the exercises below that you choose is a chance to put that theory into practice.

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Blog, writing prompt

Writing Prompt – Dialogue

One of the most common worries my students have is dialogue, and it’s true that writing authentic dialogue is hard. It almost requires a different skill-set from crafting a story, because great dialogue begins with listening, in many ways a passive activity.

Three friends in conversation, their dialogue making them laugh together.

When we’re in conversation, we’re in the moment, responding emotionally and intellectually. We’re not psychopaths, not mentally recording people’s gestures and sayings as we chat. By contrast, when watching TV or streaming a series, we only listen. We don’t talk back. Kids, with their sponge-like brains, especially absorb how people talk on-screen.

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