by Joshua Santillan | Digital Marketing Specialist, Creative Zebra Press & Latitude Learners
Starting a story can be daunting, especially when faced with the vast emptiness of a blank page. That was the moment when my instructor told me about a very simple but powerful tool: an inspirational spark through an object, an image, or a song. Little did I know, this technique would reflect a rising tide in the writing world: writing prompts.
When I first began writing, I often found myself completely stuck at the thought of starting a new piece. My mind swirled with ideas, but the page remained blank, taunting me with its emptiness. And then there came that pivotal bit of wisdom: start with something. Of course, my instructor pushed me to find inspiration in what I see around me—like that flower on my table, a photo of anyone, or even a familiar tune. One easy exercise transformed my perspective for good and provided me with the comfort of actually making stories by really getting into the action. That was the structure I needed, that little spark to ignite all this creativity.
Fast-forward to today, and writing prompts have become an essential part of most writers’ arsenals—providing that spark I discovered all those years ago. Whether you are an aspiring novelist or just need help fighting the steady creep of writer’s block, writing prompts can steer your thoughts and ideas in the right direction. It’s not just an anecdote; scientific studies have shown it indeed easier to bypass that initial resistance regarding creative projects if writers are provided with some kind of stimulus-be it visual, auditory, or conceptual.
Online platforms, and contests, have also picked up on the writing prompts-the practice of using writing prompts has gained momentum in America, for instance, Reedsy is running weekly writing contests on its platform based entirely on prompts, and thousands of writers have generated stories by applying a seed idea. The emergence of new AI tools like ChatGPT also offers new avenues for writers to explore their creativity through personalized writing prompts or even by drafting the entire first draft.
The creative writing prompts are a launching point that would not burden the writer’s mind with too much of the decision-making process involved in starting to write. In fact, studies have proven that such creative writing prompts induce cognitive flexibility because it enables the brain to transcend the mental blocks that stand in the way of ideas and get into the flow of a story. This way, with a starting line, writers can think about “what next” rather than the intimidating “what first”. I was careful to reflect on my own experience of beginning with something-extant, an object, idea, or feeling helped to break through the particular wall of feeling overwhelmed by staring at a blank page. Today’s modern substitute for writers with a longing to bypass their hesitation is a writing prompt.
Writing prompts have been gaining popularity in the U.S. with leaps and bounds and are now generally used in most courses and workshops on creative writing. Prompts, therefore, have become part and parcel of many curricula: American educators have utilized the new trend style of encouraging regular writing among students. Reedsy and Wattpad, to mention a few, for instance, continue to encourage full exploration of new ideas among all levels of writers. Furthermore, AI-powered writing assistants form a huge part of this modern writer’s arsenal. Such technologies provide immediate prompts, break down complex ideas, and encourage writers to draw more actively into their own creativity. When the nation values creativity but does not have the time to sit still, writing prompts help writers keep working and inspire them to do so.
Thinking back, my instructor told me to use a spark-from an object, from an image, from a song-and it completely changed everything for me in terms of approaching writing. Contemporary counterpart has developed into writing prompts that would give the same sense of direction and freedom from creative fetters, becoming a fresh instrument to overcome the syndrome of a blank page for writers. Personal experience as well as the current situation in the U.S., not to mention in all the world, is proof that, beyond any doubt, writing prompts are something more than a tool – they are a gateway to virtually infinite opportunities for storytelling. If you ever get the feeling that it’s totally overwhelming to have to start from scratch, maybe it is high time to try writing prompts and see where they will take you.