Hi friends! ☕

Today I wanted to do something a little different — and a lot of fun. I’m sharing some of my favorite writing prompts and exercises — the ones I come back to again and again when I need to shake the dust off my creativity.

Whether you’re deep in a novel draft, journaling just for yourself, or staring down that intimidating blank page, these prompts are meant to spark imagination and get your words flowing again. Think of them as creative caffeine for your writer’s brain. ✨

So grab your favorite drink (mine’s a caramel latte today), open that notebook, and let’s dive into a few prompts that never fail to inspire me.

🌿 The Object with a Secret

Choose an ordinary object — a key, a locket, a ring — and give it a secret no one else knows. Mini-example: The locket didn’t open anymore, but if it did, it would whisper her name. Why I love it: It’s a great way to build atmosphere and tension in just a few lines. You start small, and before you know it, you’ve written a whole backstory.

🌧️ Weather as Emotion

Use the weather to mirror a character’s inner world. Storms, sunshine, fog — they all carry moods and symbolism. Mini-example: The rain didn’t just fall; it accused. Each drop a reminder of what she’d left unsaid. Why I love it: When done subtly, this can make your prose feel cinematic — almost like nature itself is part of the story.

🕰️ The Missed Moment

Write about the instant when your character almost changed everything… but didn’t. Mini-example: His hand hovered over the send button. One click, and she’d know. He closed the laptop instead. Why I love it: This prompt is pure tension. It’s where regret, fear, and longing meet — and that’s where the best stories live.

🪞 Dialogue Without Names

Write a short scene using only dialogue — no descriptions, no tags. Let the tone and rhythm reveal who’s speaking. Mini-example: “You always do this.” “Do what?” “Pretend you didn’t start the fire.” Why I love it: It sharpens your ear for character voice and pacing. You’ll start hearing the personalities in every line.

🕊️ The One-Rule World

Invent a world that follows a single strange rule — and explore how people live within it. Mini-example: In the city of Glasshaven, no one is allowed to speak after sunset. Why I love it: It’s a perfect exercise for worldbuilders. One odd rule can unravel into an entire culture, conflict, or story.

💌 Letter to the Future

Have your character write a letter to their future self — or to someone they’ll never meet. Mini-example: Dear me, If you’re reading this, it means you survived the silence. I’m proud of you already. Why I love it: It reveals voice, vulnerability, and emotional truth. You’ll discover things about your character you didn’t know before.

✍️ Found Poetry

Take a page from an old book, article, or even your grocery list. Circle random words and rearrange them into a short poem. Mini-example: Empty shelf / quiet bread / the price of forgetting. Why I love it: It’s meditative. There’s something beautiful about finding art in the middle of ordinary language.

Why Prompts Matter (and Why I Keep Coming Back to Them)

Prompts are like creative pit stops — they remind me why I love writing in the first place. They take me out of my own head and drop me into a world of what-ifs, strange objects, and almost-moments.

Sometimes they even surprise me. More than once, a “five-minute warm-up” has turned into a full story idea or a character who refuses to leave me alone. And honestly? Those are the best kinds of surprises.

Every writer has a different creative spark, and that’s what makes this so fun. So whether you try one of these prompts or share your own, I hope something here lights a spark for you today.

✨ Thanks for hanging out and writing with me!

Now I’d love to hear from you — which prompt caught your attention first? Or better yet, share a few lines in the comments. I can’t wait to read what you create. 💛

— Sarah