We just finished our November Writing Prompt Party on Zoom for the Great Substack Prompt Celebration. Let me warn you fiction writers… the cats are back!
First, Let’s Talk Prompts and WIPs!
Alright Fictionistas, let’s hear about your opinions on using prompts while working on a WIP
Given a prompt during your drafting process do you prefer to apply it to your WIP, or to use it for something new, as a diversion?
This was the question we asked in the call to find out if we should share a prompt that leaned into helping writers add to the their November Novel draft or to share a prompt that was more like what we always do — a prompt to inspire an isolated short story.
Now, On To Our Month-Long Fictionistas Prompt Celebration!
If you missed the post with all the information and instructions you can read via the link below. Don’t worry you can still participate. Grab your laptop or pen and paper and join the fun!
And Finally… The Prompt
Within the call, the writers were mostly looking for a diversion from their current WIP, so Nicole picked Storymatic Cards. To play Storymatic we typically select two gold cards that combine to make a character and then one copper card to prompt you into story. This month, when one of the first two cards was cat-related, Nicole opted to select a third in case the Fictionistas family was not interested in stories of the feline persuasion, again. So the rules are thus:
Use 2-3 gold cards to create a protagonist. Then use the copper card to tell your story. These are your prompt cards of the month:
Gold/Character Cards:
a person with lots and lots of cats
pig
owner of a hot-air balloon
Copper/Story Card:
first night in new home
What now?
Now that the party is over, it’s time to polish your piece to get it ready for next week’s discussion thread. Get your polished story (no longer than 1000 words) on your Substack page, or on a a view-only Google doc, and put the link in the comments of the thread post we will share next Thursday.
Once you share your stories, the community will start reading, and we’ll be looking for the stories that impress us most!
Let’s write together this month, Fictionistas!
Share the Fiction Love!
Do you know a writer who is looking for this kind of inspiration and community support? Don’t forget to share this post so we can read their stories too!
I’m Heather, creator and face behind Sprinkled Inspiration. If you’re looking for more prompts, I’m your girl! I post daily prompts and Have a feature Friday where other creatives share a prompt of their own. Join Here
I’m Nicole creator of all things Stop Writing Alone including a podcast, a YouTube channel, and a Substack community hosting multiple monthly Live Zoom Events for writers seeking community. If you are ready to truly stop writing alone, join here.
This was super fun tonight! And even though I’m writing a novel, that is a medieval/renaissance fantasy, I was able to utilize it to write a brand new scene that fits into my novel. So if I can do it, everyone can. ;-)
Thanks for the recap, couldn't make it to the meeting due to childcare issues.