642 Tiny Things to Write About: Part 1 of my 2015 writing resolutions
In a burst of XXXmas optimism, my husband and I decided to visit our local B&N for a browse. (Optimism, I say, because I always forget what rude scumholes start digging their way out from under their usual rocks at this time of year, invading even the normally quiet stores I favor to bump into me, you and everyone else, whilst spreading their own particular brand of madness as they search haplessly for gifts for god knows who could even put up with them. But I digress!)
On said visit, I discovered a little gem of a book called 642 Tiny Things to Write About, put together by the folks at the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. The book is full of writing prompts fit for inspiring everything from the tiniest tweet to a full-on short story – or maybe even your next novel – and I thought it would make a fun gift to myself, since I normally don’t write with prompts.
Now, since I am also prone to procrastination, I decided to start working these prompts into my daily routine by writing one a day throughout 2015. And, as we all know the best way to get into a habit is to do it first thing in the morning, I decided to start this morning and give the first prompt a whirl.
The first prompt reads:
Write yesterday’s fortune cookie. It got everything wrong.
Here’s what I came up with:
YOUR LIFE WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED BY A WISECRACKING GENIE.
For some reason Robin Williams’ character from Aladdin just popped into my head, and unfortunately he never showed up to grant me three wishes, so there you go.
Based on a hard Sunday at work in the transcription salt mines (while also pondering XXXmas consumer madness, playing Hay Day, recovering from Saturday’s trip to the gym, and herding my disgruntled kitties), I also penned the following in a new green notebook dedicated to using this book of prompts:
- Hard work cleanses the soul.
- The T will set you free.
- Hay Day is your true calling.
- Socially stunted shut-ins have more fun.
- You must buy All The Things!!!
- Leg-pressing an elephant is in your future.
- Relax and enjoy – you’ve earned it!
- Adding “in bed” will make this fortune funnier.
- Confucius says: “Woman who writes fake fortunes owes Confucius licensing rights!”
- Your radiant energy attracts all the right people.
Stay tuned to see what I come up with for tomorrow’s prompt, which reads “Write last year’s fortune cookie. It got everything right.”
Want to play along? Grab a copy of 642 Tiny Things to Write About at Amazon, B&N or an independent bookseller near you! (P.S. There’s also a larger-sized version of this book called, simply, 642 Things to Write About, which contains the same prompts but also includes space to write your responses directly in the book, journal style.)