This week's episode looks at writing prompts and what can result.

To be honest, I was never a huge fan of writing prompts. I always felt like I should be writing around big ideas, novel length plots, and concepts that I’d considered in depth.

That’s no longer the case. Sure, I still have those big plans, but I’m finding that writing prompts, especially when given as part of a group, add a level of accountability and a sense of variety, while exercising those writing muscles. They also force you to work quickly as the writing groups I’ve participated in have set a 30- to 40-minute limit on the writing done in response to a prompt. Sometimes, as I discussed in a previous episode, it can also add a note of panic but that’s manageable.

Two of the three pieces shared on this episode were inspired not by words or phrases per se but rather visual prompts. The first prompt is a painting of Anne Hutchinson by Valerie Debrule. The second is a photo from the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA. Both of them are posted on https://www.facebook.com/pretendtowrite so you can see what inspired the pieces. I also invite you share your favorite writing prompts there. I'll be posting prompts from time to time for those who want to play along.