5 Writing Prompts: All the People
Whenever I lose steam or need a kick start in my writing, a good prompt will usually put me back on track. I've always enjoyed the creativity and uniqueness of writing prompts; they make you look at and think about in a way you may not have thought of before. These original prompts are about the people around you and human characteristics. Feel free to use these for your own writing or for writing groups!
1. People watching
The idea of people watching sounds rude and awkward on the surface, but, in reality, it is actually a natural, human thing to do. Humans love looking at other humans and people in general are absolutely interesting. Go somewhere (whether it be familiar or new to you) and observe the people around you. Look at how they move, their facial expressions, their cloths, how they interact with other people. Once you have their characteristics written down, you can give them imaginary personalities and back stories.
2. Going past obvious descriptions
Describing people can be easy. Just list out hair and eye color, complexion, and size, right? Try and describe a person (real or imagined) without literal description. For example, instead of writing "She had red hair" write, "Rays of copper and flame blew off her head in the breeze". Make it as dramatic as you want.
3. Switching places
Think about a major life event, change, or dilemma that you have experienced. Imagine if someone else (a character, public figure, or someone that you know) with a completely different personality and temperament was in your place. How would this situation be different? Would the outcome change or stay the same?
4. Carful listening
Go out and find a busy place in which you can hear varieties of conversations. Some of the best places for this are cafes, restaurants, and malls. Choose a conversation and listen. As you listen, try to write the dialogue word for word. Do not write down tones or descriptions. After you have a few lines of the conversation, try playing around using different tones and descriptions to change the meaning of the conversation.
5. Who would eat that?
Go out to a place that serves food or find a menu online. Pick a food item and describe the person who would order it. Describe their personality, what they usually wear, what they look like etc.. Try not to play off of stereotypes and be as creative as you want.
