You can use this technique as a personal development tool or for creative development. Ask yourself open questions (e.g. what do I want? how will my character deal with…? why is … happening?)
Answer them in your journal. Don’t wait until you think you know the answer. Start writing and see what emerges.
Write for 15 minutes. Try not to pause, edit or censor.
If you want to share your writing in the comments section, it would be great to see how you get on.
Copy a paragraph from a book/author that you admire.
Rewrite the paragraph changing a few small details. Now continue writing from this revised paragraph.
Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
What did you notice? If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
Select a bag or piece of luggage for this writing prompt.
Write a list: where have you been with your bag, suitcase, rucksack, luggage? As many places as you can remember.
Read through your list.
Pick one place.
Write about it for 15 minutes.
If you want to share your writing in the comments section, it would be great to see how you get on.
What stops you writing? Is there an internal critic that undermines your plans; tells you that your writing won’t be good enough; that you shouldn’t be writing? Write a fight 
scene between you and your inner critic. What starts it?
Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
What stops you writing? Is there an internal critic that undermines your plans; tells you that your writing won’t be good enough; that you shouldn’t be writing? What if you had an inner supporter? An inner cheerleader? An inner mentor?
Write about one of these – supporter, cheerleader, mentor. Imagine what it would be like to have that encouragement.
Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
Think thriller. Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
Use this photo from 
Lost Property as writing inspiration. Start writing and write for 15 minutes, without censoring, pausing or editing. Post your writing or thoughts in the comments section.
One Stop for writers, due to launch in a few days time, is a website dedicated to helping authors elevate their storytelling and reduce the downtime commonly associated with research. It looks like a really useful resource and, as far as I can tell, it’s free. Check it out, I will be.
Think of something that happened when you were at school. Change some of the details. Fictionalise it.
Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
Imagine yourself as a historical figure, you choose. Now write a diary entry as that character. Don’t worry too much about facts, just make it up and see where it goes.
Write for at least 10 minutes without censoring or editing. Let the words flow, see where it goes.
If you’d like to share your writing or your experience of this and other writing prompts, please do – in the comments section.
writeandthrive 