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Starting to Write: 6 More Prompts for the Beginning Writer
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Writers -- beginning, aspiring, experts -- here are six more prompts to stimulate your creativity and awaken your muses. Do these prompts to warm up your writing muscles. Who knows, the writing you do based on these prompts may be the beginning of a short story, a novel or an article that will get you published.

Prompt # 1

Watch your favorite movie. Afterwards, experiment on giving it different endings. If it's a romantic movie with a mushy happy- ending, why not re-write the ending and say, have the guy end up with the other woman? Or if it's an action film, ask yourself what would happen if the hero got killed. The thing here is you have to think of a different version for your favorite movie's ending.

Prompt # 2

Imagine you're walking in a mall and all of a sudden, a woman grabs you by the hair and starts a catfight with you. What would you do? Would you fight back? If you're a man, think of what you'll do if another guy punched you on the nose for no reason at all. Would you punch back? Describe the "fight scene."

Prompt # 3

Recall the last dream (or nightmare) you had. Describe the dream in detail.

Prompt # 4

If you were an animal, what would would you be? Why?

Prompt # 5

When you were in gradeschool, what was your most hated subject? Why did you hate it? Do you still hate it? Why or why not? Did the teacher have anything to do with it?

Prompt # 6

Put on your favorite CD or tape. What music comes out of it? When you listen to it, what do you feel? What comes into your mind?

That's it! Happy writing!

Copyright © 2001 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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