I saw a prompt based on my friend's accident and it shook me

I was browsing writing prompts online when I found one that described my friend's car crash almost exactly. It included details only close friends would know, like the street name and time of day. This made me think about where prompts come from and if we should ask before using real events. Some writers might not realize they're crossing a line by turning personal pain into fiction fuel. I've seen prompts that use news stories too, but this felt different because it was someone I know. Please, think twice before basing prompts on private tragedies without consent. It can hurt people and damage trust in writing communities.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_miles1mo ago

Yea, that's so wrong. Saw a prompt once that used my cousin's wedding drama, felt just as creepy.

mary_kelly1mo ago

Read an article about how they scrape social media for that stuff. Makes you wanna go private, doesn't it?

logan6321mo ago

That data already built your favorite free apps.