My writing prompt jar idea was a total flop

I set up a big glass jar on my desk six months ago, thinking I'd fill it with cool prompts to pull from when I was stuck. I wrote down over 200 ideas on little slips of paper. The problem? Every single one I pulled was boring or vague, like 'write about a secret' or 'describe a forest.' I finally dumped the whole jar out last week and saw the issue. I was writing prompts when I was already tired and out of ideas, so of course they were bad. Now I only add a prompt if it pops into my head when I'm doing something else, like driving or washing dishes. Those ones are way more fun. Has anyone else tried a prompt jar and had it work, or did you find a better system?

3 comments

3 Comments

robert_rodriguez6628d ago

I had the same exact problem with my prompt jar, it just became a box of chores I didn't want to do. My whole view shifted when I started keeping a note on my phone for random ideas instead. The good prompts always hit me when I'm not trying to force it, like you said, usually when I'm walking the dog. Forcing myself to come up with them on demand was a dead end. Now I only write down the ones that give me a little spark of a scene or a character right away. It's less organized than a jar, but way more useful.

clairee8828d ago

Wait, you actually made a whole jar of writing prompts? That's some serious dedication, @robert_rodriguez66. No wonder it felt like a chore, that sounds like homework. Your phone note idea is definitely the move for catching the good stuff.

miles58123d ago

Feel your pain, my old notebook was full of that same vague junk.