Writing Prompts from Our Writers Group

As we participated in the Midwest Writers Group this weekend, there were a few items that we wanted to share. The following topics and prompts are ones we've used over the past couple of years...In the coming month or two, Muriel and I will share some of the thoughts that were generated from these prompts. Perhaps others from our group will also share.

Look these over and do a few free writes as you prepare to enter back into the crazy busy world of teaching.

Enjoy!

Minnesota Retired Writers:

Writing Topics/Genres

Chosen by Members

Topics

-Daily Life

-Events/People

Events/Holidays

Nature/Gardening

Reactions to World/National Events

Loss/Challenges

Caregiving/Illness

Emotions/Personal Beliefs

Humorous Incidents

Genres

Fiction - Short Stories

Family Histories

Memoir

Poetry

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Sample Writing Prompts

(Usually a 10-15 minute write)

Reactions to magazine

photos/photographs/visuals

(Ex.: Write a response to a picture of a

masked girl; A photo of the bridge to

nowhere)

Write about a piece of furniture

React to a quote or a section of poetry

(Ex.: Poem from Mary Oliver: “Things I

didn’t have to worry about when I was

older”)

General

Write About…

*Things in life that give you hope today

*A Solution for one world problem

*Something that has been a defining part of

whom you’ve become

*An event in your life that had a before and

after

*One profound learning experience

*“In spite of ------, we can build -------.”

*What you have missed most this summer

*What you learned from the pandemic

*The MN State Fair

*“We’ll Cross that Bridge When We Come to

it”

Family

*The first date you had with your husband

*A family tradition.

*Positive/negative aspects of retirement.

*Something that disturbs you

*How you calm yourself

*What you dream about

*An Inexpensive Item that means a lot to

you

*Favorite seasons and how you adjust

*What you are ready to say goodbye

Nature

*A wonderful moment in winter

*The most exciting thing you did this

winter

*What summer means to you