Writing prompts are a staple of creative writing, used by beginners and seasoned writers alike. I like to think of them as ‘story starters’, similar to yeast being used to start bread-making, or a live culture to start yoghurt.
Often, they take the form of a ‘What if?’, placing an un-named character in an intriguing situation. Eg, ‘What if an elderly woman overhears her carer plotting a crime?’
A prompt could be the opening sentence from a published story or a line of dialogue from a playscript or screenplay. What happens next?
Alternatively, it might take the form of sensory stimulation. You listen to a piece of music, handle an object, study an image or taste a particular food – then write.
Prompts can be used to create poetry, prose, dramatic scripts or even non-fiction. They work to surprise your brain and bypass habitual ways of thinking.
So, writing prompts are great for getting started. But how do you keep going? How do you find the right form for your writing? How do you deepen and develop your idea? When plot holes appear or you feel you’ve run out of steam, how do you keep going? When doubts surface, how do persevere through the tricky middle to create a satisfying conclusion?
This is where creative writing courses come in.
I’ve used the simile of bread- and yoghurt-making. Let’s stick with the foodie analogy for a bit. Here is my secret recipe for great writing.
WATCH: City Lit tutor Judith Bryan explains why feedback, accountability and consistency are the key tenets of writing.
Feedback
Your tutor is the master chef. They teach the essential constituents of writing – such as structure, characterisation, word choices, sentence structures, point of view and pace – and how to put them in the right order for each writing project.
They sample your writing and let you know what tastes good (what’s working) and where adjustments are needed. They teach you key skills and give you a chance to practice with low-risk writing exercises while you gain confidence. If you get stuck, your tutor offers tried-and-tested methods for getting unstuck.
Accountability
We often think of writing as a solitary activity. In many ways it is. Dedicated time and a degree of peace and quiet are needed to get words on the page.
However, writers also need peers. In a writing class, you read or listen to your classmates’ writing. You discover different styles, interests and perspectives. This is critical in developing your sense of taste and widening your palate.
You learn how to analyse and respond to work-in-progress. How to offer constructive feedback in a way that’s respectful and supportive.
At the same time, when your classmates offer feedback on your writing, you learn how to take readers’ responses into account. By stepping back from your words, you notice how they land with other people.
Ultimately, in a writing class you and your classmates show up for each other. You benefit from their input (their cookery tips, if you like) and they from yours.
Consistency
First, consistency in terms of regularity or reliability. A writing class occurs in the same place, at the same time, with the same classmates and tutor, on the same day each week. You develop a regular creative practice. You become part of a supportive learning environment – part of a community of writers.
Second – returning to our cooking analogy – consistency in terms of texture, thickness or feel. With your tutor’s guidance, you learn how to create and control effects to make your writing more satisfying. Through successive drafts, you learn how to refine your writing’s look texture, depth and taste.
Crucially, you get to know yourself as a writer. You discover your own flavours: your flair, style and voice.
Ultimately, working alone in your room with a series of prompts can only take you so far. Completing a piece of writing is rather like cooking an original dish. You start with a basic recipe (knowing you want to write a play, for example). Then you assemble your ingredients, add them in the right order, keep them cooking and season to taste.
A writing class gives you essential skills and knowledge, time and space to practice, community and expert guidance. You gain fresh insights. You learn to push past limitations. When your confidence flags, you receive encouragement. And you discover the most important secret ingredient of all – that creativity is fun.
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