Update: My writing prompts used to be these huge, epic worldbuilding ideas nobody could start.

After a workshop in Austin, a teacher said 'start with the doorknob, not the castle.' Now I give myself a 50-word limit on the initial prompt, like 'a mechanic finds a wedding ring in an oil pan.' Way more people actually write something. What's a small, specific detail that's sparked a story for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.terry5d ago

You ever read that thing about a character noticing a single, perfect red thread on a black coat? That stuck with me.

grays135d ago

Yeah, that red thread on a black coat thing is a solid detail. It's all about the small stuff that feels real. Like a fresh scuff on a character's boot, or them always fixing their glasses a certain way. Those tiny things build the whole picture way better than just saying "he looked messy.

ryan_shah385d ago

Used to think big descriptions were better but this proves me wrong.