This week’s creative prompt is Autumn. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire writing fiction, journaling and other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some inspiration for our creative work.
Definitions
autumn — the season after summer and before winter
Autumn is a noun.
Related
fall, autumnal,
Autumn specifically means a season in the calendar year, it is a predominantly British term, so feel free to use your words, e.g., fall
Let the prompt ‘autumn’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested in:
- writing fiction
- journaling
- art journaling
- songwriting
- photography
- painting
- composing
- blog posts
- art therapy
- anything that could use a little nudge to begin
Let’s expand the word a little further…
Writing prompt
A Fiction Writing Prompt exploring the word autumn to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.
It was the autumn of life, but as the golden colours of the leaves showed, there was a beauty to be found.
Writing Prompt Expanded
Nouns, as I was told at primary school, are naming words. You give something a name and that is it. Simple, something is what it is. However, autumn is a wonderful example of using a word’s meaning as a metaphor. No longer is autumn, or fall, just a season each year, but it is also a season that can be applied to almost anything.
This prompt relates autumn to a period of life. The end is nearing, and yet there is plenty to seek and find. It looks at finding a positive from a seeming negative.
- Why is the narrator at the autumn of life?
- What is the beauty to be found?
- How does the narrator feel?
The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. You could be writing about the life of the narrator/protagonist, of someone else, or even a civilisation or organisation. The challenge is to see the positive despite the situation.
Enjoy, and may your words be as colourful as the leaves upon the trees.
Quick fiction writing
Set a time limit, use the following random prompts and write a short piece of fiction.
- Character: merchant
- Place: desert, no greenery just sand
- Item: an autumn leaf
Journal prompt
Autumn, along with spring, mean change to me. Spring is all about birth and growth, while autumn is about winding down. Nothing is permanent, life is all about change. However, I often find myself writing the same thing in my journal; some things don’t change. Let’s see if using autumn as a prompt can move me forward.
Three ideas for your journal
- Find a fallen, autumnal leaf, press it (it needs to be flat) stick it in your journal and decorate. Mod Podge or clear sticky-tape should help preserve the leaf.
- Make a leaf stamp (cut a leaf shape not a potato) and get printing with bright, vibrant colours.
- How do you feel about autumn/fall? Do you miss summer? Do you yearn for winter? Or do you bask in this season of change?
Theory of General Creativity
I now have ‘autumn’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.
- Capture the wonderful colours of autumn with your camera
- Do you have any creative projects approaching their autumn?
- What feeling does autumn elicit in you… create it
Let ‘autumn’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.
Finally…
As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, something a little more grandiose, or any creative project or idea.
As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below, or tag me #thecreativeminimalist on any social platform.
Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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