creative prompt

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.

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Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

This week’s creative prompt is Soar. 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

soar — fly or rise high in the air, maintain height in the air without flapping wings or using engine power, increase rapidly above the usual level

Soar is a verb.

Related

fly up, wing, wing its way; take off, take flight, take to the air; ascend, climb, rise, glide, plane, float, drift, hang, hover, rise rapidly, escalate, spiral upwards

Soar denotes action, and yet it also has that element of drift, of minimal energy.

Let the prompt ‘soar’ 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 with some specific prompts…

Writing prompt

A Fiction Writing Prompt exploring the word soar to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

It was more than flying. I could now soar and wonder at everything below.

Writing Prompt Expanded

This week, William Shatner went to the edge of space. The actor had pretended to fly between stars for much of his career. Although he didn’t get close to warp speed, he did manage to see something very few of us ever have. When he returned to earth and spoke of his ordeal, he was moved to tears. The wonder of what he saw took his words away.

This prompt is all about describing what you see and why you can see it. Describing a situation and explaining how it makes your protagonist feel is integral to good writing. Here are a few questions to help.

• Where are you?
• How are you able to soar and not just fly?
• How does the ‘soaring’ affect your other senses?

The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. It could be set in space, or closer to earth. The main point is that ‘soaring’ enables the wonder to take place.

Enjoy, and may your words capture the wonder of the situation.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts and write a short piece of fiction.

• Character: Grandmother
• Place: Hilltop
• Item: hang glider

Journal prompt

I had originally chosen the word ‘flying’ for this week’s prompt. However, it became clear that I wanted something more. Where I currently live, I often glimpse seagulls soaring high above. I wonder what they can see, and dream about what it would be like to soar so high and take in the earth below.

Three ideas for your journal

• draw a ‘map’ of where you live as seen by a soaring bird
• describe in words or collage where you would like to soar
• write about how you can fly/soar to the top in your chosen profession/pastime

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘soar’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.

• look up to see what is looking down
• imagine your art/music soaring and let that guide your creativity
• don’t limit your ideas, let them soar

Let ‘soar’ 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.

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Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

This week’s creative prompt is Turn. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, 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

turn — move something so that it is in a different position in relation to its surroundings or its previous position

Turn can be used as a verb, adverb, or noun.

Related

go round, revolve, rotate, spin, roll, circle, wheel, whirl, twirl, gyrate, swivel, spiral, pivot, change direction, change course, make a U-turn, reverse direction; swing round, wheel round. rotation, revolution, spin, circle, whirl, twirl, gyration, swivel

Turn, for me, denotes direction, or more accurately a change in direction. It is active, the journey is already in progress, but occasionally the route needs adjusting.

Let the prompt ‘turn’ 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 turn to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

Left or right, I could choose either, but one would be the wrong turn.

Writing Prompt Expanded

I have a confession. I am a worrier. In the past, I have worried about making the right decision. In fact, I worried so much about the outcome, that I put off making the decision. I am a lot better now, I am no longer ‘disabled by fears concerning which course to take’ (In power we entrust the love advocated — Dead Can Dance)

This prompt is about exploring fears and worries about possible outcomes. Life, and in fact, all fiction, is about making decisions. Our characters make decisions and act to further the plot. We make our characters real, by sharing their thoughts. And in this case, their thought process deciding which way to go.

• Why do they need to choose a direction?
• Why is one of the ‘turn’s wrong?
• As they make this decision, how does their body react; shakes, hot flush?

The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. The challenge is to describe how your character decides which way to turn and how they feel during the process.

Enjoy, and may you turn this prompt into an interesting work of fiction.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts, and write a short piece of fiction.

• Character: soldier
• Place: crossroads
• Item: signpost

Journal prompt

Personal journals are a great place to explore how we are feeling. We are all taking part in the journey of life. There are many twists and turns, some positive and others less so. However, recording these in our journals and learning from the experience is helpful as we take the next step and turn toward the next destination.

Three ideas for your journal

• draw a signpost that signals a turn toward a collage/mixed media image of your dreams
• paint, draw or collage a map of your life, marking any significant turning points
• list the pros and cons of a decision you need to make, then turn toward the best option

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘turn’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.

• Look for interesting signposts when out and about
• Every so often, a complete U-turn is needed to move a creative project forward
• Turn your piece of art; canvas, soundscape or image, upside down… does that give you a fresh perspective?

Let ‘turn’ 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

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

This week’s creative prompt is Cascade. Each week we begin with a single word and explore 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

cascade — a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious quantities/a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next

Cascade can be used as a noun or verb.

Related

waterfall, falls, water chute, cataract, rapids, torrent, flood, deluge, outpouring, white water, fountain, shower, avalanche

pour, gush, surge, spill, domino, stream, flow, issue, spurt, jet; tumble, descend, fall, drop, plunge, pitch; overflow.

Cascade denotes movement, action. It conjures up images of waterfalls and flowing rivers, or ideas and visions taking shape.

Let the prompt ‘cascade’ 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 cascade to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

One nudge and it will fall, a cascade with far-reaching consequences.

Writing Prompt Expanded

I love watching those astonishing domino challenges. Sometimes thousands of dominos are lined up, then with a single nudge, one is knocked over. This domino in turn knocks over the next and so on, until they all, hopefully, fall over.

This prompt may lead you to write about a domino challenge, or it might be exploring a domino effect elsewhere. Whatever you choose to write about, something may or may not occur and create a cascade effect. Use the following questions if you want.

• What is the trigger to begin the cascade?
• What will fall, and how long will it take?
• How does your character feel about the situation?

The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. The challenge is to describe how one thing falling causes the next to do the same. At its very basic this is a plot in simplified form, action causes a reaction, and so on.

Enjoy and may your words cascade onto and fill the blank screen.

Quick fiction writing

Set a time limit, use the following random prompts, and write a short piece of fiction.

• Character: person over 70 years old
• Place: prison
• Item: domino

Journal prompt

Cascade can describe something falling apart or becoming something greater. Both these ideas can be explored in our journals. They can also go hand in hand, we pull down to build up.

Three ideas for your journal

• draw a series of lines cascading down your journal page and then embellish
• paint a waterfall scene
• list a cascade process to achieving your next goal/dream

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘cascade’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week.

• capture things cascading with your camera
• use the cascade effect as a metaphor when planning a project
• multiply a creative idea from a trickle to a cascade

Let ‘cascade’ 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

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

Welcome to this week’s complete creative prompt. We begin with a single word.; a creative prompt word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling, and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

Throughout history, there have been secret religious cults and organisations. The common thread is that their deepest teaching and revelations can only be known to the initiated. The deeper into the organisation you travel, the more knowledge is revealed. Mystery cults and religions still exist, but as interest in organised religion has waned, the growth in conspiracy theories has risen. Again, the further you explore the conspiracy, the more hidden knowledge is obtained. I can’t help thinking, that these two are linked… but I digress, this is all a meander or distraction to draw you deeper, into the prompt. Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

Hide — prevent, put or keep someone, or something, out of sight or from being seen

this is a general definition for the verb, and its other common forms are hid and hidden

Let the prompt ‘hide’ 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…

Fiction Writing Prompt

This Fiction Writing Prompt, exploring the word hide, aims to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

My first thought was to hide beneath the blankets

Writing Prompt Expanded

Apparently, we all have a reptilian part of our brain. This is the part that tells us to either fight or flight when confronted with a predator or something to be feared. However, the concept of fear actually takes us up a level in our brain. Memories, or imagined futures, create our fear.

This prompt is all about beginning with our initial fear and then exploring the reason for it and what to do next.

• Why was to hide your first thought, were you scared, worried or ashamed?
• How does your body react to this ‘fear’?
• Does your character normally hide, or are they normally more likely to fight?

The writing perspective is the first person, which can make it easier to explore emotions. All the senses can play a part in this exercise, sight, sound, touch, even smell and taste. Has your mouth ever gone dry when afraid? Have you ever bitten your tongue? Can you describe the taste of a dry mouth or the tang of blood?

Remember, this is fiction. Don’t scare yourself as you write… unless you are writing something very, very scary. The best horror writing is the sort that gives the author chills and perhaps makes them want to hide beneath the covers. Enjoy, and strengthen your fiction writing skills.

Journal prompt

Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals, we pour out our deepest thoughts. Some of us keep a private journal or diary. In there we write what we don’t want to share with others, we hide the words. This isn’t because they contain harmful revelations, but because they are personal memories to cherish, for our eyes only. In our art journals, we can ‘hide’ meaning within our words, images, collages. To cannibalise a biblical phrase, let those who have eyes see.

Questions to answer, thoughts to explore, or images to create in your journal:

• Is there ever any benefit to gain by hiding something from someone else, why?
• Draw, paint or collage your biggest fear and then hide it beneath more paint or collage.
• Is there something you want to hide away from, something you fear, or are worried about? Try exploring ‘what is the worst that could happen?’ In your journal.
  

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘hide’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. Furthermore, I want it to encourage me to do the opposite, I want to avoid hiding my creative thoughts, ideas, and creations. Like many creatives and artists, I struggle with sharing my work. I have a ‘fear’ within that is often controlled by my lizard brain, I run, flee and hide. This week I will face that fear. My initial thought may be to hide, but I will overcome that and step out to share. Perhaps, I will be able to use hide as a metaphor in my creative work. The word hide can trigger many creative ideas, especially in the visual arts. I’ll try to get out to ‘seek’ things that ‘hide’, my camera will be close to hand.

Let ‘hide’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.

Finally…

As always, these creative prompts and ideas 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.

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

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest

Welcome to this week’s complete creative prompt. We begin with a single word and expand it to inspire fiction writing, journaling, and a host of other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

From rings forged in fantastical times to cherished memories, we all have things that are precious to us. We might have keepsakes that hold links to past events or family. Or there might be precious gems or metals crafted into the finest jewelry or other items. It is likely, whether we are wealthy or not so, that we have some item or moment that we hold dear. Therefore, this week’s creative prompt is:

Treasure — a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects

this is a simple definition, but there is also the verb definition, meaning ‘to keep carefully’

Let the prompt ‘treasure’ 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…

Fiction Writing Prompt

The Fiction Writing Prompt exploring the word treasure aims to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.

All I had to do was solve the puzzle. Then the treasure would be mine.

Writing Prompt Expanded

Puzzles can be basic or intricate, obvious or cryptic. I have always loved the three tests, or puzzles, that Indiana Jones has to pass to get to the Holy Grail in The Last Crusade. Those tests included having to decipher the riddle and then take appropriate action.

This prompt is all about creating a puzzle, describing it, and then, perhaps, solving it.

• What is the puzzle that needs solving?
• What is the treasure?
• How do the protagonist’s feelings impinge on their ability to solve the puzzle?

All fiction relies on plot, something happens and the character responds. This prompt can be written in a simple step sequence. You create the puzzle and then solve it and get the treasure. However, is the puzzle obvious? Your protagonist may know there is a puzzle, but do they know what and where the puzzle is? To further develop the narrative, you could question whether the protagonist actually wants the treasure; are they after the precious item for themselves? Or this could all be happening at home having discovered a puzzle box.

As always, the choice of what you write is down to you. Just write and enjoy and develop your writing skill.

Journal prompt

Journaling allows us to hold conversations on paper. From private diaries to creative art journals, we pour out our deepest thoughts. Many journal users would describe their journals as treasures. I use Day One as a digital journal and looking back over the ‘on this day’ feature can bring back many treasured memories, although it can also bring back memories I would like buried. We can use our journals to capture all our treasures. We can write lists of our treasured possessions, along with the reason they are important to us.

Questions to answer, thoughts to explore, or images to create in your journal:

• Write about your most treasured memory?
• Splatter or spill some bright-coloured paints or inks on paper and then turn them into precious stones.
• Commit to collecting ‘treasures’ each day in your journal; capture and record a precious memory every day.

Theory of General Creativity

I now have ‘treasure’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. Everything we create can be precious to us. From the simplest of drawings to the most complex sculpture or piece of music. The creative process takes part of our very essence and places it in our art, or creation. This is what makes ‘art’ so subjective. However, let us, as artists, appreciate the precious nature of all art, whether it connects with us or not. May we treasure art in all its forms, support one another as we create, and encourage the creation of precious treasure.

Let ‘treasure’ 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, as is the case this week, supporting other artists in their creative process… a simple word of encouragement may be just what they need.

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

If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

Sign up for my (ir)regular newsletter to keep up to date with my creative adventures, including special offers, and join me on Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest