10 minutes: Set the timer when you’re ready. Once you start, don’t stop. I want you to forget spelling, grammar and formatting. That’s not important here. For 10 minutes I want you to write whatever it is you’re thinking. We’re always thinking. You might write down the word “nothing” and there might be a lot of repeating at times but that doesn’t matter. No rules. Just 10 minutes of free thinking and free writing.
After the time is done, don’t read it. This is important. You can read it later, but don’t read it now.
40 minutes: Time to get our creative juices flowing. Again no rules. Try and forget spelling and grammar and formatting. Just write. Here’s the task:
1. You just started a new job and have your own office. What does your office look like? What kind of building is it in? Who do you work with (if anyone?) How do you feel about your new job? What is the job and its expectations?
2. Someone walks into your office you weren’t expecting. They have a strange request. Who is it? What do you they look like? What is their request? Why is it strange?
3. The telephone in your office rings just as you are about to response to this strange request. The voice on the other line isn’t familiar. They have the same strange request but this time there’s a slight difference to it that makes it even stranger. What is the change? Do these two people know each other?
4. Your boss pops their head into your office. They are deeply concerned about something and asks you if you’ve completed these strange requests, but they, too, add a different twist to it and an impossible deadline. How do you react? How do you feel about starting your new job now?
5. If time permits, write about a series of events that happen while you are trying to complete these requests. Is there a feeling of being overwhelmed, adventurous or fear? What tone does this strange request set? Explore that.10 minutes: Read through what you’ve come up with. Does anything stand out to you? Anything you like you might want to expand on or use elsewhere? A highlighter would come in handy here.
These are great writing prompts Michael. You could combine them to create an online course, which you could offer for new writers. You could do collective group sharing / feedback after each entry. It would be a hit.
I’m happy with offering them online right here on my website for now. But I shall keep your suggestion in mind! I’d rather see group sharing and feedback here first on my website and keep it public and accessible. 🙂 But who knows, it might grow into a writing beast and I’ll need to tame it. Hahah.