Dragon Writing Prompts

I love collections :-) One of Kenneth Koch's ideas in Wishes, Lies, and Dreams  was to sprinkle a poem with Spanish colors (which grew i...

When I stumbled across this week's quote, it reminded me of a prompt that provides a structure for a poem (or for a brief story or chara...

If you like to rhyme, skeltonic verse can be fun. The structure is playful and suggests lively movement so is also known as tumbling verse. ...

Use the following first and last words from lines of poetry for inspiration. When you're done, the originals are in the comments. (They...

A metaphor turns one thing into another. Start with the statement: A road is a road for cars. and see how many roads (and paths and byways) ...

Don't be scared! The pantoum form looks way more complex than it is! The beauty is a poem that's twice as long as the number of line...

Grab a permanent marker and newspaper or magazine from recycling. Flip to a random page, preferably with columns. First scan through the tex...

Write a poem where each word begins with the next letter in the alphabet. (You can also write a paragraph or really long sentence if you wi...

A ritual is a series of actions meant to bring about or prevent an event. A ritual gives a sense of control over the unseen forces shaping o...

For this poetry warm up, put a color in each line. Try starting with just one color. This will free you to see the color in not only objects...

Similes compare two unlike things to call your attention to similar aspects you wouldn't have seen. They help you see things in new wa...

This is an idea from Wishes, Lies, and Dreams: Teaching children to write poetry by Kenneth Koch. A bit pressed for time, here's my exp...

Free write today. Cut these up, pick one and start writing. Black Cascade The Lonely Ones Everyday Demons Burn Halo Before The Flood ...

Write a day from the view point of a wizarding apprentice's wand.

The sign in the dusty store window reads 12,023 Gifts. As you're standing there, it changes to 12,024. Intrigued you enter. What do you ...

Instructions of what to write are hidden in the purple. Do one step at a time to release you from concern about where a piece might be head...

Not an original idea ;-) but there should be more opportunities for limericks! The limerick packs laughs anatomical Into space that is qui...

Last week was the quindecennial (15th anniversary) of Wordsmith.org when Anu Garg sent out the first word of the day to a handful of grad s...

I'm Amy Morshower, Pet Psychic, also known as an Animal Communicator. Ever since I was a child, I've had a connection with animals. ...

Last week you destroyed the local bad guy who held your village in fear for the past year. (The bad guy can be an evil wizard, thug, alien i...

Jack, of the beanstalk fame, has been charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and first degree murder. Choose from one of two points ...

There are a bazillion Monopoly editions . Make it a bazillion and one by coming up with your own for your favorite movie, anime, book, fruit...

"He's what they call a "salamander," someone whose job is to control the weather." (from Aria by Kozue Amano). Two ...

“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” -- Willi...

Write from the point of view of an assembly robot. Here's some in action. What's interesting, especially in the first video, is that...

Reduplications are words containing repeated sounds. The following are some rhyming reduplications. Use them in order in a story. boogie...

Bertrand Russell presented the following "conjugation" of an "irregular verb":      I am firm.      You are obstinate.  ...

Replace the dull verbs with active verbs. Use the 1000 Verbs to Write By list if you need some inspiration. Generate 5-10 sentences for eac...

Strong verbs not only enliven writing but can bring out character. Think about the difference between a character who slinks from the room a...

Write a movie review or blurb (like in TV Guide) for one or more of the following movie titles: The Stars Fell on Henrietta Zombies on Br...

For each letter of the alphabet create a frozen drink name (alliterative if it helps your imagination).

You've awoken from cryosleep in a restful but clinical room, lights dim, Mozart playing softly. You don't know how long you've ...

Mom's been waiting in Heaven for you for a while and your time has finally come to join her. But, oops, turns out you need some chastise...

Use all of the words on each line in a sentence. Use any order and feel free to changes tenses and word forms. Make the sentences evocative ...

You're an icicle. During your life you bravely face the sun that both increases and diminishes you, wind, competition with other icicles...

Write an epigraph for a story or book. An epigraph is that cryptic bit of poetry at the beginning of a story that makes your brain hurt ;-) ...