Tag Archives: story prompt

Of Moss and Stones that Roll

Posted in Travel Writings, Writings about Writing by
Mossy stones in the creek

You’ve probably heard the old phrase “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” There’s no proof of exactly who coined the term or when, but it likely originated as a Latin phrase and it’s been well-known in English-speaking areas for several hundred years now. 

The basic meaning of the phrase is two-fold. A somewhat negative spin on the phrase is someone who is a rolling stone has no home and no roots, and can never “gather moss,” or collect anything permanent like wealth, family, or stability. A more positive meaning is a person who is carefree with no worries or commitments, or a perpetual traveler who is a “citizen of the world.” 

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Story Prompts and Inspiration

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses, Writings about Writing by

Story ideas can come from anywhere. A photo, a song, a snatch of overheard conversation, a stroll through a garden, someone else’s book cover—the smallest thing can often prompt the germ of an idea. 

I don’t usually use story prompts—at least, not the type of story prompt that’s an actual premise. Nothing against that sort of story prompt. A hundred awesome books by a hundred different people can come from a single sentence prompt. Books, blogs, and online generators can be a great help to anyone who wants to try something new or even just needs help getting unstuck. 

I’ve had my share of getting stuck on projects, and for me, one of the best ways to prompt myself into writing again is to look at pictures. I also use music as inspiration a lot, but a picture can usually give me more concrete ideas. 

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Story Prompt Pictures

Posted in Writings about Writing by

Sometimes you just need a good picture to jolt your creativity or give you some ideas. Whether it’s a landscape, a city scene, a fantastical image, or some little detail that often goes unnoticed, studying pictures can help us bring richness and details into our writing.

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