5 Creative Writing Prompts for the Quarantined Writer

If you, like the rest of the world, have been stuck inside of your home because of the Coronavirus, why not use this as a time to increase your writing productivity? After all, we’re not the only writers who have been forced to self-isolate; it has been said that Shakespeare produced his play, King Lear, while facing the plague as well. 

However, I don’t know about you, but my creativity often becomes stifled when I’m locked indoors for too long. Sometimes all I need is a walk in the neighborhood (or the treadmill), a writing prompt—and, of course, dark chocolate—to get those creative juices flowing again.

If you’re in need of fresh inspiration, I challenge you to put down the TV remote. Make good use of this time by allowing your imagination to run wild with one, or all, of the writing prompts listed below. 

Feel free to share your responses to these prompts in the comments!

1. Choose one country, or city, you have always had an itch to visit, and pretend as though you are vacationing to this place and have decided to keep a travel journal. (This should take place after the virus clears, of course!) Write the first entry of your travel journal. What did you do on your first day of vacation? Did you meet anyone significant? Did you go sightseeing? What kind of food did you eat?
2.  Write about the best dream adventure you have ever experienced. Why did you enjoy this dream, and what happened during it? Explain the dream, and then pretend as if you have returned to that dream world. How does it continue to unfold in your imagination?
3. You wake up and mysteriously find yourself in the castle pictured at this link. What happens next?
4. Find three objects that are within reach. Now, pretend as though these are the three objects you have chosen to bring with you to a deserted island, and write a story that involves you surviving on this island with these three objects.
5. Put your music on shuffle. Then, write a scene or story idea that combines the first song that plays and the first image to appear on this randomize list of photographs. Keep going—pairing the second song with the second photograph, etc.—until you have written five scenes and/or story ideas.

Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who writes inspirational yet authentic books for teens to remind them they’re not alone. She writes both fiction and devotionals for teens, including her upcoming release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Her latest devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, encourages teens to pursue a personal relationship with Christ. Tessa’s passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating art journals, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is through connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.