Be Inspired
From the Magazine | Interviews | Poetry Prompts | The Writer's Life (Book Recommendations / Overcoming Writer's Block / Writing Habits and Practices) | Vintage WD | Writing Prompts | Writing Quotes
Find the prompts, interviews, quotes, book recommendations, and other inspirational articles to help you write that novel, short story, article, or whatever other piece of writing you're currently working on...or that you want to write! Our Be Inspired sections are here to get the creative juices flowing.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 559
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. This week, write a short poem.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 24
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to create a new myth.
8 Lawrence Ferlinghetti Quotes for Writers and About Writing
Here are 8 Lawrence Ferlinghetti quotes for writers and about writing from the author of A Coney Island of the Mind, Poetry as Insurgent Art, and Pictures of the Gone World. In these quotes, Ferlinghetti covers time, craft, passion, and more.
Russ Thomas: The Beginning and Ending of Writing
Mystery and crime novelist Russ Thomas discusses why he believes character is the beginning and ending of writing and what inspired his latest book, Nighthawking.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 23
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write something based off a random word.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 22
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to play with form.
Liz Heinecke: On Writing Creative Nonfiction
Nonfiction author Liz Heinecke explores her journey from writing books for children to a more general audience and the journey to write her latest book Radiant.
How to Create the Mental Space to Write
Author Julia Kelly explains why it's important to cultivate internal space to write and gives you tips for how to do so.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 21
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write about something that scares you.
5 Best Practices for Zoom Writers’ Rooms
Author and professor Terri Francis delivers the top 5 tips for making writing in a Zoom writer's room a pleasurable and productive experience.
Ehsan Ahmad and Shakil Ahmad: Character-Based Stories
Science-fiction authors Ehsan and Shakil Ahmad explain how they came to write their debut novel Wild Sun: Unbound and how to become comfortable with rejection.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 20
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write about an unopened letter.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 19
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write about an argument.
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Item Retrieval
Every good story needs a nice (or not so nice) turn or two to keep it interesting. This week, make a character retrieve an item.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 18
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write someone's online dating profile.
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 558
Every Wednesday, Robert Lee Brewer shares a prompt and an example poem to get things started on the Poetic Asides blog. This week, write a question poem.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 17
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write a second-person how-to.
Zak Salih: On Embracing the Selfishness of Writing
Debut novelist Zak Salih considers how his viewpoint on writing vs. revision led him to embrace the messiness of the writing process and why he wrote Let's Get Back to the Party.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 16
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write about boring becoming something exciting.
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 15
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write someone who needs to take a deep breath.
Paisley Rekdal: Writing About Appropriation and the Creative Process
In this post, Paisley Rekdal shares why she started writing on appropriation in literature, what unexpected things she learned about appropriation and the creative process, and more!
2021 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 14
Write a piece of flash fiction each day of February with the February Flash Fiction Challenge, led by editor Moriah Richard. Each day, receive a prompt, example story, and write your own. Today's prompt is to write about platonic love.