How to Make a Write Club Prompt

 

First, let me explain why Write Club uses prompts.  

While I’m sure that every writer in Write Club is capable of typing out a knockout publication length story on their own, it is my belief that prompts help us create faster. They get us going in a certain direction by eliminating choice, which is often what slows us down. 

In our case, we're looking for prompts that help us show what we're good at. They need to be brief and universal.  

The prompts should be brief.  

They should suggest only enough to get the writer going. If we assert too much of ourselves into the prompt, the writer won’t be able to craft their own story. The resulting work would be inauthentic.

I’m looking for something that is just a fragment. A good example of this would be a prompt about a reunion. A writer could put the reunion at the beginning, middle, or end of the story. It could be a metaphorical reunion, or it could be a physical reunion. It could be a reunion of shoes. It doesn’t matter.

The only thing that matters is the quality and authenticity of the story.  

Which brings me to… 

The prompt should be universal.  

All writers should be able to write in their own style. While it may good to get others out of their comfort zone, that’s something people can do on their own time. Right now our goal is to create the best quality content we can. Now that isn’t to say that the writer can’t choose to step outside their own comfort zone. But let’s leave that choice to them. 

I want people to create from the place that is currently inspiring them.  

All prompts need to be accompanied by an example.  

When you post the prompt, you’ll need to send us a link to an example of fiction. It should be a short story, but it can also be a segment of a novel that reads like a standalone text. Hopefully the example will broaden our horizons. This is your chance to tell us to read something and actually have us read it.

All examples must be readily available on the internet. If it's an online article, you’ll need to provide us a link. The New Yorker is a goldmine since they provide all of their world class short stories online for free (eight articles per month). If your example is from a book, you’ll need to transcribe it, put it on a google a doc, and send us the link. 

The prompt should be ‘reverse engineered’ from the example 

This isn’t a rule, but I think it’s the easiest way to find a good prompt. Find a story. Perhaps your favourite short story. Find out what makes it so good. Make that 'thing' into a prompt, and make us all write stories around it. It’s a great learning opportunity for everyone involved, including those following along.  

In addition to the example, write a short blurb on the piece and prompt you are using. Tell us why you chose it, and why it is an important element of short fiction. Show us how the original author used that element to the best of their ability.  

Everyone gets to make a prompt.  

Everyone in Write Club gets a swing at choosing the prompt, finding the example, and leading the discussion. Each of us gets one segment to lead Write Club. If it’s your week coming up, the prompt is due on the Sunday before midnight, CST. Try not to submit before Sunday either. We want people focusing on the task at hand.   

And where do you post the prompt?  

It should be posted on steemit, and we’ll need a link on the Write Club discord. There’s a lot of people outside of Write Club who are still interested in following along with us on steemit. Be sure to tag ‘Writeclub’ on each prompt post. To help us promote what we are doing at Write Club, let’s resteem our peers’ prompts.  

To those who are following along, please tag ‘Writeclub’ on your story if you decide to post on steemit. We’d all love to read what you did with the prompt.  

Here's an example: 

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Segment X prompt: A metaphor for life  

Story & Author: The Lazy River by Zadie Smith  

Link: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/18/the-lazy-river 

Discussion: I recently read this article in The New Yorker and thought it would be a wonderful prompt. In this story, Smith uses a rundown resort swamped with lazy tourists to paint a metaphor for life. She also uses that metaphor as a means to draw parallels about the malaise and inequality of the modern world.  

My challenge to you, my fellow Space Monkeys, is to write a story that paints life and the modern world as something else. Zadie’s story is obviously a metaphor for life, she even says it at one point. Your story can hide that fact, or it can come right out and say it. It doesn’t matter. The story should make a couple claims about the state of things as it is, or as it once was. Again, these can be disguised (by showing) or given. Your choice. As long as it sounds like it was written by you.  

Enjoy.  
 

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I think that pretty much covers it. If anyone has any questions, ask in the comment section or DM me on discord.  

Write Club is an intensive writing program where eight writers come together to write short stories for 16 weeks. Think of it as boot camp or Crossfit for writers. Applications are currently closed for this round. For more information, click here.  

Write Club is endorsed by the Writer’s Block.