Short Story Ideas From Sample Paragraphs
Opening Lines Make Great Writing Prompts – Just Keep Scribbling
Oct 7, 2009
It’s amazing that writers can have so much trouble finding inspiration for new short stories or novels in their own heads, yet can often respond quickly when someone else offers an idea. The following writing prompts work on the concept: “Here’s your first few line... write it out and just keep writing!” Writers can use these with confidence, knowing that they are not from published work, so no plagiarism is involved. They are a gift from your muse.
Writing Prompts
“Speak of the devil, here she comes now.” Charlotte waved exuberantly to Rosie, and then made a pretence of drinking from her empty coffee mug in order to whisper: “Oh my God! Just look what she’s wearing!”
Concentrate, Michael, concentrate! It’s the most important presentation of your career. He cleared his throat and started again. “I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, where was I? Oh yes, If you look at the monthly projections on this Powerpoint slide, you’ll be astonished to ...” That damned woman in the front row had crossed her legs again, this time revealing, of all things, a stocking top and garter belt. He could no longer shrug it off as an accident. She was deliberately trying to distract him – and she was succeeding.
“What sort of answer is that?” Alec and Big John hung their heads. “He’s left the country? Of course, he’s left the damned country. I said: ‘Bring him to me.’ I didn’t say he’ll be next door having a quiet beer, did I? “ Barney stood and buttoned his coat, glaring from one cowed man to the other. “I don’t care if he’s hiding out in an igloo at the North Pole. I want him found!”
First Paragraphs Should Have Writing Hooks
“The trouble is...,” Yvonne said, rubbing the side of her nose pensively, “the trouble is that Darryn doesn’t think it’s ethical. I don’t know what possessed me to marry such a moraliser. But for him, I could be making a lot of money.”
Anthea patted her hand “Don’t worry about Darryn, my dear. I think I know how to keep him quiet.”
On-line dating sites are for the young ones, not old girls like me, Dee kept telling herself. Yet, daily she was drawn to look at the pictures – smart-looking grey haired men, even a few with moustaches ... she always did like a good moustache. And they were saying they wanted a lasting relationship with women aged 40 -55. At 50, did she dare?
His father had said, “You can go as far as the trees, but no further.” When he got to the trees, he discovered there were more trees, so he looked at them. Then there were more trees behind those trees, and now all the trees looked alike and he couldn’t see the house any more.
“If you’re lost, perhaps I can help.” The raspy voice was so close to his ear that it made him jump.
The six prompts above are sufficiently vague to allow the aspiring writer freedom to take the story anywhere. It is even possible to have a little fun with them by changing the genre with a few deft brush strokes:
Creative Writing Prompts Allow Fun Genre Change
“The trouble is ... “ Xeronin said, rubbing his snout with a rubbery tentacle, “ the trouble is that the Earthlings don’t think it’s ethical.”
Grandma Rabbit said, “Peter Fluff, you can go as far as the trees but no further.”
“Speak of the devil! Ain’t that young Josh Rogan ridin’ in now?” Billy held a whiskey glass high above his head to signal the rider over to the saloon porch. “Well, would you look at that. He’s wearin’ his Daddy’s old cavalry pistol. Ain’t he the dude!”
These paragraph writing prompts also make useful models for the new writer who wants to learn to write opening paragraphs with lots of hooks to grab the reader. Paragraph prompts are just one of many styles ofwriting prompts.
