For those of you who would like to see the prompts that were done this year, I’ve pasted the list below. It starts with the Monday, December 30th, 2019 and ends with Friday, January 1st, 2021. I’m sure there were a couple of days missing and there might be a few prompts that repeated, however even if the prompt repeated, the story that came out of it was different each time. Some of the story ideas that came out of these exercise are simply the literary equivalent of throat clearing while others will go on to be stories of their own. The point wasn’t to create something great in fifteen minutes but to wake up my brain and get me in the habit of writing every day. They managed to do both. I can’t wait to see what stories arrive in 2021.
Writing Prompts 2020
Monday, December 30th: The back door was unlocked.
Tuesday, December 31st: The snow fell thickly, swaddling the world in a blanket of white.
Wednesday, January 1st: She laughed.
Thursday, January 2nd: The music was playing softly when we arrived.
Friday, January 3rd: The first rays of dawn streaked the sky with crimson.
Monday, January 6th: The door would not close.
Tuesday, January 7th: He was perfectly placed for such a thing.
Wednesday, January 8th: The note was left on the kitchen table.
Thursday, January 9th: The fence was down.
Friday, January 10th: Sparks flew.
Monday, January 13th: Mist rolled off the lake.
Tuesday, January 14th: The sky was clear, the sun strong and bright.
Wednesday, January 15th: Lightning flashed.
Thursday, January 16th: She held her breath.
Friday, January 17th: The earth trembled.
Monday, January 20th: The cup lay on its side.
Tuesday, January 21st: What was that noise?
Wednesday, January 22nd: The glaze dripped down the sides.
Thursday, January 23rd: The scent was strong.
Friday, January 24th: It is time to organize.
Monday, January 27th: It was submerged.
Tuesday, January 28th: Does it work?
Wednesday, January 29th: He scrubbed harder than he intended.
Thursday, January 30th: It proved harder than he thought.
Friday, January 31st: Smoke rose in a thick column to the sky.
Monday, February 3rd: Various theories were advanced.
Tuesday, February 4th: He leaned forward.
Wednesday, February 5th: He said he wanted to correct a few misunderstandings.
Thursday, February 6th: He took the matter to the king.
Friday, February 7th: His optimism was not shared.
Monday, February 10th: He forgot his umbrella.
Tuesday, February 11th: The apple was red.
Wednesday, February 12th: The pie looked delicious.
Thursday, February 13th: Over the next few hours there were various conflicting accounts.
Friday, February 14th: I had not considered that.
Monday, February 17th: The clock in the hall began to chime.
Tuesday, February 18th: Jesse, who hadn’t spoken to a stranger in thirty-six years, at first seemed ill at ease.
Wednesday, February 19th: There are the vines permanently in pots.
Thursday, February 20th: If you don’t find out who he is how will you face the others?
Friday, February 21st: It appears to have been specifically commissioned.
Monday, February 24th: They saw the river in the distance.
Tuesday, February 25th: Obviously she knows.
Wednesday, February 26th: The line was thin.
Thursday, February 27th: It’s just a story.
Friday, February 28th: She did not know what motivated their travels.
Monday, March 2nd: At last we reached the ravaged countryside.
Tuesday, March 3rd: The sound was oddly comforting.
Wednesday, March 4th: It was a series of whiny complaints.
Thursday, March 5th: She saw movement out of the corner of her eye.
Friday, March 6th: It was a very large room.
Monday, March 9th: The car wouldn’t start.
Tuesday, March 10th: He looked up, and then slowly walked across the landing pad.
Wednesday, March 11th: The light was reflected.
Thursday, March 12th: Over the years I have been a great admirer of antiques; and admirer not an expert.
Friday, March 13th: he hung his head.
Monday, March 16th: It talked about the early days of settlement.
Tuesday, March 17th: It was a sea of green.
Wednesday, March 18th: It was so delicious.
Thursday, March 19th: I got hungry for pizza, then the whole thing went to hell.
Friday, March 20th: He was silent for some time.
Monday, March 23rd: You are exactly right.
Tuesday, March 24th: It was raining.
Wednesday, March 25th: The inside of the shell proved a different matter.
Thursday, March 26th: Her talk annoyed me.
Friday, March 27th: It is clear you are lying.
Monday, March 30th: The spices listed included cinnamon.
Tuesday, March 31st: It was under a lime-tree.
Wednesday, April 1st: Almost all its leaders were destroyed.
Thursday, April 2nd: It grows well in a container.
Friday, April 3rd: It is too much, this talk of hereditary resemblance.
Monday, April 6th: It’s gone.
Tuesday, April 7th: Dinner is at six.
Wednesday, April 8th: The industry was slowly emerging.
Thursday, April 9th: We made improvements.
Friday, April 10th: It was chaos.
Monday, April 13th: It was part of the flight to the bucolic countryside.
Tuesday, April 14th: The scent was almost overwhelming.
Wednesday, April 15th: English chefs molded images of honored guests in colored marzipan.
Thursday, April 16th: The news was good.
Friday, April 17th: She squeezed one eye shut.
Monday, April 20th: She could think of a million reasons to argue.
Tuesday, April 21st: The pen cap was missing.
Wednesday, April 22nd: There is always a catch.
Thursday, April 23rd: It was loose.
Friday, April 24th: The silence was heavy.
Monday, April 27th: It lay across the ground.
Tuesday, April 28th: It was a key.
Wednesday, April 29th: The passengers boarded the Patagonia.
Thursday, April 30th: The car rolled forward.
Friday, May 1st: Bob called and he said to tell you he took care of things.
Monday, May 4th: He lunged.
Tuesday, May 5th: She awoke with a start.
Wednesday, May 6th: Sorry I’m late.
Thursday, May 7th: The ship’s systems claimed everything was operating normally.
Friday, May 8th: A cat yowled.
Monday, May 11th: The fire burned.
Tuesday, May 12th: The air was thick with moisture.
Wednesday, May 13th: From time to time he took himself to the window and stared out.
Thursday, May 14th: It’s an earthquake.
Friday, May 15th: He certainly collected enough material.
Monday, May 18th: That was the night of his first appearance.
Tuesday, May 19th: Michael stared at the shaft of light coming in through the curtain less window.
Wednesday, May 20th: The building was enormous.
Thursday, May 21st: “Tell me,” he said, his voice wearing thin.
Friday, May 22nd: It was dark, but dawn was coming.
Monday, May 25th: She sat up in bed, eyes wide with fear and heart racing.
Tuesday, May 26th: The mornings were still cold, even this deep into the summer.
Wednesday, May 27th: It was four am and I was still awake.
Thursday, May 28th: He doesn’t look like a revolutionary.
Friday, May 29th: She lay in the bed quietly trying not to move.
Monday, June 1st: “That’s one hell of a shiner,” he said.
Tuesday, June 2nd: It was cold and dark.
Wednesday, June 3rd: She turned towards the stairs.
Thursday, June 4th: She inhaled deeply.
Friday, June 5th: She stood on the sidewalk staring at the white letters on the black sign.
Monday, June 8th: Grocery shopping for the party was quite an event for her.
Tuesday, June 9th: Two months ago, he purchased an engagement ring.
Wednesday, June 10th: They reached the end of the corridor.
Thursday, June 11th: From his window Martin watched the groundskeepers scurrying about the south lawn.
Friday, June 12th: It was a good day.
Monday, June 15th: The land slipped by in green silence.
Tuesday, June 16th: He tapped his pen on the top of the file.
Wednesday, June 17th: James pushed the heavy wood and glass door open and stepped inside.
Thursday, June 18th: Lisa walked into the office building.
Friday, June 19th: It was the sound of the boots echoing in the concrete walkway that woke her.
Monday, June 22nd: Promise me.
Tuesday, June 23rd: The path was dark.
Wednesday, June 24th: She stared at her mother with mingled disbelief and horror.
Thursday, June 25th: The scent was strong in the air.
Friday, June 26th: Nothing changed.
Monday, June 29th: Robert smiled back hiding his distaste.
Tuesday, June 30th: You’re sure she’ll be able to help?
Wednesday, July 1st: She lay sprawled on the cool grass.
Thursday, July 2nd: Olivia gasped awake and sat up in bed.
Friday, July 3rd: He leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his eyes.
Monday, July 6th: What is that?
Tuesday, July 7th: She pulled on her gloves as she crossed the lobby.
Wednesday, July 8th: Her attention was focused.
Thursday, July 9th: He was younger than I thought he’d be.
Friday, July 10th: He was younger than I thought he’d be.
Monday, July 13th: It was the height that bothered him.
Tuesday, July 14th: I stood on the porch, staring at the front door.
Wednesday, July 15th: It took a lifetime to reach this point.
Thursday, July 16th: They had been arguing for hours.
Friday, July 17th: It’s only for a few days.
Monday, July 20th: The sun rose.
Tuesday, July 21st: I sat at my desk and pretended to work.
Wednesday, July 22nd: The house had been picked clean.
Thursday, July 23rd: The sound of the rain was my only companion as I walked the overgrown pathway.
Friday, July 24th: Did I oversleep?
Monday, July 27th: She took a glass of champagne from the circling waiter and smiled politely.
Tuesday, July 28th: She inhaled deeply.
Wednesday, July 29th: The three story commercial building was an investment property.
Thursday, July 30th: The scent of paint and turpentine mixed with Vivaldi in the air.
Friday, July 31st: Dinner was a silent affair.
Monday, August 3rd: The orchards were stripped of their leaves by the winter winds.
Tuesday, August 4th: It was a good day.
Wednesday, August 5th: They’re coming.
Thursday, August 6th: She became aware of a disturbance.
Friday, August 7th: The building housed expensive apartments and was known to be quite exclusive in its tenancy.
Monday, August 10th: In all that din, witnesses noticed two strange occurrences.
Tuesday, August 11th: A pained expression appeared on her face.
Wednesday, August 12th: She brought her hands up.
Thursday, August 13th: He pressed the elevator button for the top floor.
Friday, August 14th: He was about to take a drink when he noticed them.
Monday, August 17th: We missed out on lunch.
Tuesday, August 18th: He piloted his vehicle out of the parking garage, exiting on a side street rather than using the drive nearest the lobby.
Wednesday, August 19th: I stood at the edge of the ocean.
Thursday, August 20th: They say that no city is every truly quiet, but in the moments just before 3 a.m. Everett Street had a certain hush to it.
Friday, August 21st: A loud knock sounded at the front door.
Monday, August 24th: It would be a relief to spend a few days in the country.
Tuesday, August 25th: He went to bed with a problem and woke up with a solution.
Wednesday, August 26th: Jess turned away from the meager garden and smiled at the trees.
Thursday, August 27th: She stepped into the wind and felt it bite.
Friday, August 28th: The emotions hit her as the door was opened.
Monday, August 31st: They were both silent as they drove.
Tuesday, September 1st: She pressed the button marked up to call the elevator and waited for it to arrive.
Wednesday, September 2nd: They reached the end of the corridor.
Thursday, September 3rd: The elevator deposited them in the atrium of Midtown accounting.
Friday, September 4th: Somehow she had the feeling the tension would worsen before Monday.
Monday, September 7th: She was not alone in hearing the noise.
Tuesday, September 8th: “Something the matter Miss?” the cab driver asked.
Wednesday, September 9th: The sun didn’t last long.
Thursday, September 10th: I closed the book and lay the pen on the table beside it.
Friday, September 11th: Last night was a mistake.
Monday, September 14th: The panic was now general.
Tuesday, September 15th: Their faces were white in the darkness.
Wednesday, September 16th: The speaker was a tall thin man.
Thursday, September 17th: She put away her extra clothes.
Friday, September 18th: I am amazed by your progress.
Monday, September 21st: He left it in the sun.
Tuesday, September 22nd: Elizabeth arrived before them and was already standing by issuing orders.
Wednesday, September 23rd: It was a long and fatiguing march.
Thursday, September 24th: Mr. Harkin seemed to realize he was slapping his leg with the folder and stopped.
Friday, September 25th: I wish I never found it.
Monday, September 28th: Well, look who returned.
Tuesday, September 29th: The tall, rectangular windows offered a view of the lower slopes.
Wednesday, September 30th: The tall, rectangular windows offered a view of the lower slopes.
Thursday, October 1st: He ran his fingers along the table’s surface.
Friday, October 2nd: Max drove on, through rows of well-kept vines.
Monday, October 5th: The captain had no trouble raising men for the expedition.
Tuesday, October 6th: The target was too tempting to ignore.
Wednesday, October 7th: He ordered a round of drinks for the table.
Thursday, October 8th: It had been raining for three days.
Friday, October 9th: There was a certain Logic to his pattern of employment.
Monday, October 12th: They were bewildered by what they heard.
Tuesday, October 13th: All these possibilities hinged on one thing.
Wednesday, October 14th: By the time their letters reached their destination, the information was outdated.
Thursday, October 15th: Despite previous encouragement, now he asked them to cease and desist.
Friday, October 16th: It was a frank assessment of their strength and a cynical evaluation of their aims.
Monday, October 19th: Every move was being watched.
Tuesday, October 20th: This is an amazing document.
Wednesday, October 21st: They would fight until they were bled dry.
Thursday, October 22nd: Five of their ships slammed into the coral, tearing huge holes in their hulls.
Friday, October 23rd: Despite his frown he was enormously relieved.
Monday, October 26th: He left three hundred men to guard it.
Tuesday, October 27th: He could only hope his wounds didn’t become infected.
Wednesday, October 28th: He was never much of a sailor.
Thursday, October 29th: They couldn’t help but look at the flag now flying overhead.
Friday, October 30th: They never saw it coming.
Monday, November 2nd: Their accounts differed greatly.
Tuesday, November 3rd: They let the myth get out of control.
Wednesday, November 4th: He was philosophical about his defeat.
Thursday, November 5th: There was a strange comfort in knowing he could no longer turn aside from his course.
Friday, November 6th: He was eager to get started.
Monday, November 9th: He used every tool at his disposal to try and keep the island together.
Tuesday, November 10th: There was little shelter to be found.
Wednesday, November 11th: Returning wasn’t an issue.
Thursday, November 12th: The box was empty.
Friday, November 13th: Her smile widened.
Monday, November 16th: It felt like the end of everything.
Tuesday, November 17th: That sounds like exactly what we need right now.
Wednesday, November 18th: I’ve come for you, Herbert.
Thursday, November 19th: The car was his pride and joy.
Friday, November 20th: Before today, no one ever escaped.
Monday, November 23rd: Somehow he was branded an outlaw.
Tuesday, November 24th: It looked as though no one was home.
Wednesday, November 25th: The comet blazed across the sky.
Thursday, November 26th: The house stood as it always had.
Friday, November 27th: He was a quiet man.
Monday, November 30th: The scent of maple syrup was strong.
Tuesday, December 1st: Their laughter echoed off the bricks.
Wednesday, December 2nd: I thought you were the smart one.
Thursday, December 3rd: The table was piled high with snack foods.
Friday, December 4th: His moustache was thick and luxurious.
Monday, December 7th: This will be epic.
Tuesday, December 8th: I’ve waited for this for a long, long time.
Wednesday, December 9th: He was the only left handed person in the group of suspects.
Thursday, December 10th: The blanket was as soft as a dream.
Friday, December 11th: The door was left wide open.
Monday, December 14th: That was the day he rolled into town.
Tuesday, December 15th: It was a shocking miscalculation.
Wednesday, December 16th: “I dabble”, he confessed.
Thursday, December 17th: He seemed singularly disinterested.
Friday, December 18th: What would you do in my place?
Monday, December 21st: It is a master of deception.
Tuesday, December 22nd: The bell kept ringing.
Wednesday, December 23rd: For once, he was rendered speechless.
Thursday, December 24th: And so, we start again.
Friday, December 25th: This is exactly what I pictured.
Monday, December 28th: Clearly, that solved nothing.
Tuesday, December 29th: Please, try to enjoy the evening.
Wednesday, December 30th: The trail went off into the distance, disappearing around the hill.
Thursday, December 31st: Eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Friday, January 1st: Only nine people attended the premier, and two fled during the first hour.
Ten til Midnight 