Introducing Vocal Writing Prompts

Like most writers, you have undoubtedly been at a loss for a topic to write about at some point. That happens to even the most successful writers. Writer's block is real. You can find some basic ideas to counteract your writer's block in one of my pieces here.

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”

— Mark Twain

In other words, you may just need an idea to get you started on a small, manageable writing task.

This article is to introduce you to Vocal Writing Prompts, a great Facebook support group. Vocal Writing Prompts is here to offer a plethora of powerful prompts for your writing. Vocal Writing Prompts was founded on November 27. As a young group, our membership is still growing. New members are always welcome.

Here is the Vocal Writing Prompts home page.

With Vocal Writing Prompts, a writing prompt is offered every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You can scroll through and find an idea which strikes your fancy. Before you know it, you'll be starting a new piece. And then another.

My hope in starting the group is to give members ideas for new stories, poems, and articles. Yet, Vocal Writing Prompts (VWP) is so much more than just prompts. It is also a place to share what you have already written. You may be able to find a prompt which will fit a piece for which you would like some more reads, but if nothing seems quite right, no worries. Individual posts are allowed.

There are just two major rules for VWP, as follows:

1. Be kind, respectful, and positive.

2. Read other authors' works. I request that people really read rather than scrolling to the bottom and hearting.

As the only administrator of VWP so far, I have read everything that everyone has posted, and I intent to continue to do so. You fabulous Vocal writers have my undying support. I hope you will support each other as well.

Update: I now have another administrator, Cathy Holmes. She is terrific! She is posting the Thursday prompts and reading everyone’s work.

In an attempt to get more traffic to the group, I initiated a Mini Fiction Challenge (MFC). I promised to give a tip to everyone who writes a new fictional piece for the three MFC prompts and responds to one other person's story. The quantity of the tips depended on the number of participants and the quality of the submissions.

The prompt for MFC # 1 was a wish. You cold include any kind of a wish in your fictional piece that you want - such as a Christmas or birthday wish.

For MFC # 2, I have asked that participants write a piece including a list. Again, you could include any kind of a list you can come up with in your fictional piece.

The prompt for MFC # 3 is time. You coils write a period piece, a time travel story, a story set in a clock shop, or an unusual piece in which time is warped in some way, or anything else your creativity can conjure.

This MFC ended on December 31, 2021. To find the results of the MFC, you can read this piece.

Visit the Vocal Writing Prompts home page. Here's that link again.

If you are looking for ideas for writing topics, if you are looking for reads, if you are looking for some fun interchange and ways to improve as a writer, I encourage you to check out Vocal Writing Prompts. See you there!