Prompts
For Future Fiction Fun. Top Story - August 2025.
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts — The Exercise: Buy a notebook to use for just this one exercise. Then, on a regular basis, perhaps at the beginning of your writing time, or before you go to bed, write for ten to twenty minutes addressing each of the following subjects: * List in detail all the places you have lived - one place per page. (This is a good way to begin because it gives the entire notebook a concrete grounding in time and place.) You might even want to get very specific, say by recounting all the kitchens or bedrooms. * Next, recall if you were happy or unhappy in those places. * Consider your parents' relationship, from their point of view. *List important family members: brothers and sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins. What were the dynamics of your nuclear family, your extended family? (Some of these subjects may take several twenty-minute sessions. Leave space for unfinished business.)
By Denise E Lindquist5 months ago in Writers
The First 100 Words: How to Write Openings That Stop Scrolls Cold
Why Your First 100 Words Can Make or Break You on Vocal Let’s be blunt: no one owes you their attention. In an online world overflowing with short attention spans, TikTok clips, and never-ending scrolls, getting someone to click on your Vocal story is already a victory—but keeping them there is the real battle.
By Muhammad Sabeel5 months ago in Writers
A Man's Guide to Thriving
The truth about aging hits different when you're staring at your reflection one morning and wondering when your eyebrows decided to go rogue. While Troy Breiland hilariously captures the "follicular betrayal" of middle age in his recent piece about men falling apart, there's another side to this story - one where you don't just survive the changes, but actually master them.
By Narghiza Ergashova5 months ago in Writers
What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers
Author's Note: These prompts may not be for beginner fiction writers! They sound tough to me. Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter - What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts - The Exercise: This one is in two parts. First experiment with different types of openings for different stories until you feel comfortable with the technique of each. Then see how many ways there are to open one particular story you have in mind. How does the story change when the opening changes from a generalization to a line of dialogue? The Objective: To see how experimenting with several ways of opening your story can lead you to a better understanding of whose story it is, and what the focus of the story will be.
By Denise E Lindquist5 months ago in Writers
The Youngest Voice in the Silence — How I Wrote 10 Books Before 18. AI-Generated.
When most teenagers are figuring out who they are, I was figuring out how to tell the world my story — and the stories of countless emotions that live inside us. By 18, I had authored 10 books, each carrying a part of me: my thoughts, my poetry, my reflections on peace, and my fascination with the beauty of silence.
By Malaika Nawaz5 months ago in Writers
The Mastermind Games: Season 03 Last Episode 03
Snow fell lightly as Isha and Rafiq made their way through the industrial outskirts of the city. The map Clara had unknowingly unlocked had guided them here—to the location of the last AI core. The final node.
By Engr. Mansoor Ahmad5 months ago in Writers
The Mastermind Games: Season 02 Episode 02
Descending the steel staircase beneath the Glass City, the players entered a sterile corridor glowing with cold blue light. It smelled of metal, antiseptic, and something faintly chemical—like memories burned into wire.
By Engr. Mansoor Ahmad5 months ago in Writers
What It Really Takes to Write a Book. AI-Generated.
People often say… “Wow, you’ve written 10 books!” And yes — it sounds easy when you say it like that. But the truth? It’s not just writing. It’s writing, then editing, then reading it again and realizing it’s still not perfect.
By Malaika Nawaz5 months ago in Writers
ViM's Bulletin Board
We've been busy behind the scenes at ViM. Running here and there. Signing papers for this place, taking pictures for that one. Packing bags and loading boxes. While I'm preparing for a move into a new-to-me house on the other side of town, Celia and River are dealing with the stress of traveling to a different country. Plus the animals. Both of us, ViM admins, were blessed with a love for our furbabies, so of course, we have to include them in our plans.
By Mother Combs5 months ago in Writers
I Won the Global Recognition Award – Here's What It Means to Me. AI-Generated.
A few months ago, I was just a young girl with a pen, a blank page, and dreams louder than the world around me. Today, I’m proud to say that I’ve been awarded the Global Recognition Award — and I’m still letting that sink in.
By Malaika Nawaz5 months ago in Writers
