Category Archives: A Pen In Each Hand

Writing Exercises.

December 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by
Reply

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: confusion, lend, lid, know, fitness.
    2. Use the phrase “That changes everything.”
    3. Write about a nearly forgotten friend.
  2. Use these 5 words: derail, safety, trailer, sinking, bridge.
  3. Write about a song stuck in your head.
  4. Start with this line of dialogue: “I woke up at three in the morning.”
  5. Write about something found that’s unexpectedly wonderful.
  6. Start with this line of dialogue: “That’s sick.”
  7. Write about what a wild bird wants.
  8. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: bowl, tree, box, safe, coffee.
    2. Write about monsters in the closet.
    3. Use the phrase: “It’s almost like a spoonful of sugar”.
  9. Write about hooking up electronic equipment
  10. Write about: a child ripped out of her mother’s arms.
  11. Write about a brunch date
  12. Start with this line of dialogue: “It’s pretty self-explanatory.”
  13. Write about a new diet.
  14. Start with this line of dialogue: “It was that kind of a day.”
  15. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: flexible, map, remedy, revoke, hiccup.
    2. Use the phrase “You’re probably going to hate this.”
    3. Write about winning something that’s unwanted.
  16. Write about: a deepening crisis.
  17. Rewrite a historical narrative with a new ending.
  18. Your setting is: afternoon, strong wind, country estate, creepy atmosphere.
  19. Write about fighting over decorations.
  20. Use these 5 words: rhetoric, college, genius, test, history.
  21. Write about the day the sun stood still.
  22. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: bomb, strap, guerrilla, designer, outside.
    2. Use the phrase “What’s the deal?”
    3. Write about oncoming winter.
  23. The sudden realization that the bird is speaking English.
  24. Write about: being held without the possibility of bail.
  25. Write about the first holiday with a missing loved one.
  26. Start with this line of dialogue: “There is no time to waste.”
  27. Write about choosing not to return an unusable gift
  28. Use these 5 words: brain, frustrated, innovative, process, artist.
  29. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: vague, panel, square, offset, credibility.
    2. Use the phrase “I missed that.”
    3. Write about finding something unexpected in one’s self.
  30. Your setting is: late afternoon, heavy rain, mountain, mystical atmosphere.
  31. Use the phrase, “Well, I guess it’s over.”

November 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by
Reply

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about watching a kid with a sugar high.
  2. Your setting is: evening, hazy-humid, a small town, hostile atmosphere.
  3. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Write about the sound of a machine.
    2. Fill in the blank: “I just did it for _________ and giggles.”
    3. Use the following five words: slant, greet, insert, quest, widen.
  4. Write about: glaciers shrinking.
  5. Write about failing to attach that crucial file to the e-mail.
  6. Write about a character who is: judgmental, eccentric & secretive.
  7. A software upgrade gone wrong
  8. Use these 5 words: smash, complexity, breathe, sadness, glass.
  9. Write about geese honking in the night.
  10. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Write about discovering a new talent in someone you know.
    2. Fill in the blank: ” _________ like you’ve never done it before.”
    3. Use the following five words: fine, suffering, clerk, faint, aware.
  11. Write about an end to hostilities.
  12. Write about: turning away people.
  13. Write about sending that letter you never intended to send.
  14. Start with this line of dialogue: “This is kind of a perfect ending.”
  15. Use the phrase, “Is it Friday yet?”
  16. Write about: an unlikely prophet.
  17. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Write about hurrying and fouling something up as a result.
    2. Fill in the blank: “_________ has happened again.”
    3. Use the following five words: design, heel, gas, shed, angle.
  18. Write about: a spoiled brat.
  19. Write about how not to do something.
  20. Start with this line of dialogue: “I’m supposed to be taking notes.”
  21. Write about the moment of realizing help isn’t coming.
  22. Use these 5 words: police, pressure, falsehoods, coffee, pencils.
  23. Write a heartwarming story about a dysfunctional family.
  24. Join us for live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: rib, receipt, mean, linen, cultural.
    2. Fill in the blank: “You’re rooting for the wrong _________ .”
    3. Write about waiting to deal with a dreaded occurrence.
  25. Explain why “Wait, what?” is the most important question.
  26. Use these 5 words: slump, game, goal, buddies, crucial.
  27. Write about stopping to turn a turtle right side up.
  28. Write about a character who is: aggressive, ambitious & rude.
  29. Write about clothes that are threadbare in interesting places.
  30. Your setting is: noon, ice on the ground, a small town, charming atmosphere.

October 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by
Reply

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about a sound heard out of context
  2. Use these 5 words: gift wrapping, lemon, candles, anniversary, impatient.
  3. Use another sense in describing something.
  4. Use these 5 words: swan, stigma, implications, ideology, ethics.
  5. Write about sending a message by carrier pigeon.
  6. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Write about preparations for a storm.
    2. Fill in the blank: “I really need to _________ before I sleep.”
    3. Use the following five words: cooperate, portion, trip, blackmail, herb.
  7. Use the phrase, “Did I miss something?”
  8. Your setting is: dawn, a band of heavy cloud, suburbs, sad atmosphere.
  9. Write about waiting for a call.
  10. Use these 5 words: cookbooks, trained, resign, successor, inspired.
  11. Even on a momentous day, people still need to eat.
  12. Write about: a widespread problem.
  13. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Write about wanting to be alone
    2. Fill in the blank: “When does _________ happen?”
    3. Use the following five words: mud, wonder, banish, embarrassment, child
  14. Use these 5 words: speech, generation, confidence, leaders, innocence.
  15. Write about getting lost on purpose.
  16. Write about a character who is: fearless, daring & lonely.
  17. Interview your main character for a TV talk show.
  18. Use these 5 words: custom, dressing, model, exclusive, eye.
  19. Use the phrase, “The Ancients understood this.”
  20. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Write about waiting in traffic or a crowd
    2. Fill in the blank: “Kids these days don’t _________.”
    3. Use the following five words: dance, hover, penetrate, indulge, aunt.
  21. Write about weather delaying plans.
  22. Use these 5 words: bird, plummeted, downtown, trolley, traffic.
  23. Write about correcting the spell checker.
  24. Write about a pop-up bunny cafe.
  25. On this date in history…
  26. Write about being kind to a stranger.
  27. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Write about figuring out why something happened.
    2. Fill in the blank: “Oh, is it time for _________ again?”
    3. Use the following five words: vision, integrity, fix, mushroom, condition.
  28. Start with this line of dialogue: “I just feel disappointed in myself.”
  29. Write about adding the wrong powder to pumpkin spice.
  30. Write about a very thoughtful gift.
  31. Write about somebody else’s holiday traditions

September 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: program, honest, instrument, willpower, resist.
    2. Fill in the blank: “Last time we did this, _________ happened.”
    3. Write about a character meeting someone who knew their parents.
  2. Use these 5 words: surprise, help, superheroes, wrongdoing, threatens.
  3. Write about kneading bread while having a difficult conversation
  4. Use these 5 words: remembrance, immigrants, letter, portrait, fire.
  5. Write about waiting for a machine to finish.
  6. Write about: the only human left in the world.
  7. Write about a busy day after several days off.
  8. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
  9. Write about an autocorrect disaster
  10. Your setting is: evening, thick fog, by the sea, sad atmosphere.
  11. What goes through a busy mind during a shared moment of silence?
  12. Your setting is: noon, thunderstorm overhead, on a ship, lonely atmosphere.
  13. Invent a new 13-phobic superstition
  14. Write about a character who is: inspirational, restless & nurturing.
  15. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: supply, side, corruption, mourning, belly.
    2. Fill in the blank: “_________ you very much.”
    3. Write about getting drafted for some task.
  16. Start with this line of dialogue: “This is a stretch.”
  17. Write about a malfunctioning thermostat.
  18. Write about a character who is: nurturing, idealistic & adventurous.
  19. Setting: That snow cave they dug last year.
  20. Write about a character who is: optimistic, considerate & fun-loving.
  21. Day and night, evenly balanced. What is unbalanced?
  22. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: smile, crack, back, labour, pioneer.
    2. Fill in the blank: “Once a _________, whether we need it or not.”
    3. Write about a pair of things (or people, or creatures …), one of which is missing.
  23. “This is the part of the job where we ______.”
  24. Write about: how you define love.
  25. Write about a sudden distraction.
  26. Write about a character who is: lively, adventurous & selfish.
  27. Write about something only the mathphobic people see.
  28. Start with this line of dialogue: “This is unacceptable.”
  29. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: expand, request, weak, barrier, distance.
    2. Fill in the blanks: “Once a _________, always a _________.”
    3. Write about the difficulty of finding hope.
  30. Start with this line of dialogue: “He made an ass of himself.”

August 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about very hot weather.
  2. Start with this line of dialogue: “You know it’s bad when…”
  3. Write about lingering over dinner.
  4. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: bedroom, adopt, quaint, school, reproduction.
    2. Write about a power (or other infrastructure) failure.
    3. Use the phrase, “This is the answer to everything.”
  5. Second time a show is watched, it’s a rerun of the same episode.
  6. Your setting is: dawn, heatwave for days, a film set, dream-like atmosphere.
  7. Write about a delayed dentist appointment.
  8. Write about: a journey.
  9. Write about being unable to talk to the very attractive person.
  10. Start with this line of dialogue: “I wanted it to be real so bad.”
  11. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: admission, arrogant, cup, hope, prestige.
    2. Write about trying to comfort someone.
    3. Use the phrase, “I don’t do that kind of thing.”
  12. Use these 5 words: smoky, malfunctioned, smells, directions, headquarters.
  13. Setting: A comic book store.
  14. Use these 5 words: fundraising, gallery, culture, significant, dialogue.
  15. Use the phrase, “Tell me more lies.”
  16. Write about a character who is: optimistic, depressed & arrogant.
  17. Write about a last dinner together.
  18. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: pocket, south, unfortunate, endure, cope.
    2. Fill in the blank: “that dream where _________ and no one notices.”
    3. Write about ignoring something obvious.
  19. Use the phrase, “What year is it again?
  20. Start with this line of dialogue: “You lose them how you get them.”
  21. Use the phrase, “Did I hit the hyperspace button by mistake?”
  22. Write about: holiday traditions.
  23. Write about a secret transformation.
  24. Use these 5 words: magicians, kittens, embarrassed, coerced, face.
  25. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: accent, dirty, evening, stroll, morsel.
    2. Fill in the blank: “All that’s left is _________ .”
    3. Write about stealing something from another culture or language.
  26. Use these 5 words: recipe, garnish, note, rabbit, rain.
  27. Setting: A funky cheese shop.
  28. Write about: a farm to table menu.
  29. Write about someone getting something stuck in their hair.
  30. Your setting is: dawn, bright sunshine, desert island, restless atmosphere.
  31. Use the phrase, “They’re serving brunch.”

July 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about a sudden rain shower
  2. Use these 5 words: saint, fearless, courage, beaming, listen.
  3. Use the phrase “I meant to do that.”
  4. Your setting is: noon, light cloud, national park, friendly atmosphere.
  5. Start with “There’s more wine.”
  6. Write about: an avalanche.
  7. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: course, commitment, stretch, dressing, wrist.
    2. Write about help coming from an unexpected direction.
    3. Use the phrase, “There’s more where that came from.”
  8. Start with this line of dialogue: “Show the evidence.”
  9. “On this date in history…”
  10. Write about a character who is: secretive, unkind & cheerful.
  11. Use the phrase, “We’re stuck with each other.”
  12. Write about: a no-confidence vote.
  13. Write about forming new habits.
  14. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: behavior, profit, cat, underline, tongue.
    2. Write about needing more of something before starting.
    3. Fill in the blank, “Let’s try that out before _____.”
  15. Use the phrase, “How is that possible?”
  16. Start with this line of dialogue: “I have the best job.”
  17. Use the phrase “It’s all downhill from here.”
  18. Use these 5 words: pancakes, books, soulful, inspiration, music.
  19. One character is obsessed with numbers.
  20. Use these 5 words: wildfires, hurry, sprinting, monster, entangled.
  21. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: carbon, tiptoe, teenager, stitch, clock
    2. Write about not wanting to talk to anybody at all.
    3. Use the phrase, “It needs a refill.”
  22. Start with this line of dialogue: “I’m going to call her now.”
  23. Write about the new neighbors who don’t fit in.
  24. Use these 5 words: matrilineal, Martian, refugees, flu, spacecrafts.
  25. Write about going to do something you forgot you already did.
  26. Start with this line of dialogue: “He was going to propose.”
  27. Use the phrase, “Why did I come into the kitchen?”
  28. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: skeleton, calorie, modernize, grind, rob.
    2. Write about a minor annoyance that can’t be ignored.
    3. Use the phrase, “The end result is…”
  29. Use the phrase, “Don’t make me come back there.”
  30. Use these 5 words: orchestrated, revoke, pathos, exciting, challenge.
  31. Write about training the computer to expect something new.

June 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about new beginnings
  2. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: color, index, dependence, herd, rocket. Bonus word: earthwax.
    2. Write about a new way of thinking about the same old things.
    3. Fill in the blank: “It’s different for _______.”
  3. Let the setting be as important as a character.
  4. Your setting is: mid-morning, misty, rough neighborhood, joyful atmosphere.
  5. Write about not asking important questions.
  6. Write about: living through loss.
  7. A character who thinks they are alone, but is not.
  8. Use these 5 words: icon, idiosyncrasies, ensemble, heels, altered.
  9. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: lace, inspector, growth, mood, fee.
    2. Write about developing a blister.
    3. Fill in the blank: “That is so _______ that I have to scream now.”
  10. Write about a character who is: fearless, inspirational & judgmental.
  11. Here’s how you find out about that…
  12. Use these 5 words: isolating, sailing, fish, beaches, simplicity.
  13. Write about a child who is sick.
  14. Use these 5 words: sand, lobster, oceans, message, dolphin.
  15. Write about trying to understand a cat.
  16. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: penetrate, lump, object, destruction, flourish.
    2. Write about a forgotten holiday.
    3. Fill in the blank: “I hope you have a nice _______.”
  17. Write about a significant birthday.
  18. Write about: a welcome guest.
  19. Weave a story around an improvised recipe.
  20. Write about a character who is: generous, mysterious & industrious.
  21. Write about admiring nice weather through a window.
  22. Start with this line of dialogue: “Crews are responding.”
  23. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: mist, traction, exploration, diet, whole.
    2. Write about going out just after the rain ends.
    3. Fill in the blank: “I never would have thought you were _______.”
  24. Write about a character who is: rude, aggressive & selfish.
  25. Write about visiting an abandoned building.
  26. Write about: having everything you want.
  27. Write about exploring a new website.
  28. Write about a character who is: dependable, unkind & timid.
  29. Start with “You may ask yourself…”
  30. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: reach, strange, impact, priority, wrap.
    2. Write about finding a way to do something better.
    3. Use the phrase, “This is the interesting part.”

May 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. “Mayday, mayday!”
  2. Write about: an unwelcome conversation.
  3. Write about the birthday of a departed loved one.
  4. Write about: comparing notes.
  5. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
  6. Start with this line of dialogue: “Thank goodness for plastic surgery!”
  7. Answer a question with “Did you mean…?”
  8. Write about: a marriage of convenience.
  9. Write about dumping information on a new person.
  10. Start with this line of dialogue: “This song is actually a cover.”
  11. Write about obsessively staring at a phone screen.
  12. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
  13. Write about seeking out other native speakers of your language.
  14. Write about: an act of ecoterrorism.
  15. Having a hard time explaining something.
  16. Your setting is: mid-morning, heavy rain, city park, hostile atmosphere.
  17. Use the phrase, “Tell me that you love me.”
  18. Write about: an offensive nickname.
  19. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
  20. Use these 5 words: flabbergasted, murders, cookies, dolls, psyche.
  21. Write about a new box of crayons.
  22. Your setting is: mid-morning, thick fog, on a train, gloomy atmosphere.
  23. Fill in: “On this date in ______ (year)”
  24. Use these 5 words: cabaret, hipster, synthetic, smolder, condescending.
  25. “There are only 210 shopping days til Christmas!”
  26. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
  27. Write about the 13th ad for the same product.
  28. Start with this line of dialogue: “I’m sad to see _____ go.”
  29. Write about new beginnings.
  30. Write about: a resignation letter.
  31. Write about very strange weather.

April 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about an April Fools Day joke gone bad.
  2. Use these 5 words: musical, delightful, memorized, captioned, applause.
  3. Use the phrase, “What’s this thing for again?”
  4. Write about a character who is: optimistic, lonely & cruel.
  5. Write about trying to guess an acronym’s meaning
  6. Use these 5 words: wildland, dangerous, season, bear, pioneer.
  7. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: highway, terms, cultural, arena, circle.
    2. Write about borrowing something.
    3. Fill in the blank: “Can we talk about ______? Because we’re talking about it without using the word.”
  8. Your setting is: midnight, light snow falling, a desert, scary atmosphere.
  9. Write about that first birthday after a loss.
  10. Use these 5 words: scary, resort, monkey, lizard, naughty.
  11. Write about deflecting praise.
  12. Use these 5 words: poll, overseeing, representation, power, judges.
  13. Write about being distracted by conversation at the next table.
  14. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: graphic, receipt, contain, landscape, bring.
    2. Write about reversing roles.
    3. Use the phrase: “Does that ever work?”
  15. Write about anything except taxes.
  16. Use these 5 words: imagination, narrative, sparked, affected, transformed.
  17. Write about wearing the wrong thing to a gathering.
  18. Start with this line of dialogue: “You know where my head and heart are.”
  19. Write about aging ungracefully.
  20. Write about: the worst storm in a decade.
  21. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: sweet, restless, enlarge, ridge, strategic.
    2. Write about not wanting to talk about something.
    3. Fill in the blank: “But you told me _______.”
  22. Use these 5 words: grumpy, cats, fly, treats, curious.
  23. Write about arranging a complicated event.
  24. Use these 5 words: pool, poised, candid, daughter, duo.
  25. Write about getting the day of the week wrong.
  26. Write about a character who is: anxious, optimistic & conceited.
  27. Use the phrase, “What could go wrong?”
  28. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: traction, manager, reverse, creation, plan.
    2. Write about indecision.
    3. Fill in the blank: “I never thought I’d see the day when _______.”
  29. Write about going off shift at midnight.
  30. Start with this line of dialogue: “I’m scared.”

March 2019
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on by

A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Use the phrase “Like a lion”
  2. Your setting is: twilight, hailstorm, countryside, romantic atmosphere.
  3. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: possibility, false, housing, glove, reduce.
    2. Write about mis-remembering something.
    3. Use the phrase, “Am I doing that just to get a reaction?”
  4. Write about: getting mixed signals.
  5. Write about a significant street address.
  6. Start with this line of dialogue: “Thousands remain without power.”
  7. Write a dialog in text messages
  8. Start with this line of dialogue: “Everything she said was a lie!”
  9. Use the phrase, “I really didn’t change anything!”
  10. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: grind, cylinder, predator, project, inspector.
    2. Write about trying to do two things at once.
    3. Use the phrase, “I hope she likes it.”
  11. Write about the after-disaster meeting.
  12. Start with this line of dialogue: “I beg to differ.”
  13. Start with “Is there coffee?”
  14. Write about a character who is: sensitive, sly & dependable.
  15. Use the phrase, “How can you drink this stuff?”
  16. Your setting is: twilight, storm brewing, airplane, electrifying atmosphere.
  17. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: hunter, jelly, association. revolutionary, paper.
    2. Write about an expected interruption.
    3. Use the phrase, “I am not a cat.”
  18. Write about a character who is: kindly, carefree & violent.
  19. Use the phrase, “I remember when…”
  20. Use these 5 words: panda, spirit, traditional, figures, skepticism.
  21. Write about a naive can-do attitude
  22. Use these 5 words: construction, challenge, logical, stunning, pitfalls.
  23. Drop everything and write a haiku.
  24. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: reptile, expand, rabbit, medium, fuel.
    2. Write about trying to wrap one’s head around a difficult concept.
    3. Use the phrase, “We could just do it the easy way.”
  25. Use the phrase, “It’s that time again…”
  26. Start with this line of dialogue: “What are you reading?”
  27. What would you do with an irony mark if English had one?
  28. Use these 5 words: expertise, blow, dueling, competition, Saturday.
  29. Use the phrase, “Just close the door and walk away.”
  30. Use these 5 words: burden, motive, briefing, freedom, proved.
  31. Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
    1. Use the following five words: housing, revive, nest, miserable, enlarge.
    2. Write about a crowded situation.
    3. Use the phrase, “Holy smoke.”