January 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on January 31, 2021 by TC Editors

Write about looking back on hopes for last year.
Use these five words: boundaries, fraud, exhibition, intimacy, display
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: irony, die, mood, tissue, sound.
2. Fill in the blank: “Love is what happens when _________.”
3. Write about a preposterous excuse.
Set your story in a downtown alley
Write about a morning without coffee.
Start with this line: I have two options.
Use the phrase, “Read this and summarize.”
Use these five words: intelligence, awareness, power, bottleneck, sanctions
Write about translating a poem.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: arrogant, qualification, overwhelm, listen, reflect.
2. Fill in the blank: “_________ is what makes the world go around.”
3. Write about being slightly too late.
Use the phrase, “Help me take this off.”
Write about a frightening book
Write about a birthday party.
Start with this line: What you are describing is a crime.
Write about rediscovering old music.
Start with this line: It’s not over yet.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: body, grind, secure, spirit, disappoint.
2. Use the phrase, “I don’t know what to think.”
3. Write about refusing dessert.
Write about a medical diagnosis
Fill in: “Aren’t you tired of _________?”
Use these five words: essential, gifts, necessary, trend, soundtrack
Write about new beginnings.
Set your story in the home of a wealthy family that hates each other
Write about not participating in a common activity.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: picture, doll, control, rule, eavesdrop.
2. Use the phrase, “Look at the shadow.”
3. Write about deciding if something is safe.
Write about blocking someone on social media.
Write about an asteroid headed for Earth
Write about a delivery that arrives early.
Use these five words: comeback, life, trading, badly, direction
Write about finding patterns where there are none.
Use these five words: hibernation, clothes, undercurrent, walks, log
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: meet, date, announcement, practice, rainbow.
2. Use the phrase, “There’s only one left.”
3. Write about hoping someone understands.

December 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on December 31, 2020 by TC Editors

Write about sibling rivalry
Include these 3 characters in a story: judge, police officer, bartender.
Use a made-up word
Start with this line: “Calling this justice would be a mistake.”
Write about introducing someone new to a favorite drink
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: recover, loose, arrange, absence, investigation.
2. Use the phrase, “I don’t do that any more.”
3. Write about using something that’s not quite ready.
Write about a house fire.
Incl. these characters: paralegal, secretary, human resources administrator.
Write about a new system for doing familiar things.
Write an imagined interview with your favorite author.
Use “It feels like a year since I saw anybody.”
Set your story at a hockey game.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: crisis, freedom, fear, copy, craftsman.
2. Fill in the blank: “I need a new __________.”
3. Write about an unexpected crowd.
Start with this line: “Oh, I’m definitely subtweeting.”
Write about visiting a grave.
Write about unicycling.
Use “What kind of critter are you?”
Use these five words: praise, holy, skeins, stigma, complicated.
Write about observing a holiday nobody else shares.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: correspond, arena, aid, witch, spot.
2. Use the phrase, “That’s all they told me.”
3. Write about waiting for something that might not happen.
Write about celebrating the Winter Solstice.
Write about an old house.
Explain something incoherently.
Start with this line: “I first met _____ on the streets.”
Write about the kid who got left out.
Write about being ahead of the curve.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: sugar, multimedia, indirect, ignore, elephant.
2. Use the phrase, “How long do we have to wait?”
3. Write about an exception to the rule.
Use these five words: mechanics, practicing, love, choice, agent.
Write about waiting for the mail to come.
Start with this line: “One of the biggest mysteries is…”
Your character sums up a year.

November 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on November 30, 2020 by TC Editors

Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: flash, technology, minimize, brown, display.
2. Use the phrase, “It’s too bright.”
3. Write about asking for advice.
Write about a report card.
Write about a nightmare.
Write about education in pursuit of knowledge & perspective.
Write about an obsession.
Use these five words: inspiration, deported, downtown, restricted, body.
Use the phrase “And now for something completely different.”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: worry, hero, range, infect, corner.
2. Use the phrase, “What can we do?”
3. Write about not understanding.
Write about a younger sibling as a grownup.
Use these five words: creating, pattern, details, noodles, tiny.
What happened at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month?
Use these five words: airtight, method, gift, underestimated, prominent.
Use the phrase “All that and more.”
Include these 3 characters: truck driver, mechanic, baggage handler.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: radiation, debt, trouble, glue, entry.
2. Use the phrase, “Time to recharge.”
3. Write about having enough to share.
Start with this line: “Sweet dreams.”
Use the phrase, “Now what do we do?”
Include these 3 characters: bookkeeper, financial advisor, auditor.
Use the phrase, “I don’t think I can do that.”
Start with this line: “We loved each other.”
Write about an unusual bird or animal sighting.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: favour, west, invasion, referral, neck.
2. Use the phrase, “Why are we doing this?”
3. Write about an apology.
Write about counting blessings after a major loss.
Write a story set in the future.
Write about unexpected bad weather.
Set your story in the countryside.
Write about spending a family holiday alone.
Use these five words: self-pity, backpack, finished, boots, mittens.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: create, ample, publicity, promise, elbow.
2. Use the phrase, “I’ve forgotten how to dance.”
3. Write about trying to finish before a deadline.
Start with this line: “The devil works hard, but…”

October 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on October 31, 2020 by TC Editors

Reminisce about a vacation or holiday
Write about an adverse drug reaction.
Write about how remarkable it is that someone is not looking at their phone.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: sensitivity, message, realize, bake, trivial.
2. Use the phrase, “No, I don’t believe it.”
3. Write about quitting a game that can’t be won.
Write about a delight found in the midst of tedium.
Start with this line: “What was the outcome of the struggle?”
Write about carefully choosing an alias.
Write about a visiting scholar.
Write about the impression someone else is living parts of your life.
Start with this line: “Nobody bothered to tell me.”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: realize, leftovers, extension, mug, favorite.
2. Use the phrase, “Is it Friday yet?”
3. Write about trying to focus when drowsy.
Include these 3 characters in a story: educator, groundskeeper, counselor.
Your character writes a letter to his/her younger self.
Start with this line: “I was 110% sure I was right.”
Your character finds a letter purporting to be from an older self.
Write about a digitization project.
Write about trying to figure out a beekeeper’s suit.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: thaw, mourning, attract, stem, number.
2. Use the phrase, “sounds like a plan.”
3. Write about being interrupted when dancing alone.
Write about deciding not to come home from a trip.
Use these five words: outreach, index, peppermint, decline, nations.
Use this: “You’re not wearing that.”
Start with this line: “That is a huge leap.”
Write about being caught drooling.
Set your story at dawn during a heatwave.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: prosper, disk, satisfaction, biology, able.
2. Use the phrase, “the best ever.”
3. Write about a stack of mail or lots of incoming messages.
Start with this line: “Don’t be fooled.”
Write about getting a multi-colored hair dye job
Write about a secret cinnamon bun recipe.
Write about dreading an oncoming holiday.
Set your story in a city park.
Write about a new widow in a fake graveyard.

September 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on September 30, 2020 by TC Editors

“Who had ________ on their Bingo card?”
Incl. these characters: ? worker, geological engineer, soil conservationist
Write about unexpected cold weather
Set your story on a desert island.
Set a story involving adults in your primary school.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: spontaneous, clear, fascinate, pump, appointment.
2. Use the phrase, “There’s a person I know…”
3. Write about a chance to do something over.
Write about getting mail for a former resident.
Start with this line: “He was rather quirky.”
Write about rediscovering something you once thought important.
Write about something that’s seasonal.
Use this: “For a retired person you sure are busy.”
Incl. these 3 characters: fitness instructor, locker room attendant, coach.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: fleet, stomach, seize, favorable, sunrise.
2. Use the phrase, “Rumor has it…”
3. Write about a change of heart.
Use these five words: networks, meaningful, ask, tea, review.
Write about figuring out what’s wrong with a car.
Start your story with light snow falling.
Write about finding a book down behind the others.
Set your story in an old-growth forest.
Write some foreshadowed atmospheric setting information.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: donor, mouse, peanut, stage, systematic.
2. Use the phrase, “The day I discovered…”
3. Write about asking for help.
Write about the latest tech gadget.
Start with this line: “You’re in luck.”
Write about a month that drags on for most of a year.
Write about truths and myths.
Write about walking through a ruined building.
Include these 3 characters: web developer, computer programmer, designer.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: weak, excavate, allow, assumption, beard.
2. Use the phrase, “Whatever they decided.”
3. Write about smelling smoke.
Write about a benefactor.
Write about getting something done just before the deadline.
Start with this line: “Make sure you are prepared.”

August 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on August 31, 2020 by TC Editors

Write about a nap at an inappropriate time.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: bill, flood, modernize, history, hang.
2. Use the phrase, “Call me back.”
3. Write about finding something surprising.
Write about a tragic anniversary.
Write a coming-of-age story.
Write about plans cancelled by weather.
Start with this line: “I still remember…”
Write about stumbling across vital information.
Include a character with tattoos, a long beard, and black-rimmed glasses.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: change, veil, dribble, find, private.
2. Use the phrase, “Cook until done.”
3. Write about managing one’s losses.
Include these 3 characters: dancer, physiotherapist, massage therapist.
Write about being unable to count something.
Use these five words: sleeves, compensate, foundation, crispiest, homebodies
Use this: “I can do that. How am I going to do that?”
Write about a fictional game.
Use the phrase, “What happened to me?”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: proper, awful, bucket, catalogue, continental.
2. Use the phrase, “I think it’s stuck.”
3. Write about an umbrella.
One character gives a concise statement of the situation.
Set your story during a thunderstorm.
Write about herding unwilling animals (or humans)
Start with this line: “It’s a bitter pill.”
Use this: “How did it get to be August already?”
Use these five words: stream, ocean, gingerbread, cautiously, devastating.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: appointment, sum, bless, incentive, cafe.
2. Use the phrase, “Let’s just ignore that for now.”
3. Write about giving someone an unflattering nickname.
Use these five words: world, sticky, political, delicacy, doll.
Write about being annoyed by broken equipment.
Use these five words: crude, twisting, process, pie, failure.
Write about rewriting a business plan in a hurry.
Write about a restless neighborhood.
Use the phrase, “Who ordered that?”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: cellar, clearance, indoor, annual, state.
2. Use the phrase, “I don’t even know what to ask.”
3. Write about trying to leave no footprints behind.
Write about the satisfaction of a job (almost) well done.

July 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on July 31, 2020 by TC Editors

Write about forgetting to turn the calendar
Write about a reconciliation.
Use the phrase, “That’s been cancelled, also.”
Use these five words: preach, junk, audio, risk, season.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Write about an anonymous message.
2. Use the phrase, “Is it everybody, or just me?”
3. Use the following five words: solid, cow, convention, dribble, invisible.
Use these five words: required, slush, smoke, exchange, palette.
Write about a dog who hides to avoid his/her pills.
Write about a character who needs PTSD therapy.
Write about sharing an anniversary with someone much younger.
Write about a miscommunication when texting.
Use the phrase, “What was I doing before lunch?”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Write about a new, larger, machine.
2. Use the phrase, “the ones you love.”
3. Use the following five words: dog, battle, integration, deficiency, priority.
Write about a not-so-routine dentist visit.
Write about a budget travel trip.
Use the phrase, “What month is this again?”
Include these 3 characters: urban planner, architect, general manager.
Write about a bookshelf that collapses in the night.
Set your story on a late afternoon train.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Write about a garden. ·
2. Use the phrase, “maximum extent possible.”
3. Use the following five words: necklace, basin, understand, bold, contract.
Set your story in a hostel.
Write about preparing for a storm.
Use these five words: shame, finals, high-profile, catio, humor.
Write about trying to fix a mistake.
Write about your latest purchase.
Write about a really annoying typo.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: rise, margin, sea, return, redeem.
2. Use the phrase, “carnival atmosphere.”
3. Write about a fancy word for a simple idea
Rewrite the same scene, only in the dark.
Start with this line: “Your dinner is waiting.”
Write about carefully examining paper money.
Write about a mentor.
Answer a question with another question.

June 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on June 30, 2020 by TC Editors

Write a character talking to themselves.
Include these 3 characters: family doctor, medical assistant, pharmacist.
Use the phrase “Create a diversion.”
Use these five words: purchase, time, hungry, commutes, jacket.
Write about forgetting a weekly event.
Use these five words: scorpion, talent, curly, machine, better.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: hover. shallow, precede, depressed, traction.
2. Use the phrase, “What am I going to do about that?”
3. Write about a sunset.
Use these five words: model, insane, morning, skirt, criticizes.
Write about a garden.
Include these 3 characters in a story: zoologist, chemist, microbiologist.
Use the phrase “Orange paisley turtleneck.”
Write about elephants.
Write about losing track of the day of the week.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: decade, dramatic, ambiguous, slogan, organ.
2. Use the phrase, “Why is this so hard?”
3. Write about working around a broken or poorly designed widget.
Write about plans for an unusual birthday party.
Start with this line: “Privacy is an important issue.”
Write about cheating at solitaire.
Write about a devastating fire.
Write about someone with an unusual number of parents.
Write about taking a risk.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: filter, torch, assume, reluctance, listen.
2. Use the phrase, “I haven’t ever been there.”
3. Write about waiting for a delivery.
Start with this line: “____ isn’t having a good week.”
Write about waiting impatiently by the mailbox.
Include these 3 characters in a story: merchandise buyer, model, hairdresser
Write a conversation with a long gone friend or family member.
Set your story at a children’s playground.
A character realizes they really are different.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: exile, area, soldier, dangerous, extend.
2. Use the phrase, “Was there a sign that I missed?”
3. Write about something that’s on sale.
Write about turning in homework early.
Start with this line: “One day in [year], I got an email…”

May 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on May 31, 2020 by TC Editors

Write about Mayday used as a distress call
Use these five words: joint, cracks, unpopular, boiling, looking.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: fork, hate, galaxy, purpose, affinity.
2. Fill in the blank: “Did you think about ________?”
3. Write about morning without coffee.
Start with your protagonist slipping on ice.
Celebrating the birthday of someone who has died.
Start with this line: “That is a legal fiction.”
Write about sharing from abundance.
Write about good bacteria.
Write about a dinner party gone slightly wrong.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: knock, qualification, essay, fair, galaxy.
2. Use the phrase, “What is it you really want?”
3. Write about tea.
“Should I close the door when I leave?”
Start with this line: “It’s hard not to be impressed by…”
Write about the free offering of vital aid.
Start with this line: “It was a battle of the sexes.”
Write about the repeated “why?” question from a child.
Start with this line: “This should be a priority for you.”
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: release, teacher, gate, grimace, extinct.
2. Use the phrase, “Which way is north?”
3. Write about hearing voices without understanding words.
Start with this line: “You won’t be disappointed.”
“Tell me again why we’re doing this.”
Use these five words: natural, press, damaged, symbol, completed.
Write about working around a broken gadget.
Write about granting a river legal rights.
Write about seeing someone for the first time in years.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: punch, surgeon, jet, small, guitar.
2. Use the phrase, “Are you staying for dinner?”
3. Write about flipping a coin to make a decision.
Write about the elephant in the room.
Use these five words: opera, night, experimental, baby, thoughts.
Use the phrase, “We could do this a whole different way.”
Use these five words: hood, dismantled, vegetarian, episode, bridge.
Write about solitary regrets.
Write an obituary.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: black, main, aid, carve, suffer.
2. Use the phrase, “I hear what you’re saying.”
3. Write about the scent of whiskey.

April 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on April 30, 2020 by TC Editors

Write about the end of a very long month
Start with this line: “The statements made by _____ are pure grade-A bunk.”
Write about a census worker knocking on doors.
Use these five words: cushion, leather, figure, proud, moving.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: desire, quarter, pleasant, rung, promise.
2. Use the phrase, “Don’t try this at home.”
3. Write about struggling to stay awake.
Write about who you most admire.
Write about picking out a tune on a piano.
Start with this line: “Define ‘woman.'”
“Shall I turn all the lights on, or not?”
Include these 3 characters: event planner, cook, maintenance worker.
Write about improvising a toasted cheese sandwich.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: difficulty, fist, absorb, blonde, twilight.
2. Use the phrase, “Imagine this…”
3. Write about an interruption.
Write about making up a way to deal with stress.
Set your story on a rainy night.
Make up a 3rd inevitability: Death, Taxes, _______
Set your story on a humid evening.
Use the phrase “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”
Write about fake news.
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: consolidate, disagreement, familiar, read, bear.
2. Use the phrase, “What’s for lunch?”
3. Write about a stuffed animal.
Start your story in late afternoon.
Write about trying to work around that one crucial supply.
Start with this line: “It means that we survived.”
Drop everything and write a haiku.
Use these five words: questions, alternative, powering, art, reality.
Do you write in your books? Why or why not?
Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
1. Use the following five words: way, brain, flock, urge, convention.
2. Fill in the blank: “It’s the best thing to do with ________.”
3. Write about someone your character hasn’t thought about in years.
Write about a parade.
Start your story with a storm brewing.
Use the phrase, “But before that…”
Use these five words: visiting, amazing, chocolate, satellite, hourglass.

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Category Archives: A Pen In Each Hand

January 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

December 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

November 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

October 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

September 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

August 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

July 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

June 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

May 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

April 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

Upcoming Events

WP: Start with this line: The next scheduled departure is at 5pm.

WP: Write about being “randomly” selected.

Sunday Writing Prompt Chat

WP: Use these five words: forgotten, identities, weird, attribute, completed

WP: Set your story in a casino

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