Category Archives: A Pen In Each Hand

Writing Exercises.

February 2023
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on February 28, 2023 by TC Editors

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1. Answer a question with, “Wait, what?”
2. Start your story with a viral video.
3. Write about a tune that’s stuck in your head.
4. Start with this line: “I was set up!”
5. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: hook, turkey, predict, wrist, accent.
   2. Use the phrase, “I didn’t need to hear that.”
   3. Write about searching for that something you’ve almost forgotten about.
6. Start with this line: “I don’t fit that description.”
7. Write about a heating system failure on a cold day.
8. Start your story with your MC faceplanting in mud in front of witnesses.
9. Write about a machine making a mistake.
10. Start with this line: “I’ve had enough.”
11. Write about a meeting in the dark.
12. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: scrap, first, transparent, trick, opposed.
    2. Use the phrase, “need to know.”
    3. Write about deciding what to eat.
13. Write about not celebrating a common holiday.
14. Write about a female character who eschews femininity.
15. Write about the life of an escaped pet.
16. Write about having embarrassing taste.
17. Write about looking at a closed book.
18. Write about a great opportunity.
19. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: merit, ward, water, concept, charismatic.
    2. Use the phrase, “is that my phone?”
    3. Write about trying to do too many things at once.
20. Start your story with your MC making the next round of a competition.
21. Write about reclaiming a misused word.
22. Start with this line: “I don’t know if I can do this right.”
23. Rewrite a story from a different point of view.
24. Start with this line: “The lesson is…”
25. Write about returning to a cold cup of tea.
26. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: cunning, chorus, fortune, hallway, formulate.
    2. Use the phrase, “fairly weak tea.”
    3. Write about trying to avoid conflict.
27. Start with, “How do I do that?”
28. Use these five words: court, daily, lobster, round, fancy

January 2023
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on January 31, 2023 by TC Editors

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1. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: heavy, fisherman, sin, inspector, justice.
   2. Use the phrase, “How much does this free stuff cost?”
   3. Write about brunch.
2. Write about living mindfully.
3. Write about missing the point of a holiday.
4. Start with this line: “It’s hopeless.”
5. Write about being too tired to think straight.
6. Use these five words: catastrophic, remove, boring, space, patterns
7. Write a ‘what if’ scenario.
8. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: tile, cable, skate, doubt, fence.
   2. Use the phrase, “stay tuned.”
   3. Write about misusing a map.
9. Write about talking to a gardener while they work.
10. Start your story at a wedding where everything goes wrong.
11. Write about a machine that fails at a critical moment.
12. Use these five words: corgi, treasures, environment, moderation, toxic
13. Write a flawed explanation.
14. Write about evaluating someone else’s work.
15. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: recruit, management, suggest, parade, suit.
    2. Use the phrase, “I would like to thank …”
    3. Write about an annoyance.
16. Write about a human-sized teddy bear.
17. Use the phrase “It doesn’t make sense.”
18. Write about an ugly sweater.
19. Write about a dead battery.
20. Use these five words: boost, shortage, pitches, distortion, subscription
21. Write about an unfamiliar food.
22. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: horizon, articulate, name, dictionary, kick.
    2. Use the phrase, “I had such an experience when …”
    3. Write about losing something of no consequence.
23. Write about a flickering votive candle.
24. Start your story with a character watching an ’80s TV episode.
25. Write about hunting for a parking space.
26. Start with this line: “Hi, it’s me.”
27. Write about cooperating on a building project.
28. Use these five words: games, studying, faint, performance, months
29. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: screen, list, growth, drawing, sandwich.
    2. Use the phrase, “That’s all, folks!”
    3. Write about deciding what to do with a day off.
30. Start with this line: “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
31. Use “You can’t leave until you finish this.”

December 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on December 31, 2022 by TC Editors

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1. Write about an unexpected pleasure.
2. Start your story on a plane.
3. Use the word serendipity.
4. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: snail, prove, snarl, squash, lack.
   2. Use the phrase, “What have we learned from this?”
   3. Write about an advertisement.
5. Write about giving someone something they already have too much of.
6. Use these five words: accomplishments, truth, fuchsia, pregnant, different
7. Write about fidgeting to ignore someone,
8. Start your story on a scenic railway journey.
9. Use the phrase, “Am I going deaf?”
10. Write about making a deal with a witch.
11. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: camera, keep, sleeve, upset, charismatic.
    2. Use the phrase, “dropped out of sight.”
    3. Write about a scorched oven mitt.
12. Use these five words: transgressive, arguments, check, frustrated, secession
13. Write about a dog quivering with attention.
14. Use these five words: juicy, widow, epic, community, legacy
15. Write about a small-world moment.
16. Start your story at a music festival.
17. Write about trying to remember how old you are.
18. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: Glass, lamp, phone, cable, wrapper.
    2. Use the phrase, “It’s my favourite holiday tradition.”
    3. Write about write about unsportsmanlike behaviour.
19. Write about a dirty little secret.
20. Start with this line: Get off your soapbox.
21. Write about a meeting venue after everyone has left.
22. Start your story at a premiere.
23. Write about a demonstration that failed.
24. Write about a thought crime.
25. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
26. Start with this line: It’s ridiculous in many ways.
27. Write about solitude on holidays that celebrate togetherness.
28. Start with this line: Are you sleeping?
29. Write about an unexpected visitor.
30. Start your story by a campfire.
31. Use the phrase, “Wait, what?”

November 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on November 30, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about a commemoration of the dead.
2. Use these five words: mandatory, multiple, detained, whistleblower, spooky
3. Write about struggling to wake up.
4. Start your story on another habitable planet.
5. Use the phrase, “That’s not what we expected.”
6. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: trivial, gown, college, wriggle, stereotype.
   2. Use the phrase, “if you can get away with it.”
   3. Write about an expected malfunction.
7. Write about being illiterate.
8. Start with this line: The rules have been revised.
9. Write a conversation over washing dishes.
10. Write about breathing a sigh of relief.
11. Write about life in the trenches.
12. Write about cowardice.
13. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following four words: blue, box, picture, age, puzzle.
    2. Use the phrase, “Hit it out of the park.”
    3. Write about a time change.
14. Use these five words: vehicle, secret, detour, majority, storm
15. Set your story in an abandoned town.
16. Start with this line: We need to keep the pressure up.
17. Write about being out in foul weather.
18. Start with this line: They think they’re going to die young.
19. Write about trying to recruit volunteers.
20. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: grave, blind, throne, white, turkey.
    2. Use the phrase, “I don’t deserve it.”
    3. Write about carry-out food.
21. Write about a holiday only you celebrate.
22. Write about receiving an award.
23. Write about solitude.
24. Write about sleeping in.
25. Write about a significant typographical error.
26. Write about a twist.
27. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: plastic, dedicate, vat, depend, doctor.
    2. Use the phrase, “We don’t talk about that.”
    3. Write about hosting a gathering.
28. Use these five words: league, assistance, eggs, venom, invented
29. Write about learning something too late.
30. Start with this line: She’s moving back to _____.

October 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on October 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about an unexpected rabbit.
2. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: present, pound, bench, unique, lip.
   2. Use the phrase, “Don’t use that, it’s broken.”
   3. Write about a storm warning.
3. Use the phrase, “All day tomorrow.”
4. Start your story at the White House.
5. Use the phrase, “Did we do that?”
6. Start your story in a hospital.
7. Write about talking to another dog-walker.
8. Start your story on a movie set.
9. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: mother, absolute, shave, rotation, vat.
   2. Use the phrase, “It’s that season again.”
   3. Write about checking details.
10. Start your story in an abandoned house.
11. Write about forgetting to charge a battery.
12. Start with this line: How did that work out for you?
13. Make up a superstition for Thursday the 13th.
14. Start your story in a rose garden.
15. Write about an off-by-one error.
16. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: planet, question, vehicle, rotate, bitter.
    2. Use the phrase, “When we were young and foolish.”
    3. Write about seeing a change in someone else.
17. Write about a brush with fame.
18. Start with this line: Correct me if I’m wrong…
19. Describe an off-color joke without quoting it.
20. Use these five words: home, soup, elections, moments, paprika
21. Write about walking away without looking back.
22. Start with this line: This could be the difference.
23. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: veteran, economics, pawn, slime, seek.
    2. Use the phrase, “credible failure.”
    3. Write about the day the weather turned threatening.
24. Write about trust.
25. Use the phrase, “a quarter billion.”
26. Start with this line: You haven’t seen anything yet.
27. Use the phrase, “There’s one more thing.”
28. Use these five words: charm, exclusive, drags, death, struggle
29. Use, “This thing ain’t none too reliable.”
30. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: pen, respectable, firm, recovery, danger.
    2. Use the phrase, “Here’s the plan.”
    3. Write about being overwhelmed.
31. Write from the point of view of a character who has died.

September 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on September 30, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about spending all day waiting.
2. Use these five words: story, child marriage, happy, service, results
3. Write about the first day on a new job.
4. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: annual, miserable, hilarious, possession, eye.
   2. Use the phrase, “bleached by the sun.”
   3. Write about an unusual coffee break.
5. Write about confusing tasks while multitasking.
6. Write about an unpopular opinion.
7. Write about computer-aided chaos.
8. Use these five words: soprano, indigenous, winter, root, alien
9. Write about a stone circle.
10. Use these five words: showrunner, spine-chilling, cozy, comeback, avocado toast
11. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: allow, restrain, main, splurge, valid.
    2. Use the phrase, “That’s revolutionary.”
    3. Write about translation problems.
12. Use these five words: motor, horse, regular, special, boars
13. Write about hiking with a kid who loves bugs.
14. Start with this line: How much concern is there for…
15. Write about doing something with the wrong hand.
16. Write about a good habit.
17. Write about forgetting to water plants.
18. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: practical, queen, disgrace, manual, player.
    2. Use the phrase, “rooted out.”
    3. Write about losing several games in a row.
19. Use the phrase, “Are we having fun yet?”
20. Write about authenticity.
21. Write about someone who’s always angry.
22. Start with this line: I want one of everything!
23. Write a story and enter the Savage memorial Sci-Fi/Fantasy writing contest.
24. Start your story behind a camera.
25. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: contact, free, circulate, explosion, electron.
    2. Use the phrase, “a lot of water.”
    3. Write about a lemonade stand.
26. Start with this line: We’ve reached a deal.
27. Write about a job interview.
28. Start your story with a character saying “no.”
29. Write about meeting prospective in-laws.
30. Use these five words: adopted, construction, smack, blocked, vans

August 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on August 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about turning in homework late.
2. Start with this line: Will it be enough?
3. Write about waiting for results.
4. Use these five words: dormant, soprano, angel, smile, dream
5. Write about a remote control that only works close up.
6. Use these five words: dream, passengers, define, undermining, neighborly
7. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
8. Start your story during a storm.
9. Write about cracking a code.
10. Use these five words: together, unvaxed, berries, electricity, porcupine
11. Write about a bad customer service experience.
12. Start with this line: I was feeling really confident.
13. Write about being absorbed in a piece of art.
14. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: flavor, motorist, room, joint, burn.
    2. Use the phrase, “and their siblings.”
    3. Write about an occasional dinner with a friend.
15. Start your story on board a ship, at midnight, with a strong wind blowing.
16. Use these five words: accident, nip, tied, eerie, haystack
17. Write about a transformation.
18. Start your story with a cancellation.
19. Write about weather completely unlike today’s.
20. Use these five words: design, horseshoe, livestream, map, grandma
21. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: palm, adult, mixture, trouble, aisle.
    2. Use the phrase, “closer to the track.”
    3. Write about an event that cannot be rescheduled.
22. Write about breaking tradition.
23. Write about a band trying to distract people.
24. Write about an avoidable crisis.
25. Write about gazing out the window, daydreaming.
26. Write about a special date.
27. Write about using a broken tool.
28. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: judicial, cottage, owe, bell, grant.
    2. Use the phrase, “very close to the edge.”
    3. Write about something that’s urgently needed but unavailable.
29. Write about a dreaded anniversary.
30. Start with this line: He’s quite stubborn.
31. Write about being unable to please a customer.

July 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on July 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about special event parking.
2. Start your story during a strike.
3. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: harm, morale, joint, cheese, episode.
   2. Use the phrase, “It seems harmless.”
   3. Write about cancelling an event.
4. Use these five words: honestly, takeaway, grift, favor, auditor
5. Write about an old favorite song.
6. Write about an accidental success.
7. Use the phrase “On this date…”
8. Start with this line: I’m in a good position.
9. Write about a knife that needs to be sharpened.
10. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: enjoy, land, output, detective, picture.
    2. Use the phrase, “It seems crowded for this time of day.”
    3. Write about waiting to see how something ends.
11. Write about procrastination.
12. Use these five words: rioted, dopamine, climate, heart, daylight
13. Write about unlikely roommates.
14. Start with this line: We’ve still got work to do.
15. Invent a superstition for your story.
16. Start with this line: Don’t get hung up on logistics.
17. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: capital, belief, statement, overeat, stab.
    2. Use the phrase, “This won’t take very long.”
    3. Write about feeling chilled on a hot day.
18. Use these five words: festivals, powerlessness, elaborate, exchange, sweaters
19. Write about an odd way of figuring something out.
20. Write about a blue rock.
21. Use the phrase, “And now I’m writing to you.”
22. Write about a new love language.
23. Write about a lazy Saturday at home.
24. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
25. Write about a deceptive advertisement.
26. Use these five words: expressway, failure, headache, shock, warbler
27. Write about an unidentified sound.
28. Start with this line: My soul is crushed.
29. Write about an unwelcome visitor.
30. Start with this line: I’m so angry.
31. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: summer, freckle, expand, preference, steward.
    2. Use the phrase, “Let me show you.”
    3. Write about pulling a wine cork from the bottle.

June 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on June 30, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write what you’re afraid of.
2. Start your story on a playground.
3. Write about explaining the meaning of an armband.
4. Start with this line: All art is political.
5. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: knowledge, favor, hospitality, coverage, departure.
   2. Use the phrase, “it helps me sleep.”
   3. Write about travel difficulties.
6. Write about a hidden talent.
7. Buy and read a banned book.
8. Use these five words: tackling, volcano, stranger, forever, hellcat
9. Write about forgetting to check that one box on the form.
10. Start your story during a drought.
11. Write about sticker shock.
12. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: leave, rule, sand, particular, extort.
    2. Fill in the blank, “coming up on time to _________.”
    3. Write about an unidentified clomping noise.
13. Use the phrase, “For my next trick.”
14. Use these five words: versions, certificates, recorded, subway, sentences
15. Write about negotiating a time for a meeting.
16. Start with this line: Welcome back.
17. Write about an adult’s birthday.
18. Write about playing an instrument.
19. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: facility, survivor, stroll, sausage, mourning.
    2. Use the phrase, “Are we ready yet?”
    3. Write about a frustrating experience with technology.
20. Start with this line: This is heartbreaking.
21. Write about misidentifying a national flag.
22. Start your story while waiting for an answer.
23. Write about being bored during a medical recovery.
24. Start with this line: He’s watching what she does.
25. Write about watching a game you don’t understand.
26. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: undermine, product, column, dozen, quota.
    2. Use the phrase, “That puts things in a different light.”
    3. Write about reading between the lines.
27. Write about cleaning up a mud-covered kid.
28. Start your story while doing laundry.
29. Write about hooking up a music player.
30. Write about a journey.

May 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on May 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: projection, fox, helpless, integration, forum.
   2. Use the phrase, “When does that start?”
   3. Write about trying to remember where someone lives.
2. Start with this line: My plan is coming together.
3. Write about gathering dry leaves.
4. Write about what lies under the surface.
5. Write about a lost loved-one’s birthday
6. Use these five words: spin-off, slash, progress, rejoin, critique
7. Use “such is the life of a houseplant.”
8. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: quota, drag, husband, recommendation, bargain.
   2. Use the phrase, “Let me answer a different question.”
   3. Write about talking yourself out of a corner.
9. Write about doing a word puzzle.
10. Use these five words: afloat, independent, route, stagecoach, Hollywood
11. Use the phrase, “I can live with that.”
12. Write about a shared vision.
13. Write about wondering how thorough a search was.
14. Write about revisionist history.
15. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: community, orientation, pasture, problem, loot.
    2. Use the phrase, “And then it’s gone.”
    3. Write about watching a bird.
16. Write about an adrenaline rush.
17. Write about making people participate in a group project.
18. Use these five words: botox, vanishing, pumpkin, novelist, addiction
19. Write about procrastination.
20. Write about conquering a fear.
21. Write about a quiet weekend at home.
22. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: jewel, paint, opinion, table, average.
    2. Use the phrase, “Does Tuesday work for you?”
    3. Write about noticing a tree.
23. Write about running out of coffee.
24. Write about a rude phone conversation.
25. Write about avoiding a holiday.
26. Start with this line: You don’t intend to trust me.
27. Your character is trying to ignore losing someone.
28. Start with this line: I’m really conflicted.
29. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: reduce, trade, station, snack. gift.
    2. Use the phrase, “the duck problem.”
    3. Write about struggling with technology.
30. Start your story at a city council meeting.
31. Write about not quite catching up.