Category Archives: A Pen In Each Hand

Writing Exercises.

October 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Reminisce about a vacation or holiday
  2. Write about an adverse drug reaction.
  3. Write about how remarkable it is that someone is not looking at their phone.
  4. 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.
  5. Write about a delight found in the midst of tedium.
  6. Start with this line: “What was the outcome of the struggle?”
  7. Write about carefully choosing an alias.
  8. Write about a visiting scholar.
  9. Write about the impression someone else is living parts of your life.
  10. Start with this line: “Nobody bothered to tell me.”
  11. 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.
  12. Include these 3 characters in a story: educator, groundskeeper, counselor.
  13. Your character writes a letter to his/her younger self.
  14. Start with this line: “I was 110% sure I was right.”
  15. Your character finds a letter purporting to be from an older self.
  16. Write about a digitization project.
  17. Write about trying to figure out a beekeeper’s suit.
  18. 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.
  19. Write about deciding not to come home from a trip.
  20. Use these five words: outreach, index, peppermint, decline, nations.
  21. Use this: “You’re not wearing that.”
  22. Start with this line: “That is a huge leap.”
  23. Write about being caught drooling.
  24. Set your story at dawn during a heatwave.
  25. 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.
  26. Start with this line: “Don’t be fooled.”
  27. Write about getting a multi-colored hair dye job
  28. Write about a secret cinnamon bun recipe.
  29. Write about dreading an oncoming holiday.
  30. Set your story in a city park.
  31. Write about a new widow in a fake graveyard.

September 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. “Who had ________ on their Bingo card?”
  2. Incl. these characters: ? worker, geological engineer, soil conservationist
  3. Write about unexpected cold weather
  4. Set your story on a desert island.
  5. Set a story involving adults in your primary school.
  6. 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.
  7. Write about getting mail for a former resident.
  8. Start with this line: “He was rather quirky.”
  9. Write about rediscovering something you once thought important.
  10. Write about something that’s seasonal.
  11. Use this: “For a retired person you sure are busy.”
  12. Incl. these 3 characters: fitness instructor, locker room attendant, coach.
  13. 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.
  14. Use these five words: networks, meaningful, ask, tea, review.
  15. Write about figuring out what’s wrong with a car.
  16. Start your story with light snow falling.
  17. Write about finding a book down behind the others.
  18. Set your story in an old-growth forest.
  19. Write some foreshadowed atmospheric setting information.
  20. 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.
  21. Write about the latest tech gadget.
  22. Start with this line: “You’re in luck.”
  23. Write about a month that drags on for most of a year.
  24. Write about truths and myths.
  25. Write about walking through a ruined building.
  26. Include these 3 characters: web developer, computer programmer, designer.
  27. 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.
  28. Write about a benefactor.
  29. Write about getting something done just before the deadline.
  30. Start with this line: “Make sure you are prepared.”

August 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about a nap at an inappropriate time.
  2. 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.
  3. Write about a tragic anniversary.
  4. Write a coming-of-age story.
  5. Write about plans cancelled by weather.
  6. Start with this line: “I still remember…”
  7. Write about stumbling across vital information.
  8. Include a character with tattoos, a long beard, and black-rimmed glasses.
  9. 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.
  10. Include these 3 characters: dancer, physiotherapist, massage therapist.
  11. Write about being unable to count something.
  12. Use these five words: sleeves, compensate, foundation, crispiest, homebodies
  13. Use this: “I can do that. How am I going to do that?”
  14. Write about a fictional game.
  15. Use the phrase, “What happened to me?”
  16. 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.
  17. One character gives a concise statement of the situation.
  18. Set your story during a thunderstorm.
  19. Write about herding unwilling animals (or humans)
  20. Start with this line: “It’s a bitter pill.”
  21. Use this: “How did it get to be August already?”
  22. Use these five words: stream, ocean, gingerbread, cautiously, devastating.
  23. 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.
  24. Use these five words: world, sticky, political, delicacy, doll.
  25. Write about being annoyed by broken equipment.
  26. Use these five words: crude, twisting, process, pie, failure.
  27. Write about rewriting a business plan in a hurry.
  28. Write about a restless neighborhood.
  29. Use the phrase, “Who ordered that?”
  30. 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.
  31. Write about the satisfaction of a job (almost) well done.

July 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about forgetting to turn the calendar
  2. Write about a reconciliation.
  3. Use the phrase, “That’s been cancelled, also.”
  4. Use these five words: preach, junk, audio, risk, season.
  5. 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.
  6. Use these five words: required, slush, smoke, exchange, palette.
  7. Write about a dog who hides to avoid his/her pills.
  8. Write about a character who needs PTSD therapy.
  9. Write about sharing an anniversary with someone much younger.
  10. Write about a miscommunication when texting.
  11. Use the phrase, “What was I doing before lunch?”
  12. 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.
  13. Write about a not-so-routine dentist visit.
  14. Write about a budget travel trip.
  15. Use the phrase, “What month is this again?”
  16. Include these 3 characters: urban planner, architect, general manager.
  17. Write about a bookshelf that collapses in the night.
  18. Set your story on a late afternoon train.
  19. 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.
  20. Set your story in a hostel.
  21. Write about preparing for a storm.
  22. Use these five words: shame, finals, high-profile, catio, humor.
  23. Write about trying to fix a mistake.
  24. Write about your latest purchase.
  25. Write about a really annoying typo.
  26. 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
  27. Rewrite the same scene, only in the dark.
  28. Start with this line: “Your dinner is waiting.”
  29. Write about carefully examining paper money.
  30. Write about a mentor.
  31. Answer a question with another question.

June 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write a character talking to themselves.
  2. Include these 3 characters: family doctor, medical assistant, pharmacist.
  3. Use the phrase “Create a diversion.”
  4. Use these five words: purchase, time, hungry, commutes, jacket.
  5. Write about forgetting a weekly event.
  6. Use these five words: scorpion, talent, curly, machine, better.
  7. 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.
  8. Use these five words: model, insane, morning, skirt, criticizes.
  9. Write about a garden.
  10. Include these 3 characters in a story: zoologist, chemist, microbiologist.
  11. Use the phrase “Orange paisley turtleneck.”
  12. Write about elephants.
  13. Write about losing track of the day of the week.
  14. 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.
  15. Write about plans for an unusual birthday party.
  16. Start with this line: “Privacy is an important issue.”
  17. Write about cheating at solitaire.
  18. Write about a devastating fire.
  19. Write about someone with an unusual number of parents.
  20. Write about taking a risk.
  21. 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.
  22. Start with this line: “____ isn’t having a good week.”
  23. Write about waiting impatiently by the mailbox.
  24. Include these 3 characters in a story: merchandise buyer, model, hairdresser
  25. Write a conversation with a long gone friend or family member.
  26. Set your story at a children’s playground.
  27. A character realizes they really are different.
  28. 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.
  29. Write about turning in homework early.
  30. Start with this line: “One day in [year], I got an email…”

May 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about Mayday used as a distress call
  2. Use these five words: joint, cracks, unpopular, boiling, looking.
  3. 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.
  4. Start with your protagonist slipping on ice.
  5. Celebrating the birthday of someone who has died.
  6. Start with this line: “That is a legal fiction.”
  7. Write about sharing from abundance.
  8. Write about good bacteria.
  9. Write about a dinner party gone slightly wrong.
  10. 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.
  11. “Should I close the door when I leave?”
  12. Start with this line: “It’s hard not to be impressed by…”
  13. Write about the free offering of vital aid.
  14. Start with this line: “It was a battle of the sexes.”
  15. Write about the repeated “why?” question from a child.
  16. Start with this line: “This should be a priority for you.”
  17. 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.
  18. Start with this line: “You won’t be disappointed.”
  19. “Tell me again why we’re doing this.”
  20. Use these five words: natural, press, damaged, symbol, completed.
  21. Write about working around a broken gadget.
  22. Write about granting a river legal rights.
  23. Write about seeing someone for the first time in years.
  24. 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.
  25. Write about the elephant in the room.
  26. Use these five words: opera, night, experimental, baby, thoughts.
  27. Use the phrase, “We could do this a whole different way.”
  28. Use these five words: hood, dismantled, vegetarian, episode, bridge.
  29. Write about solitary regrets.
  30. Write an obituary.
  31. 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

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about the end of a very long month
  2. Start with this line: “The statements made by _____ are pure grade-A bunk.”
  3. Write about a census worker knocking on doors.
  4. Use these five words: cushion, leather, figure, proud, moving.
  5. 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.
  6. Write about who you most admire.
  7. Write about picking out a tune on a piano.
  8. Start with this line: “Define ‘woman.'”
  9. “Shall I turn all the lights on, or not?”
  10. Include these 3 characters: event planner, cook, maintenance worker.
  11. Write about improvising a toasted cheese sandwich.
  12. 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.
  13. Write about making up a way to deal with stress.
  14. Set your story on a rainy night.
  15. Make up a 3rd inevitability: Death, Taxes, _______
  16. Set your story on a humid evening.
  17. Use the phrase “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”
  18. Write about fake news.
  19. 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.
  20. Start your story in late afternoon.
  21. Write about trying to work around that one crucial supply.
  22. Start with this line: “It means that we survived.”
  23. Drop everything and write a haiku.
  24. Use these five words: questions, alternative, powering, art, reality.
  25. Do you write in your books? Why or why not?
  26. 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.
  27. Write about a parade.
  28. Start your story with a storm brewing.
  29. Use the phrase, “But before that…”
  30. Use these five words: visiting, amazing, chocolate, satellite, hourglass.

March 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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  1. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: likely, powder, thick, formulate, flock.
    2. Use the phrase, “knock on the door.”
    3. Write about finding something that’s been lost for years.
  2. Use these five words: contestants, cookies, recommendation, release, toxic.
  3. Write about showing up late without your homework.
  4. Write about a TEDx talk, real or imagined.
  5. Write a more realistic version of a stress-induced dream.
  6. Use these five words: communities, debut, employees, sexy, electric.
  7. Write about trying to get a date on short notice.
  8. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: string, elephant, cream, market, misery.
    2. Use the phrase, “Does anybody want this?”
    3. Write about deciding what to do with a last hour together.
  9. Write about those last few drops of wine in the glass.
  10. Write a story about birders.
  11. Write about a discussion about money.
  12. Use these five words: zoo, target, date, mugged, variety.
  13. Write about a small child watching construction vehicles.
  14. Include these 3 characters: jewelry maker, artist, occupational therapist.
  15. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: promise, bridge, contain, fade, ivory.
    2. Use the phrase, “There’s nothing new here.”
    3. Write about forgetting to recharge a battery.
  16. Start with this line: “You are what you do, not what you say.”
  17. Fill in: “The ______ is the limit.”
  18. Use these five words: DIY, undone, block, photograph, liar.
  19. Write about being asked to leave a group.
  20. Write about applying to be an astronaut.
  21. Make up something that only happens on the Equinox.
  22. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: real, offense, hear, calm, merit.
    2. Use the phrase, “We are the stuff of other people’s nightmares.”
    3. Write about paying attention to breathing.
  23. Write about an unusually nice day with a sudden turn in the weather.
  24. Use these five words: lectured, crust, weave, cutting, introverts.
  25. Write about someone else’s holiday.
  26. Set your story in Hawaii.
  27. Write about a strange noise in the night.
  28. Set your story on a volunteer tourism trip.
  29. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: producer, bubble, accent, stamp, maximum.
    2. Use the phrase, “Pay careful attention, here.”
    3. Write about losing track of things changing.
  30. Use these five words: exchange, safety, attempt, tail, defense.
  31. Write about someone suddenly discovering they’re not alone.

February 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Get that story out of the drawer and work on it.
  2. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: picture, elegant, graze, cooperation, waist.
    2. Use the phrase, “I don’t know who that is.”
    3. Write about not participating in a popular activity.
  3. “I see the problem. How am I going to fix it?”
  4. Write about the power of story.
  5. Write about a pet animal’s revenge.
  6. Include these 3 characters in a story: landscape architect, editor, nanny.
  7. Write about waiting for a storm.
  8. Start your story in a chilly room.
  9. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: decline, bland, marble, flower, crevice.
    2. Use the phrase, “You can’t get there in a car.”
    3. Write about a bird with attitude.
  10. Use these five words: flights, nefarious, highlights, cinnamon, bullying.
  11. Write about explaining technology to an older person
  12. Start your story with your MC surrounded by thick fog.
  13. Invent a holiday celebrating something strange.
  14. Use these five words: violins, modern, fixing, vase, premiere.
  15. Write about dropping out of an activity.
  16. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: substitute, drag, acceptable, import, possible.
    2. Use the phrase, “People have other things to do.”
    3. Write about feeding an animal.
  17. Fill in: “I’m a _________ and proud of it.”
  18. Write about a life or death struggle.
  19. Write about a premature thaw.
  20. Use these five words: synopsis, mimics, easy, beginner, biggest.
  21. Rewrite that story from someone else’s point of view.
  22. Use these five words: authentic, magic, slipped, influencer, travel.
  23. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
  24. Set your story in the suburbs.
  25. Use the phrase, “There’s just one more thing…”
  26. Start with this line: “Roughly twenty years ago…”
  27. Write about pretending to understand what a bird is saying.
  28. Include these 3 characters: roofer, real estate agent, construction manager.
  29. Your character gets a birthday only every fourth year.

January 2020
Daily Writing Prompts

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A Pen In Each Hand

  1. Write about waking up the morning after.
  2. Start with this line: “I was doing it at such a young age.”
  3. Something urgent interrupts cooking.
  4. Use these five words: reducing, hope, battle, stopping, happy.
  5. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: bolt, casualty, supplementary, see, normal. Bonus word: bitch.
    2. Write about something that happened an exact multiple of years earlier.
    3. Use the phrase, “Why is there only one?”
  6. Write about being stuck inside the box.
  7. Something once thought obvious that’s no longer true.
  8. Start with this line: “I wish I could draw well.”
  9. Answer the “How are you?” question honestly.
  10. Write about balancing passion with making money.
  11. Write about the emotion inspired by avocado green.
  12. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: outer, banish, oil, craftsman, falsify.
    2. Write about a heroic animal.
    3. Use the phrase, “Deeps of winter.”
  13. Two characters with nothing in common but their shared birthday.
  14. Start with this line: “I think that had a huge impact.”
  15. Copy editor saves the day!
  16. Start with this line: “What have you been up to lately?”
  17. Use the phrase, “I thought that was tomorrow.”
  18. Write about being gifted a kitchen appliance.
  19. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: burst, observe, boxes, world, ready.
    2. Fill in the blank: “Why is there ________?”
    3. Write about getting reacquainted with an old friend.
  20. Start with this line: “Dream job alert!”
  21. Use the phrase, “We need to talk.”
  22. Set your story in a small town.
  23. Use the phrase, “I cannot imagine…”
  24. Write a story set on a film set.
  25. Write about the smell of cinnamon.
  26. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: treaty, fence, press, twilight, water.
    2. Use the phrase, “It makes me wonder.”
    3. Write about responding to natural surroundings.
  27. Use the phrase, “When you say it, your name seems pale blue.”
  28. Include these 3 characters in a story: CT/MRI tech, RN, epidemiologist.
  29. Write about politely declining to eat a new food.
  30. Write about non-physical violence.
  31. Write about reading as temporary insanity.