Category Archives: A Pen In Each Hand

Writing Exercises.

April 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on April 30, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about going to class without your homework.
2. Start your story in the middle of an argument.
3. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: ignore, strain, slippery, hover, drawer.
   2. Fill in the blank, “You can’t teach an old dog _____.”
   3. Write about changing one’s mind.
4. Start with this line: Remember how I told you…
5. Write about an inconvenient dizzy spell.
6. Write about a superhero.
7. Write about slicing fruit together.
8. Start with this line: That’s game-changing.
9. Write about a car being towed away.
10. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: resident, choose, broadcast, kill, toast.
    2. Use the phrase, “Wait and see.”
    3. Write about trying to stay awake.
11. There’s a persistent knocking at the door.
12. Use these five words: hat maker, introduction, octogenarian, students, selfish
13. Use the phrase, “And now, we wait.”
14. Write about impatience.
15. Write about the return of a seasonal fountain.
16. Start your story during selection of a jury.
17. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: chew, staircase, secure. copper, contain.
    2. Use the phrase, “There are several drafts.”
    3. Write about an exaggeration.
18. Start with this line: The science is clear.
19. Use the phrase, “Does that raven know what we’re doing?”
20. Write about an occupational hazard.
21. Use the phrase, “Has it been a month already?”
22. Start your story your first memory.
23. Write about returning after a 2-year absence.
24. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: bag, coast, activity, node, objective.
    2. Use the phrase, “That’s unlikely.”
    3. Write about a bittersweet experience.
25. Write about a windy day.
26. Start your story during a social media outage.
27. Use the phrase, “That looks right.”
28. Start with this line: What do you think?
29. Write about missing a deadline.
30. Write about a word you hate.

March 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on March 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Use “Once a season, whether we need it or not.”
2. Start with this line: It’s pretty scary.
3. Write about an all-day meeting.
4. Start your story during a break-up.
5. Write about wondering where you got an idea.
6. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: modest, embrace, quarter, auditor, afford.
   2. Fill in the blank, “Now subtract ______.”
   3. Write about the pitter-patter of little feet.
7. Write about waiting for a storm.
8. Start with this line: I wanted to be there for you.
9. Write about finding something under a rock.
10. Start with this line: Here are some suggestions.
11. Write about people watching at a railroad crossing.
12. Start your story during a virtual class or workshop.
13. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five reporter, eavesdrop, chapter, conviction, celebration.
    2. Fill in the blank, “I don’t need to do that any more.”
    3. Write about an obsolete skill.
14. Use these five words: overdue, exit, homelessness, protests, embryos
15. Start next to an ice-covered pond on a warm day.
16. Start your story at the beach.
17. Write wordless dialog.
18. Use these five words: roof, summer, humanity, freak, crash
19. Write about a vacant restaurant.
20. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five compartment, challenge, gene, horse, greeting.
    2. Fill in the blank, “Am I the only one left?”
    3. Write about birdwatching.
21. Use the phrase, “All else being equal”
22. Write about eavesdropping.
23. Write about getting up very early.
24. Start your story in a restaurant closed for a private event.
25. Start with “Tell me a story.”
26. Use these five words: banana, clear, credits, game, wars
27. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: assume, blackmail, registration, consideration, personal.
    2. Fill in the blank, “I remember when this was empty space.”
    3. Write about watching a fire.
28. Write about sneaking in contraband.
29. Write about meeting a friend for coffee.
30. Start your story in an artist’s studio.
31. Write about leaving a task unfinished.

February 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on February 28, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Start with “Twas the night before Groundhog’s…”
2. Start your story while stranded without cell service.
3. Write about something that falls between categories.
4. Use these five words: bridge, serenade, detectives, sensitivity, blackbird
5. Write about a group project.
6. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: real, copper, grimace, opponent, swear.
   2. Use the phrase, “Maybe if I don’t watch it.”
   3. Write about equipment failure.
7. Write about a multi-colored graphic.
8. Use these five words: peacemaking, finesse, unpack, battles, blue
9. Write about falling off a bicycle.
10. Start your story while watching a scary movie.
11. Write about a lone goose on a frozen pond.
12. Use these five words: museum, brilliance, radar, elephants, sailing
13. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: joke, wander, exhibition, injection, headline.
    2. Use the phrase, “I ate that for lunch.”
    3. Write about an unexpected color.
14. Start your story during a costume party.
15. Use the phrase, “I’m not late, yet.”
16. Start with this line: He has no regrets.
17. Write about canceling a party.
18. Use these five words: bee, nutty, straightening, uncut, tuna
19. Write about children’s team sports.
20. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: consumer, necklace, justice, obscure, promise.
    2. Use the phrase, “Tell me a story.”
    3. Write about overlooking an important detail.
21. Use “The 21st is not a Thursday.”
22. Start your story on a ferry.
23. Write about improvising for a missing chess piece.
24. Use these five words: agencies, teams, shoulder, cocktail, textiles
25. Write about a folder stuffed full of papers.
26. Write about negative space.
27. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: pile, chocolate, decisive, dedicate, disorder.
    2. Use the phrase, “Isn’t that a mouthful?”
    3. Write about a different solution to a problem.
28. Use these five words: lawmaker, heroes, plans, godsend, renaissance

January 2022
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on January 31, 2022 by TC Editors

1. Write about promises kept only approximately.
2. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: roll, green, pigeon, storage, fling.
   2. Use the phrase, “We appreciate…”
   3. Write about a favorite childhood toy.
3. Write about a support person in a work group.
4. Start with this line: My dad doesn’t approve of him.
5. Write about a hospital stay
6. Write about quitting a competition.
7. Write about weather very different from today’s.
8. Write about a big discovery.
9. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: concrete, performer, soil, mild, father.
   2. Use the phrase, “with raisins in it.”
   3. Write about not knowing the day of the week.
10. Start your story in a science lab.
11. Write about a wrong-number phone call.
12. Use these five words: bullied, farm, diverse, born, hell
13. Write about a big round-number birthday.
14. Write about a maverick.
15. Write about a welcome-home from a pet.
16. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: punish, sausage, range, grace, network.
    2. Use the phrase, “What is it thinking?”
    3. Write about a hurry-up-and-wait situation.
17. Write about a chosen family relationship.
18. Use these five words: inferiority, grisly, icons, raven, references
19. Write about working toward a dream.
20. Start your story in a dystopia.
21. Write about learning to do something complicated.
22. Write about a frightening question.
23. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: merchant, hall, goalkeeper, depart, slippery.
    2. Use the phrase, “supposedly ancient.”
    3. Write about the final issue of a magazine.
24. Write about a red flag.
25. Write about deciding not to buy something that’s wanted.
26. Start your story at a protest of old-growth logging.
27. Write a shaggy-dog story.
28. Start your story on a Sunday afternoon.
29. Write about an unsung hero.
30. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: harvest, bulletin, gutter, braid, acute.
    2. Use the phrase, “everyone I don’t like.”
    3. Write about an odd posture or position.
31. Write about malfunctioning equipment.

December 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on December 31, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Write in a dialect not your own.
2. Set your story in a medical research laboratory
3. Write about a book club.
4. Start with this line: We will fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
5. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: confession, pony, welcome, distant, elect.
   2. Use the phrase, “Is that the beer talking?”
   3. Write about walking away from something familiar.
6. Write about a violation of policy
7. Write about being at sea in a storm.
8. Write about a betrayal
9. Write about the Little People.
10. Start with this line: She’s jealous of people who live in California.
11. Write about waiting for the mail to come.
12. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: detector, variety, directory, light, corn.
    2. Use the phrase, “justify the expense.”
    3. Write about an expected surprise.
13. Write about using an old calendar.
14. Write about a video conference call incident
15. Write about waiting in the cold.
16. Start with this line: I may not have all of the facts but…
17. Use the phrase, “What I should have done.”
18. Write about baking a pie
19. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: district, cottage, relation, steel, genuine.
    2. Fill in the blank, “Cheap _____ is not worth the money.”
    3. Write about intentionally violating rules.
20. Write about a meteor shower
21. Write about something that can only happen on the solstice.
22. Write about an artist’s process
23. Write about a small child jumping up and down.
24. Use these five words: veterans, additional, range, gamble, dynamic
25. Write about staying up after midnight.
26. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: death, parade, time, potential, public.
    2. Use the phrase, “Can you hear it?”
    3. Write about doing something other people thought impossible.
27. Write about turning down dessert.
28. Use these five words: perfectionism, unworthy, Emmy, B-roll, aesthetic
29. Write about trying to resume after interruption.
30. Start with this line: We are raffling off two tickets.
31. Summarize last year’s writing. What can you do differently next year?

November 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on November 30, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Write about waiting for the first winter storm.
2. Start with this line: Stop crying!
3. Write about an old stuffed animal toy.
4. Use these five words: charmed, soldier, fishing, realist, beach
5. Write about struggling with a computer.
6. Use these five words: weekend, marches, surprising, weather, park
7. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: violation, understanding, quaint, husband, pole.
   2. Use the phrase, “I need help.”
   3. Write about losing an important item.
8. Start with this line: The tsunami has been upgraded.
9. Write about losing a shopping list.
10. Start with this line: All the rats are leaving that sinking ship.
11. Write about the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
12. Start with this line: You dance like my mom.
13. Write about looking through smudged glasses.
14. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: benefit, treatment, embark, helmet, litigation.
    2. Use the phrase, “That’s not part of the celebration.”
    3. Write about things we no longer wear.
15. Write about a mountain in the mist.
16. Start with this line: The odds are stacked against us.
17. Write about missing a quota.
18. Start with this line: Well, that didn’t age well.
19. Write about a dangerous intersection.
20. Start with this line: I really want you to win.
21. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: bike, meet, pill, gradient, manage.
    2. Use the phrase, “The world seems smaller.”
    3. Write about photographing a landscape.
22. Use these five words: midnight, exposure, nothing, cheat, air
23. Write about losing touch with a friend.
24. Start with this line: I just wanted to say thank you for…
25. Write about celebrating the wrong holiday.
26. Use these five words: clinical, halt, unconscionable, debate, disrupting
27. Write about a houseplant blooming.
28. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: suspicion, admission, detective, joke, inspire.
    2. Use the phrase, “book of inspirational quotes.”
    3. Write about wrestling with technology.
29. Set your story at a rehearsal.
30. Use these five words: envoy, partners, affordability, heart, digital

October 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on October 31, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Use “You probably haven’t heard this.”
2. Use these five words: agricultural, child, incredible, country, church
3. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: feeling, perforate, cottage, jungle, mislead.
   2. Use the phrase, “There was a person I knew.”
   3. Write about something done for healing purposes.
4. Start with this line: I’m thrilled to announce…
5. Use the phrase, “I’m not that good.”
6. Start with this line: She would’ve made a great leader.
7. Write about a flat tire.
8. Set your story on a disastrous date
9. Use the phrase “It’s been Saturday all week.”
10. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: waterfall, meeting, rescue, sword, occupation.
    2. Use the phrase, “It’s mostly fluff.”
    3. Write about making predictions.
11. Write about missing a whole season.
12. Set your story at a tiny wedding
13. Your characters exchange a knock-knock joke.
14. Write about a month of awareness
15. Your character coins a word.
16. Set your story in a cabin in the woods
17. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: biscuit, clash, policy, suffering, solve.
    2. Use the phrase, “Give or take.”
    3. Write about cancelling an event.
18. Start with this line: We understand why you’re frustrated.
19. Write about driving a train.
20. Write about an uninvited guest
21. Write about being bad at keeping secrets.
22. Start with this line: My research led me down a rabbithole.
23. Write about an interrupted routine.
24. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: horseshoe, porter, glove, sea, spider.
    2. Use the phrase, “Make it fit in the box.”
    3. Write about making copies.
25. Compare a child to their younger self.
26. Start with this line: Would you like to join our team?
27. Use “Blessed are the pessimists, for they shall have made backups.”
28. Use these five words: animate, famous, rage, daughter, beautiful
29. Write about visiting a former workplace.
30. Set your story during a high-profile interview
31. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: canvas, skate, plaintiff, auditor, thinker.
    2. Use the phrase, “Which one is it?”
    3. Write about an absurd challenge.

September 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on September 30, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Write about weird traffic as evidence for a mishap.
2. Use these five words: resigns, bungled, indigestible, record, dystopia
3. Write about the sound of construction, far away.
4. Start with this line: I’m convinced he’s allergic to…
5. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: position, forget, ostracize, timber, awful.
   2. Use the phrase, “The same old thing.”
   3. Write about figuring something out.
6. Set your story in a treehouse
7. Write about a holiday not shared by everyone present.
8. Use these five words: creativity, scheduled, update, self-worth, lifelong
9. Write about getting new glasses or lenses.
10. Start with this line: They just hit rock bottom.
11. Write about private mourning for a public event.
12. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: girl, advance, corner, register, uncle.
    2. Use the phrase, “That’s ten times in the last week.”
    3. Write about dim memories of a similar situation.
13. Write about something that makes no sense to the narrator.
14. Write about a short film
15. Write about obsessively sorting something that didn’t need it.
16. Start with this line: If I’m being totally honest…
17. Use the phrase, “We don’t have enough people to do that.”
18. Start with this line: He’s trying to buy votes.
19. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: breeze, salon, administration, remain, condition.
    2. Use the phrase, “Open it up.”
    3. Write about an automation failure.
20. Use these five words: worried, staging, history, impressive, farmer
21. Write about doing busy work until dinnertime.
22. Set your story during a murder trial
23. Your character writes a haiku.
24. Set your story at a party with cupcakes
25. Write about cracking knuckles before getting to work.
26. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: aviation, explicit, insistence, manufacturer, charismatic.
    2. Use the phrase, “Was that tonight?”
    3. Write about being too tired to stay awake.
27. Use the phrase, “Begin in the middle.”
28. Start with this line: Who gets custody of _____?
29. Use the phrase, “One last time.”
30. Use these five words: processed, ambiguity, cemetery, quarters, packing

August 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on August 31, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: place, digital, iron, pumpkin, peanut.
   2. Use the phrase, “Expect heavy precipitation.”
   3. Write about merging cuisines from different places.
2. Start with this line: The apocalypse is coming.
3. Write about recovering from illness or injury.
4. Set your story at a closed border
5. Write about apologizing for being late.
6. Write about a personal attack
7. Write about watching a plume of smoke.
8. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: plaster, perfume, argument, swell, conscious.
   2. Use the phrase, “That won’t work.”
   3. Write about trying to stay awake.
9. Write about not apologizing for being late.
10. Use these five words: stars, missing, nuclear, powerful, accident
11. Write about missing deadlines.
12. Use these five words: outage, classic, concert, trial, exchange
13. Set your story on Friday the 13th.
14. Set your story during a snowstorm
15. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: island, density, general, copy, sister.
    2. Use the phrase, “If it were reliable, it wouldn’t be magic.”
    3. Write about almost missing a deadline.
16. Start with this line: She wants to be seen as something other than a mother.
17. Write about a doctored recording.
18. Write about something kept in cages
19. Answer a child’s “That’s not fair!” complaint.
20. Use these five words: superfans, behavioral, journalist, debate, airport
21. Use “How does this thing work again?”
22. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: waiter, chew, magnitude, joint, population.
    2. Use the phrase, “It seems less noisy.”
    3. Write about an inconvenient modern technology.
23. Write about a bad case of the Mondays
24. Write about a well-deserved bath
25. Write an incident in your character’s childhood.
26. Use these five words: grifters, gravesite, befitting, defeat, network
27. Write about not being able to come up with the right word.
28. Use these five words: flashpoint, shortage, packing, cheers, fight
29. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: half, release, jewel, X-ray, double.
    2. Use the phrase, “How do we clean that?”
    3. Write about disobeying rules.
30. Write about a great mystery
31. Write about clay on a potter’s wheel.

 

July 2021
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on July 31, 2021 by TC Editors

1. Write four paragraphs of description of the setting of your story.
2. Use these five words: wondering, assessment, hidden, evidence, tracking
3. Use the phrase “battled to a scoreless tie.”
4. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
   1. Use the following five words: reader, theory, pause, drawer, reaction. Bonus word: earwax.
   2. Fill in the blank: “Where did I put my _______?”
   3. Write about studying a map.
5. Write about a freaked-out dog.
6. Use these five words: bloomers, rundown, transformed, starry, photos
7. Write about the sound of an appliance running.
8. Set your story in a courtroom
9. Write about eating out with a family member.
10. Use these five words: influx, security, breach, reborn, bleed
11. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: case, version, leave, tourist, precedent.
    2. Use the phrase, “where did that come from?”
    3. Write about correcting someone.
12. Use these five words: stalled, joint, win, gems, forcibly
13. Write about being confused by a calendar.
14. Set your story at a poetry reading
15. Write about rushing to open a restaurant.
16. Start with this line: What did you miss most while you were away?
17. Write a child’s bedtime story.
18. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: cylinder, fairy, straight, temperature, warm.
    2. Use the phrase, “As far away as possible.”
    3. Write about a large animal.
19. Write about a health worry.
20. Write about being scared
21. Write about settling in a different country.
22. Write about a sexual assault accusation
23. Write about summer snow.
24. Set your story in space
25. Join us for a live Writing Chat every Sunday!
    1. Use the following five words: transport, throat, impound, suppress, hang.
    2. Use the phrase, “I’m not sure what happens now.”
    3. Write about giving up trying to explain something.
26. Set your story at an awards show
27. Drop everything and write a Haiku.
28. Start with this line: I’m not sure why I put myself through this.
29. Write about cleaning out the refrigerator.
30. Use these five words: cliffhanger, poet, buckle, hero, twist
31. Make up a name for a day of the week.