My Writing Group and Writing Prompts

One of my favorite things is a little writing group that I started a year or so ago. We meet weekly, as long as all conditions are right, at a local coffee shop across the street from a beloved friend that we all secretly hope joins us.  💓 Most of what we do is, using prompts from books, websites, or of our own creation, from all over the place, and write for three to ten minutes. Then, if we wish, we read our writing to each other, pause with love for one another, and move along.

Our writing often prompts wonderful conversations full of emotion, love, and connection. It's truly a beautiful thing, with a side order of iced tea and brownies.

With the love of this writing group, I've decided to add my suggestions for some excellent writing prompts. All around the internet you can find website with dozens of memoir writing prompts, most copy from one another. Each of these personal narrative prompts is from my own head. Enjoy:

• Which of your parents are you the most like? How. Describe your similarities and differences.
• Describe the relationship that you consider the one you call your "first love". Does it affect you in any way today? Are you still on contact with that person?
• Write about a fashion trend that you can't get on board with.
• Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Write pros and cons of being that type of person.
• Write about the most inspiring teacher, mentor, authority figure you have had in your life. 
• What are some of your pet peeves and what do they seem to say about you?
• Write about a beautiful moment from the past week.
• Make a list of small things that bring you joy.
• Describe a time when you felt too far away from home.
• Write about your hometown. Its positives, negatives, things that give it character. Write some of your essential memories from there. What would a visitor see?
• Write about a time when you realized you had misunderstood the whole thing.
• Describe your mother or grandmother's kitchen.
• Write about a time you got in trouble as a child, especially when you didn't mean to.
• Were you a bully as a child? Explain what made you behave that way.
• Imagine you have a million dollars. What would you do with it. No taxes.
• How do you like to spend an afternoon on your own.
• Write about a road trip you took.
• Write about a party you threw.
• Write a letter to yourself at a certain age. The letter should say the exact things you needed to hear at that moment.
• Write about a time in your life when you made a major change. How did it go?
• Imagine it's 200 years in the future and your time capsule was just dug up and opened. What is inside and what does it mean?
• Write about a childhood friend and some unresolved issues from that friendship.
• Write a list of things that you are grateful for.
• Write about the first person or relationship that broke your heart.
• What recurring elements do you see in your dreams? If you gave them meaning, what might they be telling you?
• Write about a song that holds meaning for you.
• Write about a time a friend or family member came to the rescue.
• Write about how the people in your life know that you love them.
• Write about a time you became separated from the group.
• Write about a time when someone made you feel empowered.
• Write about a time when you had to end something, and were the better for it.
• Write about a low point in your life and how you found your way out of it.
• Write about a movie or book that you wish you could step into. What would you do there?
• Write about a bedtime story you made up for a special child in your life.
• Write about a person that you admire without using their name.
• Do you, your parents, or someone you know have a wonderful love story to tell? About how they met? Tell the story.
• Write about a time you were too drunk/stoned/high.
• Describe a time that you look back on fondly.
• Tell a story about being unwisely in love.
• Make a list of things that you love about your life.
• Where were you on 9/11?
• Where were you when the Challenger exploded?
• Think about a person you have lost touch with. What was your relationship like? Would you like to reconnect?
• Write about a book or some books that made a huge impact on you and your life.
• Write about a time you had an encounter with someone famous.
• Write about a time you were the victim of a crime.
• Write your own version of NPR's This I Believe.
• What is your absolute earliest memory?
• What does it seem are common impressions of you that people seem to have?
• Write about the most painful thing you have ever experienced.
  Have you learned anything from it?
• Write about a time you were on stage.

You might also enjoy:
My Daughter is  Fierce
My Writing Process Blog Tour
More Writing Prompts
A Fascinating Blog Post