Seasonal writing prompts are a helpful way to practice writing and creativity. Sometimes they’re a way to get in touch with potential scenes for your book too. Not every book has seasonal material. But recalling descriptive details has a way of bringing to mind memories, lessons, wisdom, and experiences that may shape a writing project in some way. If not, it’s still great practice that helps stir creativity.
For this month’s writing prompt, let’s think about summer. It’s all around us, so it’s a natural time to capture those descriptions and feelings.
Your writing prompt is this: Describe a place that has always represented summer to you.
Maybe it’s a backyard, campground, kitchen, porch, park. Maybe it has to do with friends, family, summer travel, recreation. Whatever that place is, this is your chance to write about it.
Free writing is simply a writing exercise where you start with a prompt and write whatever you want. No grammar, no pressure, no high school English teacher sitting on your shoulder. Just write freely.
You set a timer for 15 minutes and just keep writing the whole time, whether the words make sense or not, whether they go in a straight line, a circle, or a zigzag.
For our summer prompt, you can start by thinking of that place that reminds you of summer. List five sensory details describing that place: you can write individual words, sentences, phrases, a list, whatever way you choose to write it. Then keep writing about that place and see where it leads.
Enjoy the creativity. Enjoy the free time to explore with words and descriptions. Enjoy revisiting the place that felt like summer.
Janet Eriksson 