Creative Prompts

Write a vivid description of a pleasant smell. It could be freshly baked cookies, an herb garden, a character’s perfume or anything else that comes to mind.

Choose one of these photos from the collection of street photographer Vivian Maier. Imagine the context behind the photo and write a short story that captures the scene in words.

Write a story about someone stranded on an island. How did they get there? How do they survive? What few items do they have with them? Invent the circumstances and a way for your character to escape.