1. Write a scene showing a man and a woman arguing over the man's friendship with a former girlfriend. Do not mention the girlfriend, the man, the woman, or the argument.

”Are you hearing this?”
“Of course, I can’t really help it.”
“True, thin walls and open windows… Anyway, you know where I stand when it comes to things like this.”
“Yep. And I’m with you: Once the spoon and knife are set together, the fork needs to stay on the other side of the plate.”
“I feel like we should really close the blinds. I’m not sure it’s right, looking in like this.”
“Well, we can hear everything, we might as well watch.”
“And that poor kid, right in the middle of it all. Look at him looking out the window—he wishes he were somewhere else.”

2. Write a short scene set at a lake, with trees and shit. Throw some birds in there, too.

”Want to make s’mores?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods?! Pass me the marshmallows.”
“This is the perfect place—you always find the perfect place.”
“Thanks. Yeah, I’ve loved coming here ever since I was a kid. Under this tree is my favorite spot.”
“It’s so peaceful: the lake, the moon, the...hey, listen! Is that an owl?”

3. Choose your favorite historical figure and imagine if he/she had been led to greatness by the promptings of an invisible imp living behind his or her right ear. Write a story from the point of view of this creature. Where did it come from? What are its goals? Use research to make your story as accurate as possible.

”Edgar, isn’t she a sweet little thing?” The imp was back at his ear, hopping from foot to tiny foot on his right shoulder.
“Little is right—she’s so young.”
“Perfect, then, right? After all, have I ever led you wrong? If she’s young, she live long—longer than you—someone to care for you.”
“Well, you were spot on in your critiques of yesterday’s poem. You know, I’m thinking of writing on about a Raven.”
The imp grinned. He crawled back into Edgar’s ear, where he’d spent his entire life. This was his purpose. The girl would die young. Edgar would be left in one of his states. But it was all part of the plan. Edgar must be remembered, and, therefore, Edgar must be unhappy.

4. Write a story that ends with the following sentence: Debra brushed the sand from her blouse, took a last, wistful look at the now putrefying horse, and stepped into the hot-air balloon.

She had dreamed of this since childhood, and now that it had come true, she was sorry she’s ever wished for it. Oz wasn’t anything like she’d thought it would be. All of the Munchkins had long since migrated, the Emerald City had faded to a putrid shade of seaweed, and the whole land was in severe drought. The picnic baskets that had once grown on the tree in front of her had fallen like rotten fruit—dashed like unlucky dreams to the ground, their delicious promise spoiled. The Wizard had partly covered the body of the dead horse. Ready to leave, he took her hand sadly in his to help her up. In that moment, she realized she was no Dorothy. Debra brushed the sand from her blouse, took a last, wistful look at the now putrefying horse, and stepped into the hot-air balloon.

5. A wasp called the tarantula hawk reproduces by paralyzing tarantulas and laying its eggs into their bodies. When the larvae hatch, they devour the still living spider from the inside out. Isn't that fucked up? Write a short story about how fucked up that is.

It was wrong, so wrong.
Bert the Tarantula hadn’t seen it coming. All he knew was that he’d felt a sharp pain, like a sting in his back. He’d tried to turn and look up to see where it came from, but his body felt so heavy—she couldn’t turn. And he found he couldn’t run either, none of his legs would move a muscle. And now this. After the heaviness had left him, he’d gone about his business. He’d put on some unexpected pounds, but who didn’t at his age? And then tonight. It was too horrible to think of—but what else could he think of in these last moments. The buzzing as unbearable—and the wings…

6. Imagine if your favorite character from 19th-century fiction had been born without thumbs. Then write a short story about them winning the lottery.

It wasn’t easy being a thumbless stonemason, scholar, lover, father—and then to lose all he’d loved. It was as if Jude Fawley’s hands were the emblems of his life. Arabella was out with the doctor again, as Jude lay shivering in bed. This was no way to go! He decided he’d make one last effort. So he crawled out of bed—maybe he’d try Sue one more time. Maybe if he was rich? He stumbled into the pharmacy and bought a lotto ticket. Back at home in bed, he used the nail of his middle finger (“Would that I had a thumbnail!” he thought) to scratch off the dusty coating over the numbers. He gasped in surprise!
When Arabella came home, she was in for a surprise as well. A husband dead—but what a fortune he’d left behind. She always knew Jude would be good for something…

7. Write a story that begins with a man throwing handfuls of $100 bills from a speeding car, and ends with a young girl urinating into a tin bucket.

A man’s hand came jutting out of the window of the speeding car. It was holding something. The hairy fist released, and Joan was enveloped in a cloud of what felt like dancing green butterflies. She put her hand out and one settled on her palm—a wrinkled, but very real, one hundred dollar bill. She bent to the ground and began collecting the scattering pieces of money, which were already blowing away from her in every direction. She stuffed them into her bag. These butterflies needed no gentle net! That night, she slept on a pillow stuffed with bills, and when she went to the corner for a midnight pee in her tin bucket, she smiled with the knowledge that she’d soon be sitting pretty on a real porcelain toilet.

8. A husband and wife are meeting in a restaurant to finalize the terms of their impending divorce. Write the scene from the point of view of a busboy snorting cocaine in the restroom.

”Stupid woman! If I could catch a man like that, I’d never leave him. He looks loaded. And I’d look way better in that dress than she does. He’s too good for her—he should be glad to see her go. Look how fat she’s getting. Ugh. Disgusting thick thighs.” She bent over the white line and came back upright smiling. She smiled at the man as she walked from the restroom and past the couple’s table. The woman looked up at her with puffy eyes, “You’ve got something under your nose,” she said.

9. Think of the most important secret your best friend has ever entrusted you with. Write a story in which you reveal it to everyone. Write it again from the point of view of your friend. Does she want to kill you? How does she imagine doing it? Would she use a gun, or something crueler and more savage, like a baseball bat with nails in it?

How could she tell? Is she trying to make me angry? This isn’t like her. And in just announcing it like that in a blog entry! Deserves a pitchfork to the skull! Maybe a less illegal action would be better. I’m not the only once with secrets, and one good blog entry deserves another…

10. Popular music is often a good source of writing inspiration. Rewrite Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" as a play.

Visions of Johanna, Act 1

Sounds of pipes banging. The radio, on low, plays country music. Louise and her lover sit near an open window. Louise holds her hand out in the rain. A light flickers in the apartment across the way.

Louise: You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?
Lover: I’m sorry, Lou, I can’t help it. I love you, but I’ve loved her for so long that it’s a habit.
Louise: I understand. I knew to expect this.
Lover: Sometimes, I look at you…and it’s like I’m seeing her. You look so alike. Visions of loveliness. You have the same delicate bones. I’m lost, Lou.
Louise: Ya can’t look at much without thinking of her, can ya man.
He stands, kisses her farewell.
Lover: Goodbye for now, Lou.

11. Write a short scene in which one character reduces another to uncontrollable sobs without touching him or speaking.

He wanted to keep swimming—for her. Her big blue eyes loomed at his through the glass wall of the tank. He moved his golden scaled body up toward her though the water. He felt so light, as if he could keep going up and up, past the surface like a balloon. He reached the top and felt his body begin to rotate. The world was upside down. As it went black, he heard her uncontrollable sobs and hoped she’d visit the fair and win another like him soon. She was a good girl…

12. Your main character finds a box of scorched human hair. Whose is it? How did it get there?

Where was Stephie? She was going to be late! Mother walked up the stairs calling Stephie’s name. Then her nose twitched, something smelled funny…like burning. Mother ran into the bathroom. Stephie was hunched over the sink, from which a trail of smoke issued and the horrid smell came. In the sink was a little ivory box, which Stephie quickly closed. Mother took it and opened it, then looked at Stephie. Oh, Stephie, she said. Your poor braids.

13. A man has a terrifying dream in which he is being sawn in half. He wakes to find himself in the Indian Ocean, naked and clinging to a door; a hotel keycard is clenched in his teeth. Write what happens next.

He was lying in a box. He opened his eyes and the leering face of the magician looked down at him. The magician laughed and began to wave his red-gloved hands back and forth as two women in sequined outfits started to move the saw back and forth above Paul’s box-enclosed body. He screamed as he felt the cold blade against his skin. He jolted awake. He felt cold all over, and wet. Had he peed himself in his sleep? Why was he naked? And then he remembered. The ocean. In the moonlight it stretched on forever. He clenched the hotel keycard tighter between his teeth to ward off the pain in his leg, clung hard to the door, and once more began to kick with his good leg in what he hoped was the direction of land.