Written by September 4th, 2014

Writing Prompt: Words from Another

For this prompt I want you to grab a book off your shelf, it should be a book that is written by someone who has a writing style that is very different than your natural style. It can be a book you have read or one you have not. It could be a book of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.

Browse through the book till you find a page that appeals to you. Then pick up to ten words or phrases from that page. Phrases should contain no more than 3 words.

Write down all these words and phrases at the top of the page that you are working on. Now start to write. You can write a short story, flash fiction, or poem. Incorporate the words you wrote down into the piece in the order you wrote them down. This is one of my favorite prompts. You end up writing about different things then you normally do, when you are incorporating another person’s language into your own writing.

 

We Send You Publishers Seeking Submissions.

Sign up for our free e-magazine and we will send you reviews of publishers seeking short stories, poetry, essays, and books.

Subscribe now and we'll send you a free copy of our book Submit, Publish, Repeat

Nine Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in August 2025

Nine Manuscript Publishers Open to Direct Submissions in August 2025

Established publishers and small presses seeking manuscripts. No agent required.

Twin Flame Literary: Now Seeking Submissions

Twin Flame Literary: Now Seeking Submissions

A new online journal seeking fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

The Sentence as a Spine: How Syntax Shapes Story

The Sentence as a Spine: How Syntax Shapes Story

Because how a story is told matters just as much as what happens in it.

28 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for August 2025

28 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for August 2025

These are calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some of the call themes are: the hollow court; trolls (fairy tales); Mmeory (memory manipulation); unseen agreements; common bonds; on the money; of swords & roses; Odysseus; erased from history; and travel by plane. THEMED CALLS Vellum Mortis: The Hollow CourtVellum Mortis is a monthly…