My writing group gave me two prompts and I had to pick one

They said I could write about a character who finds a key that doesn't fit any lock, or one who hears a song only they remember. I went with the key, and wrote a whole story about a locksmith finding it in her late grandfather's coat. It was tough at first, but I got really into it! Has anyone else gotten stuck choosing between two good prompts?

3 comments

3 Comments

mary_ross2mo ago

Choosing between two good prompts is the best kind of problem. Getting stuck means both ideas have real juice. I would have gone with the forgotten song, hands down. There's something creepier and more personal about a memory that only exists for you. The key is a solid classic, but the song feels like it has more room for a real emotional gut punch. Your locksmith story sounds cool though.

skyler_white952mo ago

My creative writing professor last semester said the best prompts feel like a secret you're telling yourself. She had us list ten songs we loved as kids, then write about the one that made us feel the strangest. That forgotten song idea totally nails that feeling. It's not just a spooky plot, it's digging into why a memory can feel so lonely. The key is a great object, but the song feels like it unlocks a person.

wesleyburns2mo ago

Hold up, it's just a writing prompt. People get way too deep about this stuff. Both ideas are fine, but it's not some huge life choice. Pick one and start typing, see where it goes. Overthinking it kills the fun. The story will work itself out once you actually write it.