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Pro tip: That writing prompt from 3 years ago finally clicked last Tuesday
I found this prompt in an old notebook from 3 years ago about a time traveler who only brings back bad news. I tried writing it twice and gave up both times. Last week I was stuck in a 2 hour line at the DMV in Austin and suddenly the whole story came to me. The time traveler keeps showing up at family dinners to warn them about burnt casseroles and lost car keys but never the big stuff. I scribbled the whole thing on a receipt in 15 minutes. Anyone else have a prompt sit around for ages before it finally worked?
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grays137d ago
Is it just me or does @sage308 have a point about the DMV being a secret creativity booster? I read somewhere that boredom actually forces your brain to make new connections, so maybe waiting rooms are the new writer's retreat.
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piper_kim7d ago
huh, isn't it funny how the weirdest places can unlock something? last year i had this idea about a haunted thrift store coat that always fits whoever wears it perfectly, no matter their size. i sat on it for like 18 months, tried to write it maybe 4 times, nothing clicked. then i was waiting for my car to get an oil change and i just started typing on my phone in the waiting room, finished the whole first draft in under an hour. the coat ended up being a metaphor for people pleasing, not even what i originally planned.
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