What do you think?
Rate this book
Things to Write About
642 Things to Write About
This collection of 642 outrageous and witty writing prompts will get the creative juices flowing in no time. From crafting your own obituary to penning an ode to an onion, each page of this playful journal invites inspiration and provides plenty of space to write. Brimming with entertaining exercises from the literary minds of the San Francisco Writers' Grotto, this is the ultimate gift for scribes of every stripe.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
120 people are currently reading
3329 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 10, 2020
L'ho testato qui: https://youtu.be/GGK5MscFRm0
September 22, 2012
I rarely buy paper books anymore, and have enough books of writing prompts left unused that getting yet another seemed fairly pointless... However, when I glanced through this one at the local bookstore today, I knew I had to get it.
One of the reasons I never manage to use the other prompt-books is that my free time away from the computer tends to be in places that make juggling a pad of paper, pencil/pen, and book problematic; alternately, I'll have a great location, only to have my imagination freeze up at the overwhelming expanse of blank/lined paper. "642" solves both problems by including enough blank lines needed to get started with each prompt, but not so many that we get the infamous brain-frying blank page effect; this also thankfully limits the instructions to 2 per page at most, reducing the chances of distraction.
Even more importantly, unlike other books of prompts, the ones in "642" were amusingly quirky enough that I wanted to tackle them and felt like I actually could. It's easy to see how one could use the prompts in just about any sub-genre without a great deal of effort, which is a huge improvement over the many books that seem to target plain modern/literary fiction.
Overall, I'd strongly recommend 642 Things To Write About to any writer looking for that little nudge they need to get moving, or as a gift for somebody that has gotten into writing fiction. If you're not in the area and it's not readily available through big well-known booksellers, check the websites for SF Bay Area bookstores; I'd say where I bought mine, but I don't want to break any rules.
One of the reasons I never manage to use the other prompt-books is that my free time away from the computer tends to be in places that make juggling a pad of paper, pencil/pen, and book problematic; alternately, I'll have a great location, only to have my imagination freeze up at the overwhelming expanse of blank/lined paper. "642" solves both problems by including enough blank lines needed to get started with each prompt, but not so many that we get the infamous brain-frying blank page effect; this also thankfully limits the instructions to 2 per page at most, reducing the chances of distraction.
Even more importantly, unlike other books of prompts, the ones in "642" were amusingly quirky enough that I wanted to tackle them and felt like I actually could. It's easy to see how one could use the prompts in just about any sub-genre without a great deal of effort, which is a huge improvement over the many books that seem to target plain modern/literary fiction.
Overall, I'd strongly recommend 642 Things To Write About to any writer looking for that little nudge they need to get moving, or as a gift for somebody that has gotten into writing fiction. If you're not in the area and it's not readily available through big well-known booksellers, check the websites for SF Bay Area bookstores; I'd say where I bought mine, but I don't want to break any rules.
January 19, 2025
If each decade of your life was represented by a pop song, what would they be?
For anyone who wants to start writing or already writes but has occasional blockages of the keyboard, this is a decent book to learn or reboot one's inner writer. Formatted to look like an essay notebook, one can either write within the book itself or use the suggested topics to create elsewhere.
Write stage directions for an actor that insult him or her personally all along the way.
Some of the suggestions are howlers while others really do require some in-depth thinking. Some topics get a single page while other pages share four short writing prompts (broken into four squares so the writing can be done right on the page). It was fun just reading some of the ideas the San Francisco Writers' Grotto came up with, while a rare few were rather raunchy. Nevertheless, they were all good starting points to get the creative juices flowing.
Study a stranger. Go home and write a tragedy about his or her mother.
You are a customer lying face down on the floor during a bank robbery. Describe the robbery from this vantage point.
You have been evicted from your home, but rather than live on the street you go to IKEA. At night you hide in the bathroom until the janitor leaves. Write about your life.
I'm more of a reader than a writer, but if I had to start writing, this would be a handy tool. I was thinking that a good discipline would be to randomly select a page per week and write, within seven days, a completed draft of that prompt. The book could also be used for a writers' group, where one topic is chosen and everyone has to write their piece. Could be very interesting.
Book Season = Year-Round (pen or pencil)
For anyone who wants to start writing or already writes but has occasional blockages of the keyboard, this is a decent book to learn or reboot one's inner writer. Formatted to look like an essay notebook, one can either write within the book itself or use the suggested topics to create elsewhere.
Write stage directions for an actor that insult him or her personally all along the way.
Some of the suggestions are howlers while others really do require some in-depth thinking. Some topics get a single page while other pages share four short writing prompts (broken into four squares so the writing can be done right on the page). It was fun just reading some of the ideas the San Francisco Writers' Grotto came up with, while a rare few were rather raunchy. Nevertheless, they were all good starting points to get the creative juices flowing.
Study a stranger. Go home and write a tragedy about his or her mother.
You are a customer lying face down on the floor during a bank robbery. Describe the robbery from this vantage point.
You have been evicted from your home, but rather than live on the street you go to IKEA. At night you hide in the bathroom until the janitor leaves. Write about your life.
I'm more of a reader than a writer, but if I had to start writing, this would be a handy tool. I was thinking that a good discipline would be to randomly select a page per week and write, within seven days, a completed draft of that prompt. The book could also be used for a writers' group, where one topic is chosen and everyone has to write their piece. Could be very interesting.
Book Season = Year-Round (pen or pencil)
June 10, 2018
I got this for my birthday earlier this year, and I have to say it's helping me get my writers block out of my system pretty well. I can't say I'm a great writer. I still think I can do better, way better than I'm doing now. I'm still young, of course, but one of my dreams is writing books. Maybe not in the next few years, but definitely someday, when I'm ready. Books like these make me want to write again, make me fall in love with the idea of writing, and honestly, make me want to lock myself in my bedroom to begin immediately.
Unfortunately, I would never let anyone read this, considering I'm usually pretty critical of myself and would freak out if anyone read my "works".
I was happy to see some poetry-related parts in this book, since that's my favorite. Some parts weren't as easy as others, but still, they were nice.
This book is very, very helpful, very cute, and I want to thank my friends for thinking about me while seeing this and buying it. I got my love for writing back.
Unfortunately, I would never let anyone read this, considering I'm usually pretty critical of myself and would freak out if anyone read my "works".
I was happy to see some poetry-related parts in this book, since that's my favorite. Some parts weren't as easy as others, but still, they were nice.
This book is very, very helpful, very cute, and I want to thank my friends for thinking about me while seeing this and buying it. I got my love for writing back.
October 19, 2015
642 Things to write about
This is a book that a good friend of mine gave me a year ago. I will say that is not a conventional book in which you read a story written by an author, quite the opposite. 642 things to Write About is a white paper sheet. Page by page the book will go testing your capacity for invention, use of vocabulary and above all, your creativity. It's a great way to explore the potential we all have as creative and writer.
Spanish version: Este es un libro que una buena amiga mía me regaló hace un año. Os diré que no es un libro convencional en el que lees una historia escrita por un autor, todo lo contrario. 642 cosas sobre las que escribir es un libro en blanco que nos propone precisamente escribirlo. Página a página el libro irá poniendo a prueba nuestra capacidad de invención, de uso del vocabulario y sobretodo de creatividad. Una forma genial de explorar el potencial que todos tenemos como escritor.
This is a book that a good friend of mine gave me a year ago. I will say that is not a conventional book in which you read a story written by an author, quite the opposite. 642 things to Write About is a white paper sheet. Page by page the book will go testing your capacity for invention, use of vocabulary and above all, your creativity. It's a great way to explore the potential we all have as creative and writer.
Spanish version: Este es un libro que una buena amiga mía me regaló hace un año. Os diré que no es un libro convencional en el que lees una historia escrita por un autor, todo lo contrario. 642 cosas sobre las que escribir es un libro en blanco que nos propone precisamente escribirlo. Página a página el libro irá poniendo a prueba nuestra capacidad de invención, de uso del vocabulario y sobretodo de creatividad. Una forma genial de explorar el potencial que todos tenemos como escritor.
July 15, 2015
Tal como dice el título son 642 cosas sobre las que escribir. Es un MAGNIFICO CUADERNO PARA DESARROLLAR NUESTRA CREATIVIDAD POR ESCRITO CON UNA GRAN CANTIDAD DE REDACCIONES Y UN AMPLIO ABANICO DE TEMÁTICAS QUE TE DEPORTARÁ HORAS Y HORAS DE ESCRITURA Y QUE PUEDES COGER Y REALIZAR EN EL MISMO INSTANTE ( al no ser demasiado largas las redacciones que te piden), SIMPLEMENTE HAY QUE ESCRIBIR LA QUE MÁS TE ATRAIGA.
La obra se divide en escritos cortos, medios y semi largos, de un cuarto, media y página entera con un párrafo previo dónde te explican lo que debemos desarrollar.
Hay redacciones de muy diversos tipos, por ejemplo:
- Escribir una reseña de una novela o biografía escrita por ti ( claro, también puedes inventarlo)
- La diferencia entre la primera muerte y la más reciente que recuerdas
- Acerca de una mujer que piensa que vive al lado de su nieto
- Un episodio de alcoholismo
- Eres un astronauta y hay de recordar tu mejor día en el espacio
- ..lo que puede suceder en un segundo
- Una receta ‘ para el desastre’
- Escuchas los pensamientos de las personas repentinamente; escríbelos
- Una carta a un niño explicando como realizar algo
- Redacciones que comienzan con una palabra o frase y debes continuar: ‘mi primer..’
- Eres Luke Sylwalker y tienes que escribir tres diferentes comienzos para tu biografía
- Si tuviese sólo una semana de vida...(escribe)
Como veis, muchos y variados escritos, que a veces, incluso, se nos pueden quedar cortos en formato..quizá necesitemos más página
EXCELENTE CUADERNO PARA ESCRIBIR Y DIVERTIRSE
La obra se divide en escritos cortos, medios y semi largos, de un cuarto, media y página entera con un párrafo previo dónde te explican lo que debemos desarrollar.
Hay redacciones de muy diversos tipos, por ejemplo:
- Escribir una reseña de una novela o biografía escrita por ti ( claro, también puedes inventarlo)
- La diferencia entre la primera muerte y la más reciente que recuerdas
- Acerca de una mujer que piensa que vive al lado de su nieto
- Un episodio de alcoholismo
- Eres un astronauta y hay de recordar tu mejor día en el espacio
- ..lo que puede suceder en un segundo
- Una receta ‘ para el desastre’
- Escuchas los pensamientos de las personas repentinamente; escríbelos
- Una carta a un niño explicando como realizar algo
- Redacciones que comienzan con una palabra o frase y debes continuar: ‘mi primer..’
- Eres Luke Sylwalker y tienes que escribir tres diferentes comienzos para tu biografía
- Si tuviese sólo una semana de vida...(escribe)
Como veis, muchos y variados escritos, que a veces, incluso, se nos pueden quedar cortos en formato..quizá necesitemos más página
EXCELENTE CUADERNO PARA ESCRIBIR Y DIVERTIRSE
February 22, 2013
What would my life be like without notebooks? I am constantly bringing one around everywhere I go, I have a notebook for friggin everything, and I just love to write. This book is great for anyone who doesn't do much writing and maybe hasn't a clue what to write about. It has dozens of topics, scenarios, and short creative writing activities that in my opinion would better anyone's creativity flow. If you just do not know what to write about, you love to write but you find yourself staring at a blank piece of notebook paper intimidated then this is the book for you. I find it really fun, especially when I'm bored and want to explore new creative writing projects! Go to chapters, buy it, enjoy. I love it.
September 15, 2021
not a book. not reading. this is a collection of prompts to break out of "writer's block" that has been in the news as an Ohio school board has been called to resign or face child pornography charges for the items suggested to write about. i've read some of the suggestions and am appalled this was brought into a high school classroom. the educators SHOULD be held accountable for what they decide to use in their classrooms. it's possible they didn't know some of the topics. when i read a review it only gave some of the benign topics like writing an ode to an onion, but others are completely sexual in nature and pushing the bounds of sexuality. SO in regards to that school board if they did not know what was in it, why order it for the school system without some investigation. and if it was investigated, the person responsible (and the school board) should be facing serious questioning up to and possibly legal ramifications.
if you're not a minor, you can read what you want and form your own opinions, but this does NOT need to be in our public school system. period.
if you're not a minor, you can read what you want and form your own opinions, but this does NOT need to be in our public school system. period.
January 20, 2014
This book is really clever if you have a writer's block or lack inspiration about what to write about. I also find it useful to swap through it to get some inspiration the day before we're supposed to write a story in school etc.
It has the strangest prompts, though. For example:
-"Describe a professor coming on to one of his students"
-"Write a sex scene you wouldn't show your mom" (and then in the next prompt, you're supposed to rewrite it into one you would show your mum)
-"What your desk thinks about at night"
-"The greatness of sandwiches"
-"Boxers or briefs? Discuss."
-"Screw you."
-"Your most transcendent ice cream experience"
-"A sneeze"
...and several others.
Some are genuinely really great, though.
If you tend to get writer's block easily, or usually lack inspiration, this book is a great way of giving your creativity a boost.
It has the strangest prompts, though. For example:
-"Describe a professor coming on to one of his students"
-"Write a sex scene you wouldn't show your mom" (and then in the next prompt, you're supposed to rewrite it into one you would show your mum)
-"What your desk thinks about at night"
-"The greatness of sandwiches"
-"Boxers or briefs? Discuss."
-"Screw you."
-"Your most transcendent ice cream experience"
-"A sneeze"
...and several others.
Some are genuinely really great, though.
If you tend to get writer's block easily, or usually lack inspiration, this book is a great way of giving your creativity a boost.
May 12, 2015
A great tool to get your writing juice flowing. Interesting prompts, funny, sometimes a bit more personal. A good book. Made me realize that I'm actually turning into my mother despite all my best efforts not to... (Prompt: In what way you are like your mother). Thankfully she also has good sides.
July 31, 2014
Great writing prompts. I plan to use this in my high school English classes.
May 7, 2017
Absolutely brilliant book of wholly unique and unexpected writing prompts that really challenge writers of every ability. Ge this book.
September 2, 2020
Läst och markerat alla skrivövningar som lät skojiga. Så ... nu ska jag bara skriva dem också ... #examenilitterärtskapande #menskriveraldrig #förloradedrömmar
January 19, 2024
This is not a book you read, but fill with writing yourself ... and i'm proud to say that i've (finally! After 2? years) got to the stage where there's an entry on almost every page. The prompts are fairly good and thought provoking and i've found that rather than trying to write something off the cuff immediately, it's almost better to let the prompt sink into your brian a bit and then write something later. In fact, i've even invested in its follow-up: 712 More Things to Write About and have been tinkering in that one a bit too (there's a repeat or so, but who cares after so many hundreds of prompts??!!)
Go to https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... to read more of my responses to some of the prompts.
Go to https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... to read more of my responses to some of the prompts.
July 7, 2014
I'm not done with the entire book yet, but I can say it's wonderful! I bought this book as a tool to keep my mind fresh and thinking, so I do at least two of the writing "exercises" a day. I wasn't suffering from the dreaded writers block when I purchased the book, but rather because I hoped that each question/answer would force me to contemplate in a new way, and it did. Since I started using the book I've completed several chapters in a book I'm writing and have the first two chapters to a second book now.
Love, love,love the inspiration and motivation I found within the pages of this book.
Love, love,love the inspiration and motivation I found within the pages of this book.
October 17, 2013
I've read through all the prompts once and wrote what popped out at me. Some prompts are personal (all you remember about your algebra teacher), some are not (you are a pirate, describe your perfect day), some are lists (10 bad bar pickup lines), some are activities (study a stranger, describe their mother). Great book if you want ideas for things to write and a place to write them in.
January 8, 2014
It's the greatest purchase I've made (notebook wise) I love it. Many topics to write about on a daily basis too, like write a love letter to someone you don't like to deep topics as what's the last thing that made you cry. Great notebook to get ideas out or just for a fun hobby. A great way to start using that pen again!
February 22, 2014
I've seen books poorly attempt what this book has winningly done: a humorous, practicle and inspiring list of writing prompts that I'd recommend anyone to buy - not only writers, because it'll aid your cause, but anyone as it'll rekindle memories and thoughts of your life you may have forgotten and bring interest back, even for the happy this is a good, fun book :)
June 26, 2014
I usually don't do diaries or journals because I blank out on what to write after a while and it gets boring so a while back, I threw all my notebooks out. THIS book, is something I carry around with me where ever I go. It gives you so much to write and draw. Find yourself in all the answers you pull from deep down on to this.
September 15, 2014
Well, this isn't really a book. But I really liked it as a prompt to writing, something to kick me out of the nest when I'm not in the mood.
I don't use it often and not in order, just a random prompt or two every now and then. I date the entries. Honestly, it's rather like a creative journal! For that reason it's fun. Perhaps someday I can read my silly drabbles and laugh with who I was =]
I don't use it often and not in order, just a random prompt or two every now and then. I date the entries. Honestly, it's rather like a creative journal! For that reason it's fun. Perhaps someday I can read my silly drabbles and laugh with who I was =]
December 22, 2017
Brilliant, I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
It is not really a book but a collection of interesting prompts to write about.
I used it with my family, including my grandma in her 90s, choosing one topic randomly and giving them (and myself) one day to write something. Then we will present our stories to the others, I was really impressed about the results and it was so much fun.
It is not really a book but a collection of interesting prompts to write about.
I used it with my family, including my grandma in her 90s, choosing one topic randomly and giving them (and myself) one day to write something. Then we will present our stories to the others, I was really impressed about the results and it was so much fun.
Read
October 29, 2018Gives me a boost on writing.It has many creative ideas that gets you started when you're suffering from 'writiers block'. I have only done a few but I'm still going.
Edit: I never know what to write still
Edit: I never know what to write still
October 14, 2014
This book is a very creative way to practice your writing. I bought this book during the summer, and it helped me out in curing my boredom. If you like writing a lot, you'll love this book. If you don't like writing, then you won't like this book.
October 26, 2015
I think that this book is amazing and its something you and your friends can join in with.
This has got to be one of the best buys so far :) it opens up your mind and gets ur imagination going!! I would reccomend for others to buy for a daily exercise xx
This has got to be one of the best buys so far :) it opens up your mind and gets ur imagination going!! I would reccomend for others to buy for a daily exercise xx
September 16, 2021
I love how Ms. Vega comments that she plans on using it in her High School English class.... we now know what’s really in this book and it’s clearly meant to propagandize and groom students. The indoctrination of our kids through the public school system are is real; not a conspiracy theory.
March 5, 2014
This book provides children with awesome creative writing ideas and the company has a website of "writers community" they may join.
March 23, 2015
Really great way to find some inspiration when your stuck. A lot of these prompts helped me figure out and hone in my story's plot. Two thumbs up.
December 11, 2015
I use this whenever I face a writer's block
February 6, 2021
As with the Young Writer's Edition, I'm marking this one as "read" even though I haven't done all of the prompts in it. I've certainly browsed through all of the pages numerous times and read all of the prompts, so that's fair enough. It's not the sort of book that you can really read in sequence - I've been dipping in and out of it on and off and I have found some interesting ideas.
It's written and published by an American group, so some of the ideas have to be adapted for those of us who don't have Thanksgivings festivals in our countries, or who have no idea what a summer camp is like, but you can just improvise with something you think might be similar - or just make up the details entirely.
Overall, it's been useful and the topics are wide-ranging, from the poignant to the thought-provoking and fantastical. I've had it for several years now and I'm glad I picked it up when I did.
It's written and published by an American group, so some of the ideas have to be adapted for those of us who don't have Thanksgivings festivals in our countries, or who have no idea what a summer camp is like, but you can just improvise with something you think might be similar - or just make up the details entirely.
Overall, it's been useful and the topics are wide-ranging, from the poignant to the thought-provoking and fantastical. I've had it for several years now and I'm glad I picked it up when I did.
September 4, 2018
I guess I was looking for more fresh ideas. So many of these ideas have been written about so many times already, or really didn't involve much creative thinking. However, I'm probably not giving it a fair rating as it was geared towards younger writers trying to develop the skills to write, not for someone full of ideas and just trying to see if anything in particular stuck out as interesting to add to my stories. Probably a solid four for younger writers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews