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Hot take: Overly detailed writing prompts just train people to copy, not create.
Honestly, I've seen so many prompts that lay out every plot point and character detail. Tbh, I think this makes new writers lazy and kills original thought. Some say it gives a safe start for beginners, but I watched a workshop where all the stories were basically the same. Ngl, my own early writing got way better when I switched to vague, open-ended prompts. So, what do you all think: are detailed prompts helpful or a crutch?
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abbyr547mo ago
Oof, Fiona's example of a bad detailed prompt hits close to home. I definitely used to rely on those step by step ones and my stories were painfully generic. My own creativity needed the shove of a vague prompt to actually start working.
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fiona7497mo ago
Actually, your workshop example shows a bad prompt, not all detailed ones. Some writers really need that structure to get started, like my friend who always freezes with blank pages. The trick is prompts that give a situation but leave the "why" open. Like "a chef discovers a threatening note in their kitchen" instead of dictating the chef's whole backstory. Maybe the problem is prompts doing all the imagining for you, yeah?
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claire_craig326mo ago
Remember that writing contest with super strict prompts? My story felt like filling in a mad lib, so I just changed the main character to a sentient potato. It won nothing but at least it was mine.
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janag437mo ago
But wait, is this actually a problem for everyone? I see where @abbyr54 is coming from with the generic stories, but maybe detailed prompts are just a starting point for some people! It's not like every writer will copy everything exactly, right? Some folks really need that push to get their ideas flowing. Honestly, I think we're overthinking this a bit!
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