These prompts all incorporate some sort of movement to help spur on your creativity.
1. Walk Until the Story Finds You
Take a walk—outside, around your home, or even pacing in place. Pay attention to a single sensory detail (the crunch of leaves, the weight of your footsteps, the wind on your skin). Write a scene where a character fixates on this same sensation while making an important decision.
2. The Dance of Emotion
Write about a character who expresses emotions through movement rather than words. Do they dance alone in their kitchen? Punch the air in frustration? Tremble as they try to hold still? Describe their emotions purely through physical actions.
3. Chased or Chasing
Write a scene where a character is either chasing someone or being chased—but it doesn’t have to be literal. Maybe they’re rushing through a crowded street, pursuing an idea, or fleeing an uncomfortable memory. How does their body react? How does movement shape their thoughts?
4. Breathing Into the Unknown
Sit still and focus on your breathing for a minute. Notice how it changes when you think about something exciting, stressful, or nostalgic. Now, write a scene where a character’s breath gives away their true feelings, even when they’re trying to hide them.
5. The Ritual of Motion
Describe a character who repeats a physical action every day—maybe tying their shoes a certain way, adjusting their glasses, or running their fingers over an old scar. What does this movement reveal about them?
6. Running Towards or Away
Write about a character running—toward something, away from something, or simply for the sake of running. Is their movement freeing or desperate? What memories or thoughts arise with each step?
7. The Unfinished Gesture
A character starts to move—raising a hand, stepping forward, opening their mouth—but stops. Why? What emotion, thought, or external force halts them mid-motion?
8. Movement as Memory
Have your character perform a physical movement that triggers a vivid memory. Maybe they stretch in a way that reminds them of childhood gymnastics, or they brush hair behind their ear the way their mother used to. Let the memory unfold naturally.
9. A Body Out of Place
Your character wakes up and realizes their body feels different—either heavier, lighter, or as if they’ve never moved in this way before. Explore how they navigate the world in this unfamiliar physical state.
10. Writing While Moving
Set a timer for five minutes and move while writing—walk, sway, stretch, or even just shift positions frequently. Let the movement guide your words. What changes in your style, pacing, or subject matter?
