In need of prompts?

If you are in need of prompts to get you started on a piece, perhaps you might have a look at the random prompt generator I set up on my students' version of MuDJoB (also a Ning network).

Go to http://mudjob.ning.com/

In the menu bar running across the top just under the header is a tab labeled STORIES. A drop down list will appear, and if you click on the item STORY PROMPTS it will pop up a page with several items that might suggest something you can start writing with. If you don't care for the combination, either refresh the page or click on the CHANGE button and you'll get a new set of prompts. I tried to keep these prompts similar in tone to Blake's here because I had such success with his every week.

I don't know if this will do the trick for you until Blake gets back into supplying the necessaries (for me they are, at least), but it could help if you are going through a dry spell.

And if you do come up with something, you really should post it here on T10--with or without mentioning the prompts you used.

If you check this out, let me know what you think, okay?

Regards,

--M

P.S.: Make you a deal, Blake...if people keep writing here, come back with the regular prompts...Okay, it's not a deal. It's a request. And it was the driving force behind the start of T10, no? We want prompts. We want prompts. We...you know.

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Permalink Reply by Coraline J. Thompson on May 3, 2011 at 9:41pm
I completely agree and while I've been in my own dry spell, I've been referring people to thinking ten for a while... its sad for me to see that the site has come to a stand still. I for one promise to do my best to get back in the habit if you will continue to post prompts. I'm a die hard t-tener and do check the prompts daily even if I'm not posting. So, with this in mind, I second Michael's request!
Permalink Reply by Margaret Whittle on May 4, 2011 at 4:03am
I third it.....So all in favor... WRITE>>>>>
Permalink Reply by Gwen Hankins on May 4, 2011 at 6:19am
With you Margret!
Permalink Reply by Gwen Hankins on May 4, 2011 at 6:17am

Blake, COME BACK! (Yodel)

Seriously-check out my blog. I'm always promoting you-granted its my new author's blog. But I'm sending people your way. I did it today--before I saw that you were gone!

God love ya, Mate-get back on the job. Keep the faith! http://gwenhankins.blogspot.com! Hey and if any you (please scan over the other articles in my blog--just land on them--so I can get rid of the first article everyone sees because it gets the most hits. I need help! Please scroll down and read anything. Blake, read the post I wrote today--one is about TIO--there are two posts today. You'll see. PLEASE man, Eye of the tiger and all that stuff. Gwen Hankins, author

Permalink Reply by Gwen Hankins on May 4, 2011 at 6:20am

Will do-M

Gwen Hankins

Thanks

Permalink Reply by Steve Stribbell on May 4, 2011 at 1:44pm
Sounds great to me!!! Your link could seriously be the best solution until things get back to normal. An excellent idea, sir, absolutely excellent!!!
Permalink Reply by Blake N. Cooper on May 5, 2011 at 11:43am

Hey All:

Thanks for all the great comments. It'd be great to get back to our regularly scheduled program! I did have a couple of questions about some of the recent activity during my mini-sabbatical. I think you all may have been on to something with the grassroots organization of prompts. Is this something that you'd like to continue doing on a regular basis? If so, what can I do from a site management perspective to help? Would it be better for me to sit on the sidelines while you evolve the site or do folks want to go back to how it was before?

 

The main reason I pulled out for a bit: the long string of stories that had zero comments; folks were really putting themselves out there, creatively, and nobody was commenting...at all. Obviously when that starts to happen in bulk, it is time to push the pause button and chat about ways to improve the site. 

 

@MDB - Yes, T10 is all about the daily prompt so that will always be the backbone of the site!

Permalink Reply by Sandra Davies on May 5, 2011 at 12:44pm

Blake - you've pointed out the very thing that cannot be 'volunteered', i.e. the comments.  

We can, I dare say, relatively easily be organised/persuaded/coerced into providing prompts, either regularly, for one day per week or volunteer for a week at a time (whch hasn'rt yet been tried but I should think might be easier) but if no-one comments, despite having a bit more of a stake in the site, then we are back to the doldrums.   And I don't know what can be done about that, if anything.

Permalink Reply by Blake N. Cooper on May 5, 2011 at 1:05pm

Just wanted to be clear: the last thing I am pushing is commenting for the sake of commenting. Some stories just won't get comments, but I was referring to the long string of stories with nothing (that hasn't happened on the site during the 13 months of being live).  One of my favorite parts of the site is the constructive feedback that authors give authors. It is unique to find a place where where good intentions from all are a given and, therefore, critiques, advice, and feedback can flourish. I love how people have used the site for character development, experimenting, journaling...the list goes on.

 

Regarding being '...persuaded/coerced' to provide prompts, that was definitely not my intention when I posed that question. I was hoping to take the pulse of the group to see if grassroots prompting is preferred over my providing them. If not, I am happy to go back to providing them.

 

Thanks for your comment.

BNC

Permalink Reply by Sandra Davies on May 5, 2011 at 1:15pm

Me neither, 'coercing' comments, as I'm sure you know, they have to be genuine or else why bother, that is, as you say, one of the strengths of the site.   But I have found it interesting to see what at first, simplistic glance looks like a different set of people responding to the need to provide and organise prompts to those who most regularly write ...  

What I have got from this site has been of tremendous value - most obviously the development of a number of characters who I shal return to at some stage, but the story I put on today is of a type and quality I would not have thought I was capable of even a few months ago.   (Not boasting but recognising!)

Permalink Reply by Steve Stribbell on May 5, 2011 at 4:28pm

I liked the way it was...and that's not really so different from what has been suggested, since we have always had the ability to submit prompts for consideration.

Or, as Michael has suggested, a random prompt generator sounds very interesting too. I'm easy...as long as there's a prompt...its an excellent exercise and a fun challenge.

Permalink Reply by Michael D. Brown on May 5, 2011 at 9:24pm

Just wanted to jump in and say a few more words on this. One is that I'm having a super difficult time at work, and don't get much chance to come here or 6S or wherever and just relax and enjoy the writing of my friends and then make commentary that means anything to the various writers other than complimenting especially moving pieces. When that happens, I don't get too upset if my work garners few or no comments because I realize fair is fair.

Another thing is the reason I worked up the random generator. It's because I have never been able to flat out prompt myself, and I do enjoy the challenge of attempting to respond to them. With the generator, I can never be sure exactly what will show up and in what combination, so it feels almost as if they were given to me by someone else, which is how I like it. I am, of course, able, as I'm sure you all are of creating something from whole cloth, but to do so, and then pull out certain aspects of it and present them to you as challenges makes me think I'm cheating, almost as if I looked at the key before taking the test, so to speak.

Fortunately, for me, I had to miss a few weeks, so I had three sets of prompts stored away (which most of you have already used daily or in capstoning), so in a way I am kind of cheating the situation in playing catch up, but I'm not going to apologize for my prompt frugality. Which reminds me, this week I totally overlooked MuDJoB's Wednesday post, so I'd better sign off here and get cracking.

See you in the funny papers.

Much love for you all, and respect for your efforts.

Regards,

--M

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