Writing center director releases new book of prompts and instruction just in time for National Write a Book Month (NaNoWriMo)

SAN DIEGO, CA, October 28, 2019 /Neptune100/ — We all have a book in us. Or maybe it’s a short story, poem, or play. The question most of us struggle with, though, is: How the heck do I even start?

Executive Director of San Diego Writers, Ink and former magazine editor, Kristen Fogle, has more than a few answers in the form of writing exercises and prompts to help get writers going.

Fogle recently released DARE TO WRITE: CREATIVE WRITING PROMPTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORD REBELS EVERYWHERE, which is filled with instruction and exercises that help develop a compelling narrative, characters, setting, dialog, conflict, and resolution. The book is geared toward young people of all ages, from teens just starting out to seasoned professionals looking for a fresh perspective.

Fogle’s book is out just in time for National Novel Writing Month, more commonly called NaNoWriMo, which encourages aspiring writers to take the month of November to put pen to paper – or fingers to keyboard – and write that novel they’ve always wanted to. “When I teach writing, I’ve found that asking students a series of detailed questions helps give them clear direction for their stories,” says Fogle. “As much as I love working with writers one-on-one, I also want to reach aspiring writers in other parts of the country. When I teach writing classes or lead groups, attendees often approach me to say they wished they had all of the writing prompts we discussed in our workshop so they could refer to them later. Additionally, I want to offer my students a workbook based on the principles and strategies I’ve developed over my fifteen-year career as a magazine editor, writing instructor, and artist.”

Fogle continues. “A good prompt can ignite a poem, free a trapped novel, trigger a cathartic brain dump, let a singed heart speak, or simply give you space to rant about the burnt pizza, if that’s what you need to do,” says Fogle. “Research consistently shows that people who write are happier and healthier, especially young people processing complex feelings and conflicting desires. The point of writing doesn’t have to be publishing a novel, but writing well helps people organize their thoughts and communicate more effectively. With that, comes a more fulfilling life.”

You’re invited to capture your thoughts and feelings by crafting memoirs, poetry, or even science fiction. Dare to dive into the character worksheets, topic brainstorms, or three-minute challenges and see what unfolds. Crack open any chapter.

From the back cover

What story do you have inside? Is it a romance, a drama, a fantasy… or all three?
Dare to Write is here to inspire you with a huge variety of story prompts, plot beginnings, and thought-provoking ideas. Scribble directly in the book, or use your own notebook—the right way is however you want to write.