Writers, Release Your Creativity

Try This Free Association Creative Writing Prompt

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Let’s face it, a blank page can be truly daunting for writers, creating anxiety, confusion, and fear. Where do I start? What should I say? How do I say it?

Creative writing prompts can be very useful here by offering a starting point that helps writers overcome the intimidation of an empty page. They nudge writers to get the process going by providing focus, which in turn reduces concerns around what to write.

More to the point, creative writing prompts can help to build confidence in the ability to express your ideas; stimulate creativity by challenging you to think outside the box; conquer writing blocks by jumpstarting your imagination; make the writing process more enjoyable through prompts that are stimulating and engaging.

A Free Association Creative Writing Prompt. Try it!

Writing regularly has many advantages, whether it’s just for fun and relaxation or used as a kind of meditative practice. Even if you’re writing a novel or story and plan to publish, there may be times when you need a break from what you’re working on. Or you may find yourself dealing with writer’s block. Creative writing prompts can help you get out of a funk by focusing your thoughts on a different type of writing that is less stressful.

Below are steps to guide you in preparing and then writing a paragraph or two using free association. The whole exercise should take less than 30 minutes. I hope you’ll join in and give it a try. You may find yourself making this activity a regular practice.

First, you’ll brainstorm and organize your thoughts; then you’ll write freely without overthinking.

Step 1–

• Come up with one word or phrase. It can be related to a story or novel you’re working on or thinking about.

• Write the word or phrase at the top of a blank sheet of paper.

• Set your timer for 1 minute.

• Look at the word and write other words and phrases that come to mind; don’t second guess yourself, just get those words down. I like to list them in 2 or 3 columns down the page but it’s up to you how to do this.

• Stop when your timer goes off or you feel you’ve come to an end.

Step 2–

• Scan your list of words and phrases.

• Briefly look for connections and relationships among them then circle and highlight those you find most meaningful and intriguing.

• As you do this, begin to think of what you might write about using your chosen words but don't feel that you must completely work out exactly what you’ll write. Remember, this is a free association writing exercise. For the most part, you want to let the words flow as you write in the next step.

Step 3–

• Set your timer for 2 minutes. 

• Don’t think. Don’t ponder. Don’t hesitate. Dive right in. Write a paragraph or two, occasionally glancing at your chosen words and phrases (or not). Write freely, allowing the words to flow.

• Don’t second guess yourself or pause to edit at this point. 

Step 4–

• Stop when the timer goes off or you feel you’ve come to an end.

• Now take some time to lightly proof and clean up what you’ve written if you wish. (You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised and quite pleased at how impactful and rewarding this simple exercise can be.)

• When you’re done, feel free to share your free association writing in the comments below. I (and I’m sure others) look forward to reading what you come up with.

You can repeat this creative writing exercise as often as you like–daily, weekly, or whenever the need arises or the mood strikes. You can use the same list of words or you can start fresh. I sometimes find myself creating writing prompts when I’m in the middle of a novel and get hung up with a character or a scene. I’ll write the character’s name or a personality trait or maybe a setting location at the top of a page and get going. I find this really helpful.

If you try creative writing prompts just once, I’m pretty sure you’ll find yourself coming back to them again and again.