DailyPrompt · 18 January 2025
Photo courtesy of Ryan Lindsey
I may not really need it, but I got a new writing tool. DailyPrompt.
Even though writers write, sometimes we need something to write about. Sometimes we need prompts. So I joined DailyPrompt to get prompts daily.
Now, I do not really need writing prompts every day. Or very often really. I mainly decided to join because a friend of mine, who ought to be a writing tool salesman, told me I should. Tim keeps telling me about all these different writing tools, and I have gotten a couple on his recommendation. But actually, I was not even going to try out the DailyPrompt app or site because, like I said, I already write as a habit. Actually, writing is more like breathing than a habit. And actually, that is another story. (Actually, already written, mind you.)
So if I was not even thinking of trying it, why did I actually join DailyPrompt? I am so glad you asked.
I decided to join DailyPrompt for two reasons. One is getting feedback. You can ask for feedback when you post some story or poem or scene or whatever you are writing. People can also comment on anything you put out there for all to see. Which are daunting thoughts to be sure. At least if you are afraid of rejection or are unsure of yourself. But I have been blogging for so long without having many comments or very many faithful followers (thank you, faithful few), that I welcome rejection and any comments. Positive, negative, or anywhere in between. Please give me feedback. (Okay. That sounded a bit needy.)
At any rate.
The second reason I joined was to get in on the competitions. There are competitions with monetary prizes. When Tim told me about those, I thought that would be enough reason to join. After all, he sent me a link for a lifetime membership with a discount. It cost me so much less than an arm and a leg that it was laughable. And if I ever happen to win a competition, I could pay for that lifetime subscription. Which would be fun. Winning any competition is fun. Especially, a writing competition. Not that I am that competitive, mind you. At least not in everything. (I did not even make the top ten in my first competition on DailyPrompt.)
The funny thing is that the day I joined, I wrote a short story (~1600 words) and a poem. At least that was what I put out there for all to see. At least everybody on DailyPrompt. My fellow DailyPrompt users can see what I wrote. And they can comment. Even critique. And they have commented! I have gotten likes and comments on several of the twenty-something pieces I have put out there.
Speaking of critiques (and thus editing). I know that I have work to do on everything I write. Lisa Cron made it clear in her book, Wired For Story, that writing is rewriting. Period. So spending a short time with a story that came from a picture prompt should still be edited. It should still be polished. At least a little bit. Which is where the critiques come in. I actually like to hear where I have missed the mark. I want the feedback. Always. It makes me better.
(By the way, there is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) critique tool on DailyPrompt that you can also use to help make you a better writer. I have only used it one time so far. It seemed pretty accurate on its assessment.)
If you have not already guessed, I enjoy writing. And I have fun writing to prompts. Oh, I might not write to those DailyPrompt prompts daily, but I have written something almost every day since joining. And I have posted all but one piece (because I am still working on it). So even though I do not think I really needed a new writing tool, I got one. Check it out at DailyPrompt.com.
[By the way. The next couple of weeks are going to be pieces of fiction that I wrote from a single prompt from DailyPrompt. Let me know if you like them.]
© 2025 Michael T. Miyoshi
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