Adventure Calls All Creative Writers

A poem (and a creative guide) in response to yet ten more headlines I composed

It's what was there all along,
for reasons beyond order,
a bounty to indignify the songs.
There's only a mystery, and a sense
you are strong...
REALIZE, I say,
you're WORTH it all!
There's no need to hide,
for together we belong.
Yes, it's all so much—
to rest here, would it be so wrong?

---

I do love bonus hours of rest. As for the headlines in question, they were posted on Medium earlier this morning! Check out this FREE link if you’d like to see how it all fits together (hint: 1 stanza = 1 headline). 💸👇️👇️

NOTE: The Prompt Headlines (TPH) is a Medium publication feat. over 1400 writing prompts in headline form. You’re free to copy them verbatim, though I encourage you to adapt these ideas to better befit you personally. Every list of ten includes at least one choice in Mad Libs style, but this is only one example of ways you can transform my idea into your own.

As we’ll get into now…

Five advanced tactics to personalize a headline you enjoy, though the Mad Libs thing is really fun and you can always do it too—

1. Consider alternate perspectives.

How many different ways can you think of exploring this subject, or experiencing the story? You might shuffle identities, ideologies, opinions, beliefs, priorities (or focus), etc.

You can choose an angle with which your already familiar deep down, or you can stretch your mind with something new.

What might this new perspective bring to your story? What might it change? Take away? Add?

This works for fiction and non-fiction alike (they all do).

If you have any questions, then ask away in the comments!!

I’ll come back for you.

2. Adopt the format.

Simple, but powerful.

There’s something in the arrangement of the words which entrances or intrigues you. Maybe it’s elegantly simple, or it’s characteristic of a genre you appreciate, or it exhibits a combination of clarity, structure and tone which could lend an air of authority you find crucial as per the importance of your point—

Apply it to your own topic of interest.

You can also mix and match these techniques for further unexpected results from when you began.

A peculiar starting point may always yield unexpected results.

I highly recommend this one!! Let me know if you ever use it, or any of these, to complete anything that makes you proud.

I’d love to check it out.

3. Recapture the feeling.

What about this headline has stimulated you so? And why is this feeling so meaningful to you? Does it remind you of anyone special? Are you transported to a particular place and time? What tale might it evoke?

Humanity has developed so rich in emotions, many of which countless desire—yet they’re seldom experienced.

You know your audience, as you know yourself. What brings them here? What is everyone here so desperate to feel?

How do you recapture that feeling? This is a highly personal question.

It could be worth sleeping on it.

4. Follow your heart.

You’ve just read a headline you enjoy. Or there’s an aspect which inspires you. Don’t overthink it!! Just write what you want as a response. If your own personal headline comes to mind right away, then awesome!

But it can wait.

The headline can always wait, right until the very end!!

With this method, your initial response leads the way. This can mean jumping into the body text first, or the headline, or a brainstorming phase of some kind—

By the time you’re done, I practically may have had nothing to do with it.

And that’s okay.

5. Get funky with it.

As I’ve been saying, this is YOUR headline now. You know the rules. Now go break a couple!!

We’re creatives after all.

I’m honestly not sure how to advise you achieve this effect. As methods go, it’s pretty self-explanatory, without providing any instruction.

Just loosen up, and see how it goes!

That’s all I’m saying.

I dream of a world where every headline is personalized, from the most unique, to the most common of them all!!

The commonality blends with your uniqueness to offer a nuanced comparison between individuals across the board.

You thus offer relatability, AND that slice of yourself which no one else can touch, let alone replicate, because they’ll never know what it is—what it means—to be you.

But that’s all from me today.

If you enjoyed our time together today, then please let me know in the comments below. In fact, ALL feedback is deeply appreciated.

So please, don’t be shy.

You can also share your works, along with which prompt inspired it. I’ll happily engage with it, and others might too.

Okay, I appreciate you, take care!

Sincerely,
G