Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg

Story Prompts That Work Reviews

• 
  Sandra Stiles

  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
  
  This is a book of 52 writing prompts that can be used in a variety of ways. Some of them can be used for any age, while some are for the more mature audience. I am going to talk about a couple of my favorites and how I, as a teacher, will use them with my students.
  
  Prompt #3 – Unreliable Narrator will work well in my classroom. We talk about unreliable narrators when we read a story about a dog who has been sold and really does not understand the true reason why he has been purchased. The situation of an unreliable narrator can make for a very humorous story as the students find out. I feel that I can help them better understand this by having them write a story with an unreliable narrator.
  
  Prompt #6 – Choose a Story #1, #36, and #49 Is a great idea. You have a first line, then choose a line from Setting, Main Character, and Situation. The ones listed here may be a bit much for my middle school students but this is a wonderful idea and a wonderful way for me to come up with some writing prompts for them.
  
  Prompt #18 – Twisted Fairy Tale #1 and #46 is something I do with the last unit I teach each year. We talk about fairy tales, fables, myths, legends and other traditional stories. They are required to take the story and tell it from another point of view, change the setting and time period. So they may take the story for Red Riding Hood and tell it from the Wolf’s perspective. It could be set in New York City in present time.
  
  Prompt #19 – Objects is one I will twist a little. Instead of going around the house and grabbing six objects that will become a list of words in a story. I would take objects and put them in a bag and have students pick from the bag to get their list of words. This would be especially fun if we are studying a specific genre, for example ‘mysteries’ and they have to write a mystery story using those objects in their story.
  
  Prompt #24 – A Picture is one I use every year. I find a variety of pictures and put them on my board and students may choose one or more to write about.
  
  There are a lot of fun writing prompts here that can be done straight from the book, or you can put your own twist on them. One thing I really liked was that the author wrote example stories so you could get a better idea of what she was talking about. I can foresee this as creating hours and hours of fun writing.
• 
  Allen

  I’ve long been curious about Writing Prompts. Most often they are presented for one of two things: Provide a starting point for authors who can’t think of anything to write about, or to force writers to test and explore techniques and methods they would not normally use. Carly Berg’s Story Prompts That Work: 52 Detailed, Tested Story Starters for Short Stories and Flash Fiction (for Adults and Teens) Kindle Edition, is a bit of a mix. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was terribly well done.
  
  There are certainly 52 ideas here for stories, and it also included a number of her previously published stories (or flash fiction) to illustrate her various points. Some of the prompts are interesting and a few are shared as ways to try something new. However, though a few are nicely done, a few left me scratching my head. For instance, the prompt regarding unreliable narrators (Chapter 3), left me convinced the author does not understand what an unreliable narrator is, at least not as conventionally defined. Not to be completely dismissive of the whole, though, there are a few chapters that provided both clever exercises and some good insights.
  
  There were a few typos and formatting errors, and there was no conclusion or wrap-up; it just ended. Given its very short length, inclusion of previously published material, and the lack of attention to detail in its preparation makes it feel like something put together over a week or two.
  In sum, as a writer myself, I can’t recommend it or give it more than three ‘stars’. I’m not an expert at such things, so I can’t recommend an alternative, but I don’t think this is one that will endure for the purpose of helping writers get started.
• 
  D.R.

  In Story Prompts That Work by Carly Berg, the author provides 52 prompts ranging from whimsical to methodical, each designed to jump start a short story writer’s creative juices. Utilizing many of her own stories as examples, the author takes us through how the prompts produce results.
  
  Some of the prompts are intended to stimulate stories on a specific topic or within a defined genre, such as horror or fantasy. Other prompts are open-ended with the stories taking any number of directions based on the writer’s imagination.
  
  Depending on your writing style and what you like to write about, I imagine some of these prompts will work better for you than others. I find the prompts falling into two categories. The first are those which could readily take me down a path to a viable story. Examples include #7 Spiritual Child, #22 Fish Out of Water, and #40 Fortune Cookie Message. The second are those that appear to be mind-expanding exercises, but may not prompt a story I’d chose to write. Examples here include #9 Writing by the Numbers and #13 Tea Leaf Reading. There are many more in the former category than in the latter.
  
  I often find myself writing stories with similar characters, plots, and settings, and I plan to utilize some of these story prompts to break into new territory. This is a reference book, not a book you read once and store away. The value is in the variety of prompts and the range of stories they are capable of enabling.
  
  I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. I will keep it on my shelf for future use.
  
• 
  Please Pass the Books

  In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I am not an author…I am merely a reader and a reviewer. Still, I get excited when a book drops in my lap about the craft of writing. Carly Berg's Story Prompts That Work excited me.
  
  And so, here I am.
  
  
  
  
  Chalk full of prompts and exercises, Berg has compiled a catalog of 52 starters that almost guarantees the continued flowing of creative juices. My favorite was #19, where readers are instructed to collect six random things from around the house and build a scene/story from them. If you've ever been curious about how you can use a crystal ball, a giant clamshell, a book, a lone taco wrapper, lipstick, and a pair of silver high heels all together in less than 400 words, Story Prompts That Work will show you. The result is creative and highly entertaining, proving Berg's techniques can be effective for those who need to cast their nets a little further out.
  
  I recommend this guide to anyone looking for inspiration, or who happens to be in hot pursuit of their next story idea—however elusive it seems to be.
  
  I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which this most certainly is.
  
• 
  Joan Carney

  I am so grateful to Ms. Berg for compiling this essential resource. I’ve come across many books and web blogs offering writing prompts for people like me who go dry now and then. Most of them offer lists of random words or opening sentence fragments that are just that – lists. But this book takes the suggestions several steps further with in depth explorations on how the prompts can be used. The author even gives samples of her own writing using the prompts.
  My favorite of these is “Jacob’s Ride.” A guy sits next to a pretty girl on a bus and imagines that he is cool enough to sweep her off her feet. He even convinces himself that she’s really just playing hard to get when she moves away to another seat. The story is well written and gives a very clear example of the story prompt, “The Unreliable Narrator.”
  I’ve bookmarked several sections that stimulated my imagination and made note of others in my journal of story ideas. By using this invaluable resource, I’m sure my creative juices will be flowing freely.
  
• 
  Yawatta Hosby

  ***I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review***
  
  In the How to Use This Book Section, I enjoyed the author's advice of "Story fragments have a way of working their magic in the back of our minds as we go about our daily lives. However, they need to be introduced first."
  
  The prompts were detailed and specific. Nothing was vague like 'write about the color blue.' I'm all about options, so I appreciated that the author provided different scenarios that could arise from particular prompt instructions.
  
  I thought there were quite a few exclamation points some of the prompt directions. Excitement felt misplaced for me because of the tone of the prompt where exclamation points were but it didn't distract me. I guess it was a way for the author to show support, like a cheerleader.
  
  Some prompts she provided an example of her own work, but some prompts she didn't. As a reader, I wish it would've been an all or nothing thing.
  
  My top three prompts were: #35 Instructions, #27 Epistolary Story, and #23.
  
  I RECOMMEND this book to read.
• 
  Teresa Kander

  This is a great resource book for writers. I've already used several of the 52 prompts and am excited about the others, as well. I used one of them in my local writers group, and it went over very well, even resulting in a couple of other members planning to get their own copy of the book.
  
  Each of the prompts in this book is specific and well written, which is a welcome change after so many "write about your favorite animal" type prompts. They can work with a variety of lengths and genres of fiction, which makes them work for almost any fiction writer. You can stick with what you know, or you can expand your horizons.
  
  I am sure I will be using this book over and over again.
  
  **I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**
• 
  Dermot Davis

  Intended as story ideas to get the creative juices flowing, there's a story prompt for every week of the year. Of course, there's much more stories that can come from these ideas, in fact, depending on your creative bent, the possibilities are endless. The range of story ideas, in themselves, are terrifically creative and diverse. There are ideas here that are taken from dreams, from music, from the newspaper headlines, photographs and so on. There are also examples given of how to use some prompts from the writer's own notebooks which is very helpful is seeing how the story ideas can be applied. This is not a book to read from cover to cover, although that might be very inspiring, but one to dip into and to return to many times over.
• 
  Robin Austin

  I’ve never seen the need for writing prompts as I have too many stories in my head already, but this book proved I was wrong. While many writing prompts I've read are little more than a list of ideas readily available on the internet, these prompts do 'work' to spark not only story ideas but the creativity to step out of your current writing mindset. That's what makes this book a real winner.
  
  The author's writing is clear, casual, and most importantly doesn't muddle the reader's/writer's own creativity. Some of the prompts include short stories, which I didn't need but others may find helpful.
  
  In one way or another, I plan to use almost all 52 prompts including the ‘tea’ one, which just sounds fun. I also recommend these prompts as warm ups before diving into current projects.
  
• 
  D. Miller

  I’ve read a few books on developing the skill of writing over the years (not as many as I would have liked due to, you guessed it, a crippling shortage of time) but not one that specifically addresses writing prompts. So I was glad to read Carly Berg’s Story Prompts that Work. Just like anything else, if you read enough story prompt books, you will find the last few redundant. After all, according to most experts, there are only six to seven basic story plots available to fiction writers. Likewise, there are only so many prompts from which a writer can choose to kick start his or her next story.
  
  But being the first one I’ve read of its kind, I enjoyed this book. Ideally stories should flow from the author spontaneously, like pure water gushing from a spring, but sadly this is not always the case. Sometimes a writer will have a vague message to impart but grasp for that crucial starting line, the most captivating and effective storyline from which to launch the crucial lesson. Writing prompt exercises can provide that vital link between vague concept and the concrete plot that brings the concept to life.
  
  Although these prompts are intended for short stories and flash fiction, they are useful for those of us who write novellas and novels, too.
  
  The author provides not only the 52 prompts (a prompt for each week of the year—reusable next year) but examples of how she has used some of the prompts to craft her own stories. This is an added bonus as teaching by showing is always more effective than simply describing a process.
  Of course, these books on the craft of writing are most valuable when the exercises are actually put into practice. This requires discipline (and time), although even the busiest amongst us should be able to set aside even one hour a week to devote to one of the 52 prompts. Only by exploring them, seeing where they transport our own latent imaginations, can we as writers fully appreciate what they have to offer us (and our readers). And, as she stresses, writers need to routinely carry notebooks (or phones) 24/7 to permanently record ideas as they arrive. (Good ideas are like fragrant vapors—here for a moment, then gone, sometimes permanently.)
  
  I’m giving this book a high rating because I’m not sure how the author could have improved on this writing guide. She delivered exactly what she promised and more by adding a few examples of how she has used the prompts in her own stories. Her style is conversational and witty. And the appendix at the end with links to free online fiction is another added bonus.
  
  (I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
  
• 
  Iffix Santaph

  I was excited to receive this book in exchange for a review. It seemed like a book I could really use. I went to this book seeking for something truly original. To be clear, if you are just beginning in your craft as a writer, these ideas do have some merit. They just weren't quite what I was looking for.
  While I believe that most of these are excellent ways to start stories--indeed, I've used most of these over my writing career--they just felt sort of worn to me.
  
  The book starts with talking about writing based on a dream. I believe that's key to just about any fiction writer. Anyone penning fiction is generally allowing their dreams to fill a page. But the prompt felt sort of empty.
  
  The second was People as Animals, which has been done very heavily through a large section of children's literature, even some adult literature, and quite a number of movies. (Who hasn't thought of a Sloth at the DMV?) It still works, yes, but isn't a fresh idea.
  
  I really wanted to like this book. As a writer, I was hoping for something inspiring. Unfortunately, many of Berg's suggestions just felt sort of vague. Yes, a writer needs to be sort of vague when approaching something like this, so as not to crush the creativity of those hoping to use it. But there could have been more involvement.
  
  Furthermore, when she was making suggestions, she chose ones that had likewise already been done. For example, when suggesting to rewrite a fairy-tale, something I took an interest in as it's what most of my present work is built on, she suggested to rewrite Cinderella from the viewpoint of an Ugly Stepsister. Gregory Maguire already did this in 1999, and Disney has since made a movie about it. When suggesting creation of a new reality TV show, she suggested American Gladiators.
  
  In short, I wanted to have confidence in this work, but Ms. Berg gave me very little with quotations from Wikipedia and trite suggestions.
  
  As stated, I went in hoping for something really great. Perhaps my high expectations were my own downfall. I wanted to thank Carly for sharing this book with me. (I apologize for any offense my words give. I really wish I could have given a positive review.) And I hope that those who are starting out as writers will give this book a chance. It can be really helpful for beginners.
• 
  Píaras Cíonnaoíth

  “Where do you get your ideas from?”It’s a question and quandary that is a continual source of irritation for every writer. And once you’ve got an idea, what then? Ideas without a plan or purpose are no more than just pleasant thoughts. Story Prompts That Work: 52 Detailed, Tested Story Starters for Short Stories and Flash Fiction, will help you find some answers. Utilizing these prompts and exercises, you’ll generate intriguing ideas and plumb their possibilities to turn them into something incredible.
  
  This book is the literary equivalent of attending the Actor’s Studio. It’s wise, entertaining and inventive; the book liberates beginning and advanced writers alike, helping them to get to the heart of their story. In a field crowded with disappointing tomes, what a joy it was to open this book and find vast regions of opinion and experience mined for creative feed. It was as much fun to read as it was to use.
  
  This book does exactly what it sets out to do---offer writers at all stages of their writing careers a seemingly endless variety of ideas to noodle around with, explore, and ultimately make their own. Carly Berg’s ‘voice’ is so nurturing, funny and wise that, as she guides you along the writer’s path, you’ll feel as though you’ve made a new friend.
  
  Story Prompts That Work will give you the insight and self-awareness to create and refine ideas that demand to be transformed into greater works, the kind of compelling, absorbing writing that will have other writers asking, “Where do you get those ideas?” Would recommend for beginners and advanced alike.
  
• 
  Attila Benő

  I recently found "writing prompts" on Pinterest. They are usually short, funny, 1-sentence descriptions of situations that you can write about if you are really stuck, and have no idea how to continue. Or how to start. At first, I thought this book would be a collection of such writing prompts, but to my delight, it turned out to be much more!
  
  While the book does give starting ideas, what I found even more useful were the writing STYLE ideas. Not just what to write about, but also HOW to write about them. I have to admit, most of the prompts I have never tried, and quite frankly, never even heard of. So the information from the book could be put to good use soon! :)
  
  One thing I suggest improving is the formatting of the book. Right now it looks like it came straight out of MS Word, with no formatting done to it at all. The book looks long, with its 148 pages, but 4 pages are completely blank, and 19 more pages have 7 or less lines of text on them. I also found the font-face hard to read. And I really miss some kind of illustration. Not necessarily pictures (although those could make the book even more interesting!), but maybe something to make the chapter headings stand out. Lists could also be formatted into a bulleted or numbered list, something to make them more readable.
  
  Overall I am quite happy with the book, and can suggest it to anyone, who is out of ideas on what to write, especially for people who write short stories.
  
  I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I give the book 4 stars.
  
• 
  Cary Morton

  I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Though this wasn’t my usual read, I love getting books on writing, and I love reviewing them just as much… because it’s always easy to tell if the author has written something genuinely helpful, or if they’ve jumped on the bandwagon of regurgitating information for profit. This, I’m pleased to report, was the real deal.
  
  The prompts were diverse and offered up a variety of ideas and suggestions for multiple lengths and genres of writing. Though I’d like to point out, the author did tend to lean more readily towards odd, even humorous flash fiction. There were enough prompts, I felt, to provide multiple ideas for just about any author, often with examples of story starters.
  
  The book was well edited, clean, and casual in tone, and I found it an easy read. For those looking for story prompts or ideas without being handed specific, hand-crafted topics, I’d definitely suggest this book as a place to start. The prompts are written in such a way as to make you think and imagine your own stories, often giving inspiration or advice on ways to think up your own topics. I found it very useful.
• 
  Kaz

  I read this book free in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I have never really tried to write a story before outside of high school, but if I were to do so, this would be the book I want in front of me. Carly Berg's prompts and exploration of the prompts had me stopping to write down my ideas as she suggested and I now have a list for if I ever do want to write a story!
  
  I don't know that I will write a story myself any time soon, but at least I will have starting points from which to go when/if I do.... There were some particular favourites, but I won't go into them here as that would be a spoiler :-)
  
  I agree with Carly that these prompts are mostly suited to a teenage or young adult audience; and mostly for short stories and fictions. Having said that, it would definitely be possible to put an older adult twist onto a story with many of these prompts and to write longer stories as well.
  
  If you are trying to get past writer's block, have a need to clear your head of a story but with no idea of how to start, or you just want to give a go at writing a story - this is the book for you!
• 
  Avery Moon

  For a lot of writers, a black white page (or a blank computer screen with that blasted blinking and un-moving cursor) is one of their worst fears. When the words come, it's great, but when they stop--not so much.
  
  Enter this book. First of all, I love the layout. A simple glance at the Table of Contents can reveal a promising topic. From there, you can click through to that prompt and get some pretty great ideas on how to build a story from it.
  
  Don't worry about duplicating another's story. Every one of us has our own special brand of imagination. The story I write from one of the prompts will be far different from the story you write--guaranteed.
  
  However, it is worth noting that a few of the prompts might not work for you. I'll admit that some of them (for instance #7 Spiritual Child), I just can't see myself writing.
  
  But that's okay, because with each of these 52 prompts, the author has provided ideas to enable you to write several stories from every one that interests you.
  
  So if you suffer from Blank-Page-Phobia (there is probably a name for it, but I don't know it) then Story Prompts That Work just might be the cure you are looking for.
• 
  Scott Peters

  This is a good reference book that will get your ideas flowing. There are indeed 52 story prompts and Carly Berg has really gone all out to think up fresh, original ideas here. As she mentions in the beginning, most are designed for flash fiction (short works). I do think that they could also be used by writers of longer works. Some could spark an initial story idea, while others could be used to hone a chapter that feels flat, or to work on a scene from a different angle.
  
  Story Prompts That Work differs from similar books in that the author doesn't offer an opening line or scene to work from. Rather, she uses concepts and metaphors to send you down your own original path. In this way, I think the book offers a broader use as you could revisit each prompt and come up with a different idea every time.
  
  Carly writes well in a clear, easy to follow manner. She often gives examples of how to use the story prompts with a short story of her own to clarify what she's driving at, which are useful.
  
  I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
• 
  Kristy Cooper

  This is a great book for any writers who are itching to get something out, but just don't know quite how to start. I will definitely come back to this book at some point in the future when I am looking for inspiration. Berg presents 52 writing prompts sure to get your creative juices flowing. Some of my favorites were "technological advances," "dubious virtues," and "people as animals" (which I think would be a very good prompt for anyone interested in writing children's books.)
  
  Berg also includes helpful examples of how to use the prompts, so writers can see how to actually put them into practice. I particularly enjoyed her example for "the unreliable narrator" prompt. This would be a very useful book for any writers looking for stimulation, as well as exercises to further refine their skills.
  
• 
  Anthony Stancomb

  A good book to read if you’re casting around for new stories to write about. The author has come up with 52 pointers to give your imagination a jog and send you on your way into crafting another tale. Nothing new, but it’s the sort of book that gets your ideas flowing.
  The book also has a lot of the illustrations from the author’s own books which make for good reading, although none of it will win any literary prizes. It’s all good sensible stuff.
  A useful book for anyone wanting to beef up their manuscript.