Creative Writing Prompts Inspired by Bob Dylan

In honor of Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday, I thought creative writing prompts about CHANGE would be a appropriate.  Bob Dylan is a musician, song writer and poet and you can read about him on today's Writer's Almanac.  My favorite song of Bob Dylan's is "The Times They a Changin'."  The Youtube video is the song as performed by Marco Magani, and it features some intense moments in history.  (Teachers will want to preview the video before deciding whether or not to show it in class.) If you would like to see the lyrics to this song, you can read them at this link:  http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-times-they-are-achangin-lyrics-bob-dylan.html

Song Writing Prompt:  Look at the lyrics of this song and write another verse or two for the song.  I'd love to see you post what you come up with.  OR
Write your own song about change. 

Creative Nonfiction Prompt:  Write about something that has changed in your life or that is changing now.  OR Write about what you wish would change and why. 

Poetry Writing Prompt:  Write a poem about the way things used to be and the way they are now.  Some of this may turn out to be ironic.  You can follow a simple list form to get this poem started, but of course, you can mix it up and use any form you like when you revise.  For starters, use the form before and repeat six times.

I used to __________________________,
            but now I ____________________________

Fiction Writing Prompts:  Write about a short story about a character who makes a change that impacts something in his or her life.  The change can be physical or psychological. 

"I AM" Poetry Prompt

© Carlos Sanchez Pereyra | Dreamstime.com

For today's free-write prompt, you can write anything that comes from the picture.  Time yourself for 5 minutes and write without stopping. 

And now, I am going to encourage everybody to try their hand at a poetry prompt today.  I have used the "I AM" poetry exercise over the years with children and adults, and this is something that everyone can do.  You can use this prompt again and again, and you will get something different every time because we are always in a different spot at different phases of our lives.  I have suggested that people do this poem every year to mark the celebration of their birthdays. 

I was happy to see that Ted Kooser featured an example of the "I AM" poem in his column a few weeks ago. The form is below, and below that the form, I have inserted the Kooser article with an example "I AM" poem.  Please feel free to post part of your poem (or all of it) in the comment section today.

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I AM POEM (fill in the blacks with the directions.  Be as unusual as you dare!)

I am     (Two special characteristics you have)
I wonder     (something you are actually be curious about)
I hear     (an imaginary or actual sound)
I see     (an imaginary or actual sight)
I want     (a desire)
I am     (the first line of the poem is repeated)
  
I pretend     (something you actually pretend to do)
I feel     (Something imaginary)
I touch     (an imaginary touch)
I worry     (something that really worries you)
I cry     (something that makes you sad)
I am     (the first line of the poem is repeated)
  
I understand     (something you know to be true)
I say     (something you believe in)
I dream     (something you actually dream about)
I try     (something you make an effort to do)
I hope     (something you hope for)
I am     (the first line of the poem repeated)


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American Life in Poetry: Column 319
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
Here’s a poem in which eight-year-old Ava Schicke, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, tells us just who she is and what she thinks.

I am

I am a daughter and a sister.
I wonder when I will die.
I hear the warm weather coming.
I see stars in the day.
I want to learn my whole ballet dance.
I am a daughter and a sister.

I pretend to be a teacher at home.
I feel like I am a teacher.
I touch hands that are growing.
I worry that I will never change.
I cry when something or someone dies.
I am a daughter and a sister.

I understand that teachers work hard for students.
I say that I don’t like bullies.
I dream about me not moving while trying really hard to run.
I try to become a good friend.
I hope that there is no more dying or killing.
I am a daughter and a sister.