20 Writing Prompts for Lockdown

In our recent interview with JT Welsch, an academic at the University of York and a published poet, he reflected on the importance of poetry: “The world needs poetry but poetry needs the world.” This quote resonated with all of us at The Lockdown Creative as we had previously focused our anthology on the surge of creativity in the general public but did not consider those struggling to write. Whilst people have the time and desire to write, they may struggle to find the inspiration to reflect on life in lock-down due to the overwhelming uncertainty it has created.

In this post, we have compiled a list of prompts to help tackle writer’s block and reflect on the pandemic we are living through. The COVID-19 crisis has generated a nexus of emotions, both positive and negative. At The Lockdown Creative, we want to explore all aspects of lockdown and the public response to COVID-19.

Here are just 20 ideas we have come up with to get you started:

1. A view from my window

2. Where are you supposed to be right now? What are you missing?

3. An Ode to the NHS/ Key Workers

4. What does ‘the new normal’ mean to you?

5. A Small Win- Did you make your bed? Bake? Go for a run?

6. Trapped

7. What will be the first thing you do when this is all over?

8. What have you learnt about yourself? What have you learnt about the world?

9. Memory- reflect and reminisce about a memory from before lockdown

10. Dear… - Try dedicating a poem to a friend or family member that you have not seen in a while

11. The Quiet

12. Take a walk- what do you see?

13. Patience

14. Last Summer

15. No longer in a hurry- what have you achieved?

16. What does Home mean to you? Is it a person? A place? Multiple places?

17. Nature talking back- The air is cleaner, the seas less polluted and the world of nature keeps turning. What animals have you seen on your walks? Heard the birds singing?

18. Write about how you really feel in a ‘stream-of-consciousness style’

19. Respond to the news- Whilst the focus of the news is primarily the COVID-19 crisis, there are other prevalent issues that we should reflect on such as discussions of race, immigration and homelessness

20. Humanity

To submit a poem for our anthology, or get more information about our project, please email: businessofbooksg6@gmail.com