Now I always check with people before using their lives in my stories to avoid trouble.
I only got prompts from one online list for a long time. My stories got boring and felt too similar. I realized my characters all acted the same way. Then, I tried pulling ideas from old photos and song lyrics. Mixing a photo prompt with a lyric line created a much more interesting scene. Now, I grab prompts from different places like nature walks or conversations. It really helps break the cycle and sparks better tales.
Back then, I'd write a prompt and forget about it for a year. Digging it up later always sparked something fresh, unlike forcing it out on the spot.
I started jotting down bits of dialogue from people around me. Now I have a notebook full of realistic conversations to use in my stories.
My neighborhood is split over a proposed mural project on the old bakery wall. One group says it's a blank canvas for local stories and could spark creativity. The other side argues it sets a precedent for unauthorized art and might lower curb appeal. I'm torn because both points have merit, and it feels like a ready-made plot for a community drama. Could this local spat work as a prompt for conflict-driven stories? What do you think about using real neighborhood disputes in writing?
Any advice for more personal prompt sources?