salixbabylon | thoughts on writing prompts

I woke up this morning thinking about writing. Now that

heartofslash and I are nearing the end of

50kinkyways (only 14 left!), I have some thoughts about the experience. Also, I'm going to teach a class on how to write erotica next month, so I've been thinking about that.

I think prompts/tables/lists/fic-a-thons are a great idea in concept, but sometimes I wonder if they don't just add pressure and a feeling of obligation to what is ultimately supposed to be an enjoyable hobby...

Recent Experiences:
We signed up for and started writing

50kinkyways in November 2005. I expect we'll be finished in June 2007 if we stay on schedule. That's 20 months, or 1 year and 8 months.

Likewise, I signed up to do that "28 ficlets" list last year, in May. I had planned to finish within 2 weeks, but didn't end up writing the last one until November - 7 months later.

Lastly, I participated in a few fic exchanges/challenges at

pervy_werewolf, but only one at a time and wrote them within the time constraints. This was my first time participating in such challenges since 2003.

Reflections:
I think prompt tables/lists/challenges are *great* at getting me writing, getting me thinking along new pathways, getting me to play with characters or ideas I might not have explored yet.

I think they *suck* in that I suddenly find myself with 20+ fics to write, and a sense of obligation and time-pressure that can kill all the joy in writing even the smuttiest of smut.

The people I chat with and beta for seem to feel the same pressure, but many of you sign up for way more of these than I do. Also, a lot of people seem to be able to let go of fics they lost interest in and are ok with letting them stand forever unfinished as WIPs.

Personally, I have so much guilt with WIPs that I won't do them anymore - the whole project stays unposted until I have it back from a beta. HOw do you let go of things that no longer interest you? DO you finish them anyway? Do you feel bad and I just don't know that?

Back on topic, maybe we just need shorter prompt lists - 5 or 10 at a time? Maybe we need to not over-commit and be a lot more realistic about how long it takes to write even a ficlet/drabble? Maybe the challenges and prompts are a great idea but there could be a way of doing it without the sense of obligation/guilt?

To me, the biggest benefit of these prompts is that they get me out of a rut.

And to me, the biggest detriment is that a sense of obligation and pressure utterly kills my muses.

So what do you all think?
What have your experiences been?
Would you recommend this kind of prompt-list to a group of newbie writers or not? Why?
What about the annual xmas fic exchanges?
Are they different, and if so, how?

Thoughts?

thoughts on writing prompts

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