NIBB.

Strange things grown-ups say — a ten-minute writing prompt

One thing you hear often that never stops sounding strange.

What a child is asked afterwards

Strange things grown-ups say

What do grown-ups say that sounds strange to you?

Everyone gets the same subject. What differs is the follow-up: one question for children, two for teens, three for adults. Only the children's wording is simplified.

Where people usually get stuck on this one

When you stall halfway

Explaining is what stalls you. Put down what you saw and what you heard instead.

When it reads flat

Find the sentence you are least sure about. What you actually meant is usually hiding there.

When the first line won't come

Skip it and start at the second. The opening writes itself once the rest exists.

Today's constraints on this prompt

Use 'because' once

Give a reason once and a claim turns into thinking.

Put in one thing that happened to you

One thing from your own life turns borrowed words into your piece.

Decide the title first

Set the title first and the piece stops wandering.

Write on this prompt now →

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