Hello Summertime!
The sun is shining. The heat is scorching. Everyone is trying to find something to do as heat advisories force us indoors. This is a perfect time to stretch your creative storytelling muscles. Below you will find some summer themed writing prompts. First, you’ll be introduced to the specific prompt theme and the thought process behind it making it onto this summer themed list. Then, you will find the prompt. Each prompt has three questions attached, story narrowing questions. These questions are here to help you narrow down your story. This will help create an efficient and effective writing session.
Remember, these prompts are jumping off points. Feel free to use any or all of them for a journal, poem, story or whatever you feel that God is leading you to create. Let’s dive in 🙂
#1. Independence Day
The first theme is Independence Day. Independence Day is the holiday of the summer for my family. It sometimes includes barbecue and ‘most always includes fireworks. It really is just a great time to spend together with family.
Prompt: A family gets back together again on Independence Day for some barbecue and to watch fireworks over the lake.
Narrowing Questions: Is this the beginning or the end of the story? What are the family’s dynamics? Is this an immediate family gathering or something like a family reunion?
#2. Sci-Fi Heatwave
One of the first things that is noticeable in the summer is the heat. Or at least to me. Whether its dry or humid, it doesn’t matter. It’s all heat to me. So why not mix one of the most creative genres, science fiction, with a very natural event, a heatwave.
Prompt: A heatwave sweeps through a small town, affecting its citizens in mysterious ways.
Narrowing Questions: What is the effect? Who are the main characters? Is the heatwave a positive or negative occurrence to the town or is it both?
#3. Mystery at the beach
Whether you are on the beach or just imagining being on the beach, the beach is a huge part of summer. What better to read while sitting on the beach than a mystery. Here’s your jumping off point for the next greatest beach read 🙂
Prompt: While cleaning up the beach one day with a church group for young adults, someone finds something suspicious.
Narrowing Questions: What was found? Why was it suspicious? Is the finder of the “something” the main character and why or why not?
#4. Snowing in the Desert
Back to the topic of summer heat. When I think about places of absolute heat, I think of the desert. Quite honestly, I am no desert expert. I do not know anything about the desert. However, I thought it would be an interesting prompt to write about two opposites, snow and a desert.
Prompt: It’s snowing in the desert.
Narrowing Questions: Is this a normal occasion or a rarity? How does this affect the people in the desert? Why is the snow in the desert important to the story?
#5. Summer Camp/VBS
For some, Summer Camp and VBS (Vacation Bible School) were cornerstones of their lives. For some, it was a story heard from family members and friends. Or who knows, maybe you’ve never heard of either of these things. Whatever the case, there is no denying that these things go hand and hand with summer learning and summer fun. Or at least that’s what I’m told.
Prompt: Oh my goodness! Your main character made it into their dream Summer Film Camp. But oh no! It ends up clashing with their faith.
Narrowing Questions: How does your character respond? What is truly most important to your character? Who are your characters best friends from church?
#6. Olympics
It is currently an Olympic year! Woooooohooooo! Don’t you love it. All of the athleticism, the motivation and inspirational stories. The feeling is like no other. So, of course, the Olympics had to make it as a theme on this list. While I have made it a mere background, feel free to bring it to the forefront of the story as much or as little as you want.
Prompt: A romance blooms between audience members of a Summer Olympics game.
Narrowing Questions: “Why are these audience members at the Olympics?” “Are the man and woman from the same country?” “What do we really need to know about both main characters in order for this story to make sense?”
#7. Christmas in July
Oh, Christmas in July. How I do not know what to think of it yet. Yes, I know this trend has been trending for a good long while. Here’s my thing, if Christmas in July was really about the true reason behind Christmas, Jesus’ birth and not romance, then I would be a little more prone to leaning into the trend. However, since it does exist, and I know people seem to enjoy it, I finally thought of a fitting prompt. Below you’ll find my own prompt for Christmas in July that can give back some of the true meaning of Christmas even though it’s summertime.
Prompt: A coma patient wakes up thinking it is Christmas, but it is July. The patient continues to celebrate like its Christmas, seeing the need to share the true meaning of Christmas to the people around.
Narrowing Questions: Is the main character male or female? What age is the main character? Why do the other surrounding characters need a reminder of Jesus’ birth and what it means?
Now you have a list of great jumping off points for a summer themed writing session. It’s now time for you to go exercise your writing abilities. Who knows, you may create something you really like or maybe it’ll be a test run for what you really want to write. Whatever the use, I pray its helpful. Remember, as a storyteller, it is important to exercise your God-given storytelling abilities.