Pro tip: Stop calling every story setup a 'prompt'

I keep seeing people post full story ideas with characters and plots and call them writing prompts. A real prompt is a simple seed, like 'You find a key that opens any door, but only once.' I learned this after a workshop leader in Boston corrected me three years ago. Are we watering down what a prompt actually is, or am I just being too strict about the definition?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey_fox682mo ago

That workshop leader in Boston had one view... but language changes. Calling a full story idea a prompt just helps people find it in a search. The strict definition feels like gatekeeping to me. If someone posts a complex setup and it sparks a story for someone else, it did its job as a prompt. The word's meaning has gotten bigger online, and that's okay.

black.beth2mo ago

That's how useful words get ruined, though.

loganburns1mo ago

You ever had someone tag you in a post with a killer premise and say "write this for me"? lol That's where I draw the line. @casey_fox68 is right that the word grew online, but the problem is when people use "prompt" to mean a full outline with character arcs and plot beats. I just tell people to toss a simple hook at me instead, something with a clear conflict but no handholding. Saves time and keeps the conversation honest. The strict definition matters less than making sure you're not doing someone's creative work for free.