The Power of Prompts

Looking at a blank page (or screen) can be daunting. For many writers, inspiration doesn’t usually show up on demand. Yet, give your muse a wee nudge in the form of a prompt and BINGO! Characters, scenes, and stories tumble out onto the page. Sandra will provide lists, ways & means of using prompts to tease non-fiction stories from your memory. We'll look at how a prompt can be developed into a short piece of flash non-fiction, a longer essay, or how a series of stories can morph into a book. She’ll share how she's taken nuggets that started off with prompts and turned them into polished essays ready for submission to literary journals. Finally, Sandra will explain the benefits of teaming up with another writer (or two) to do prompts, and tips on best approaches.

Sandra Phinney

Sandra Phinney’s award-winning stories and photographs have been published in over 70 magazines and newspapers. She’s written four non-fiction books and contributed stories to several anthologies.  

Phinney delivers writing workshops throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario on topics ranging from memoir to travel writing. She recently completed a season at Joggins Fossil Centre as the Writer in Residence (2021). Her current focus is writing personal essays. In her spare time, she practices Tai Chi and does wilderness canoeing.

She is a member of TWUC, TMAC, WFNS, WFNB, CFG and the PEI Writer's Guild.